LOCAL racegoers are counting down the days until Taunton Racecourse hold their opening meeting of the 2025-26 season on Thursday, November 13.

Racing gets underway at 1.07pm while the last event on the card is due off at 4.02pm. The gates will open two hours beforehand.

Those using public transport can use a courtesy bus that departs from the Platform 5 side of Taunton Railway Station 90 minutes before the start of racing and returns 30 minutes after the start of the final event.

For those intending to go along to the curtain raiser at the Orchard Portman track the advice is to purchase tickets in advance on line before noon the day before racing can save at least £5 off the gate price.

Anyone who buys a group of 15 or more tickets to a Raceday can save £8 per person.

During the course of the 2025-26 National Hunt racing season there is certainly plenty of racing action to look ahead to as Taunton host 13 meetings between November and April.

Following the opener Taunton race again on Thursday, November 27, when they host the Autumn Meeting when the first race is due off at 12.35pm and the last starts at 3.52pm.

Taunton host their Pre-Christmas Meeting on Thursday, December 11, when the action gets underway at 12.35pm and the last race is at 3.50pm.

Patrick Davis has been appointed Chief Executive at Taunton, succeeding Bob Young who is retiring after 26 years’ service.

Patrick, who has a wide range of experience in the racing world including being CEO of Plumpton Racecourse, Racing Director of Weatherbys Ltd and Racing Executive of Phumelela (now 4 Racing), said: “I’m hugely excited and motivated to be joining the Taunton team and look forward to getting stuck into the role for the racing season this month.”