FRIDAY’S race meeting saw the first visit of champion jockey Richard Johnson since he became Chepstow Racecourse’s official ambassador at the beginning of the year.

Having Richard join the team is a real coup for us, and great news for racegoers. He spent time on Friday with some of our customers and rode a double on Jammin’ Masters and Back To The Thatch.

Richard is widely recognized as one of the most talented jockeys of his generation. He has ridden more than 3000 winners. He has been champion jockey for the last two seasons. Before that, he was runner-up to Tony McCoy on no less than 16 occasions. He’s won numerous flagship races including the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

Richard counts Chepstow as one of his favourite and most successful courses. He has ridden more than 100 winners here including taking two Coral Welsh Grand Nationals in 1999 on Edmond and in 2016 on Native River.

When he’s riding at Chepstow Richard will be available to talk in the restaurant and some hospitality boxes. He’ll also be writing a regular blog which will appear on the news page of our website. During the year we’ll offer the chance to meet Richard at various events including ‘An Evening with Richard Johnson’, where customers will be able to have dinner with the champion. In the summer, customers will be able walk the course with Richard and get a real insight about what it takes to be one of the most successful jump jockeys of all time.

We’re are also looking forward to welcoming another legend to Chepstow on Good Friday 30th March – Welsh comedian and singer Max Boyce will be performing in our circus big top, supported by another fantastic Welsh comedian Rod Woodward.

This event forms part of a busy Easter weekend - the circus big top will also be full of family entertainment at our Easter Monday family day when our star attraction is CBBC’s Mister Maker.

Our next race meeting takes place on Friday 2nd February.