The glittering lights of Epsom Downs’ The Oaks venue played host to one of the most anticipated and entertaining social fixtures in the British horseracing calendar on Sunday, 8th November 2026, as Racing Come Dancing returned for another unforgettable evening.
Following eight intense weeks of professional ballroom and Latin dance training, familiar faces from across the racing industry swapped the weighing room, gallops, and training yards for the dancefloor.
In a thrilling climax to the competition, champion trainer Dan Skelton-partnered on the floor by his wife Grace Skelton-found himself locked in a sensational dead heat with popular jockey Mattie Batchelor, who performed alongside Jemima Beare.
With both couples dazzling the star-studded judging panel-which featured former BBC Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris Hollins alongside Alice Fox-Pitt, Richard Phillips, and reigning champion Tom Malone-and winning over the live-stream and text-voting audience, judges and organizers ultimately declared a historic tie, seeing both men lift the coveted glitterball trophy.
🗣️ "They all wanted a dance-off and I said no way!"
Dan Skelton had to settle for a dead-heat when he put his dancing shoes back on at Epsom racecourse on Sunday night 🕺
🔗 – https://t.co/DujtWCXvP3 pic.twitter.com/oP1es43ez2
— Racing Post ⭕️ (@RacingPost) November 9, 2026
A Night of Glitter, Glamour, and Good Sportsmanship
The star-studded line-up saw nine couples push themselves entirely out of their comfort zones.
Competitors included trainers Ben Pauling (watch below) and Martin Dwyer, former jockey Tom Scudamore, and a host of other racing stalwarts who traded the adrenaline of the turf for quicksteps, sambas, and tangos.
An elated Dan Skelton joked about the steep learning curve required to master the routine:
“We spend our lives handling elite equine athletes and mapping out high-pressure jumps campaigns, but nothing quite prepares you for the sheer terror of remembering your footwork in front of a live audience and a panel of expert judges. Sharing the trophy with Mattie after eight weeks of aching limbs and countless practice sessions makes every sore foot entirely worthwhile. It’s been an absolute blast for an unbelievable cause.”
Co-champion Mattie Batchelor echoed the sentiment, praising the camaraderie of the evening:
“To go from the day job to sequins and salsa has been surreal. Jemima and I put everything into our routine, but seeing the standard across the entire room tonight was incredible. To finish level with a powerhouse like Dan Skelton is brilliant-though I’m not sure the dancing shoes will be coming out on the gallops tomorrow morning!”
VOTING IS OPEN!!!
Text MAUDEPAULING to 70560
Messages cost £2 + Standard network message price pic.twitter.com/ld3yyXOCYN
— Ben Pauling Racing (@benpauling1) November 8, 2026
Dancing for a Lifeline: Supporting Racing Welfare
Beyond the glamour, glittering costumes, and high-energy routines, the primary objective of Racing Come Dancing 2026 was to raise critical funds and awareness for Racing Welfare.
Racing Welfare is the UK’s premier charity supporting the people who make horseracing happen.
Operating across the nation, the charity provides professional guidance, mental health services, career advice, housing support, and health and wellbeing welfare services to everyone working across the thoroughbred breeding and racing industries-from stud and stable staff to racecourse employees and trainers.
Events like Racing Come Dancing serve as a vital lifeline, ensuring that the charity can continue its round-the-clock support network for industry personnel facing tough times, injury, or hardship.
Thanks to the generosity of the dancers’ fundraising teams, ticket sales, and text-donations from the wide-reaching home audience, the 2026 installment shattered initial expectations, securing essential funds to keep racing’s safety net strong for the year ahead.
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