The Sussex Champion Hurdle was introduced to the Plumpton race programme in 2013 and has been part of our Easter Sunday card ever since. Run over two miles, this £50,000 Class 2 contest challenges the speed and slick jumping of each horse, and we have seen some impressive winners throughout the years. 

The Evan Williams-trained Court Minstrel won the inaugural contest in 2013 under Paul Moloney, and he went on to land to Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle the following year. Grade 1 winner Diego Du Charmil took the 2021 contest, becoming the third Sussex Champion Hurdle success for the race's winningmost trainer Paul Nicholls, with the others being Tommy Silver (2017) and Dormello Mo (2015). 

2023 renewal saw Teddy Blue win the Sussex Champion Hurdle, trained by Gary Moore and ridden by Jamie Moore.

The Sussex Champion Chase is our newest principal race and takes place on Easter Monday each year over a distance of 2m3½f, however it got off to a false start when the inaugural running in 2018 was abandoned due to a waterlogged course. Like the Sussex Champion Hurdle, it £50,000 in prize-money is up for grabs and Mercian Price landed the race's belated debut in 2019 for trainer Amy Murphy and jockey Jack Quinlan. 

After a Covid-forced abandonment in 2020, the Sussex Champion Chase returned in 2021 when Pistol Whipped scored for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. 

2023 renewal saw Black Gerry win the Sussex Champion Chase, trained by Gary Moore and ridden by Jamie Moore. This was a unique double for both Gary Moore and Jamie Moore, winning the most prestigious races of the season.

First run in 2001, the Sussex National has become a mainstay on the Plumpton racing programme and one of our biggest contests of the year. With a distance of 3m4½f, it is the joint-longest race on our calendar and provides a proper test of endurance and jumping for the runners, who have to clear 20 fences during the contest.

When first introduced the race was run at the second November meeting of the season and remained there until 2004 before being moved to the New Year the following season. As a result, there was no edition of the race in 2005 and the same can be said for 2009 when the race was abandoned due to frost.

Colin Tizzard is the winningmost trainer of the Sussex National with three successes, the latest being 2020 winner Christmas In April. Horsham-based trainer Gary Moore won the contest in successive years in 2013 (Well Refreshed) and 2014 and other local trainers engraved on the trophy include Linda Jewell (Itold You, 2015), Suzy Smith (Pass Me By, 2007) and Josh Gifford (Mr Markham, 2002).

Chris Gordon won the Sussex National for the first time in 2022 with Go Whatever, who was ridden by Tom Cannon.