WITH the festive season still in full swing, now is the time for the British sporting public to fill their holiday time with as many fixtures as possible.

From racing to football, there’s a glut of activity at the moment and it’s a great excuse to get out of the house and burn off some of that trifle and Christmas pudding.

With Newcastle’s own 2011 calendar safely completed, what better way to blow away any New Year cobwebs than by joining us at Gosforth Park for our first fixture of 2012 on Saturday, January 7.

We’re delighted to be starting the year with a weekend meeting and hospitality sales are doing well, which is very encouraging.

The odds on us completing back-to-back seasons without any abandonments are probably fairly long but we’ll give it our very best shot!

We’ve got a bumper eight-race card in store a week tomorrow, with the first race set to get off at 11.40am. It will also be an access all areas day with one giant enclosure giving everyone entry to Brandling House, which is normally in the Premier Enclosure. Entry prices start at £13 if tickets are booked online.

Away from Newcastle, Kauto Star created history with a fifth King George VI Chase victory in a wonderful performance at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

The two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup champion gained revenge on this year’s Gold Cup winner Long Run in spectacular style, and now comes in to 9-2 for the Cheltenham contest.

For more information or to buy tickets to a race day or event at Newcastle Racecourse, go to www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk or call 0191 236 2020.

JAMES Armstrong is clerk of the course at Gosforth Park.