Oxford focussing on Saturdays - tweaks dates of open events

OXFORD is to focus its weekend racing on Saturday nights over the coming weeks with dates for next month's Category One bet365 Hunt Cup tweaked as a result.

The Cowley track has been deciding week-by-week in terms of Saturday night or Sunday afternoon opens recently in consultation with trainers but has now opted to go with Saturdays for the foreseeable future.

An Oxford spokesman explained: "Having found Saturdays more popular for opens than Sundays and following consultation with internal and external trainers, we have asked for, and received, permission from the GBGB to move the current race competitions in the Calendar from Sundays to Saturdays commencing immediately."

The first competitions affected are a 650m stayers' and 450m maiden standard event this weekend which close at noon on Wednesday 18th February and will have heats on Saturday.

The Category Two Sandy Lane Sprint is now scheduled to start a week later on 28th February with the £10,000 bet365 Hunt Cup over 650m now slated to be staged on Saturdays 14th, 21st and 28th March.

Sunday racing has been paused until further notice.

Category Three
BetGoodwin Oxford Stayers and BetGoodwin Maiden Standard
Heats 21/02/2026, final 28/02/2026

Category Three
BetGoodwin Oxford Ladies and BetGoodwin Maiden Stayers
Heats 28/02/2026, final 07/03/2026

Category Two - Sandy Lane Sprint
Heats 28/02/2026, semis 07/03/2026, final 14/03/2026

Category Three
BetGoodwin Oxford Standard and BetGoodwin Puppy
Heats 07/03/2026, final 14/03/2026

Category One - bet365 Hunt Cup
Heats 14/03/2026, semis 21/03/2026, final 28/03/2026