UK racecourses are some of the most exciting places to visit during the racing season. Whether you’re a fan of flat racing or steeplechase events, there are plenty of thrilling racecourses in the UK to explore. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the top UK racecourses that you should visit this season. From Epsom Downs to Ascot, read on to discover the best locations for an adrenaline-pumping day at the races!
Ascot
Ascot is a prestigious racecourse located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire in the United Kingdom. It is one of the most well-known and respected racecourses in the world, having been established as far back as 1711 by Queen Anne, who deemed it to be the perfect place for horse racing.
Since then, Ascot Racecourse has continued to develop, hosting many of the UK’s major races including the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Ascot Gold Cup. It is known for its royal connections, with a royal box and parade ring being built to mark the 300th anniversary of the track in 2011.
Famous Ascot Race Meetings
The Royal Ascot meeting is also held annually in June and is a 5-day event that sees some of the best horses competing in a variety of races. This meeting includes the highly anticipated Gold Cup, which was first raced in 1807 and is run over 2 miles 4 furlongs. It has become a major feature of the British Flat Racing calendar and is why we have included it in our UK racecourses article.
Another of the most famous races at Ascot is the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, an open age group flat race run each summer in July over 1 mile 4 furlongs. The race was inaugurated in 1951 and is now part of the British Champions Series.
Goodwood
Goodwood is a horse racing venue located in West Sussex, England, near the South Downs. Founded in 1802 by the 3rd Duke of Richmond, Goodwood Racecourse is one of the oldest and most established racecourses in the United Kingdom.
Famous Goodwood Race Meetings
The UK racecourse is renowned for its world-class flat racing and plays host to three of the UK’s most prestigious races. The highlight of Goodwood’s annual calendar is Glorious Goodwood, a five-day festival held in late July/early August that features some of the most famous races in the British flat racing calendar. The other two major events at Goodwood include the Qatar Goodwood Festival in May and The Season Finale in September.
Glorious Goodwood: The highlight of the summer season and one of Britain’s top flat racing events, Glorious Goodwood runs from late July to early August.
Qatar Goodwood Festival: Held in May, the Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the highlights of the flat racing season, with Group 1 races including the Qatar Sussex Stakes and the Qatar Nassau Stakes.
The Season Finale: Held in September, The Season Finale marks the end of the flat racing season and features some of the best handicap races on the British flat racing calendar.
Newmarket
Newmarket is one of the oldest and most prestigious UK racecourses, with a long and illustrious history in horse racing. Located in Suffolk, it is home to the headquarters of British horseracing and has been a major part of the sport since the 12th century.
The Newmarket racecourse was officially formed in 1636 when Charles I granted the people of Newmarket the rights to hold races on their land.
The Newmarket course consists of two individual tracks – the Rowley Mile and the July Course. The Rowley Mile is a left-handed track that covers 1 mile (1.6 km) and hosts the majority of the top events at Newmarket, including the 2000 Guineas Stakes for three-year-old colts and fillies, and the 1000 Guineas Stakes for three-year-old fillies. The July Course is slightly shorter, with a circumference of 7 furlongs (1408 meters), and hosts many of the high-profile summer races such as the July Stakes and the Bunbury Cup.
Famous Newmarket Race Meetings
Some of the most famous UK racecourses events are held at Newmarket throughout the year. These include Royal Ascot which takes place in June, and the Darley July Festival which features some of the best racing action around.
The 1000 and 2000 Guineas take place each spring, while the historic Cambridgeshire Meeting draws huge crowds every autumn.
Other major events at Newmarket include the Newmarket Open Weekend, which allows visitors to experience a unique race day atmosphere, as well as the Christmas Festival and New Year’s Day Meeting, both of which are hugely popular with racing fans from all over the world.
York
York Racecourse is located in North Yorkshire, England. It is one of the oldest and most historic racecourses in the UK and was founded in 1731. This flat course covers an area of approximately 1.15 miles and is known for its tight bends and sweeping turns.
Famous York Race Meetings
The most famous of all the races at York is the Ebor Handicap, which has been running since 1843. This race is run over a distance of 1 mile 5 furlongs and typically takes place at the end of August.
The Knavesmire Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes are two other prestigious races held at York that attract thousands of people each year. These races usually take place in June and July respectively.
York also hosts the Great Voltigeur Stakes, which has been running since 1844. This race is run over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and is open to three-year-old colts and geldings. In addition, York also holds the Sky Bet Dash Handicap, which takes place in October. This race is run over a distance of 5 furlongs and is open to both two and three-year-olds.
Epsom
Epsom Racecourse is located in Surrey, England, just outside London. It was established back in 1661 when James I granted a charter to the first racing association, the Epsom Oaks.
Famous Epsom Race Meetings
Epsom is most famous for its two classic flat races, the Derby and the Oaks, which take place each year in June. This race meeting attracts some of the finest thoroughbreds in the world and is one of the highlights of the British Racing calendar.
The other major race meetings at Epsom include the Coronation Cup in May, the Investec Derby Festival in June and the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival in September.
As well as horse racing, Epsom offers visitors a host of entertainment, including live music, carnival rides, bars, and restaurants. There is also an extensive program of off-track activities such as guided tours of the racecourse, meet and greets with jockeys, and educational visits for school children.
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Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.