Horse Racing in the United Kingdom
Home to the world's oldest flat races and the greatest National Hunt festivals, British racing spans over 350 years of history and continues to attract the finest horses on earth.
9
Racecourses
8
Counties
Britain's Racing Tradition
British flat racing is built around the five Classic races — the 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, The Derby and The Oaks at Epsom, and the St Leger at Doncaster. These races, run over distances from one mile to just under two miles, represent the ultimate tests for three-year-old thoroughbreds and have been contested since the 18th century.
National Hunt racing is equally celebrated. The Cheltenham Festival draws over 250,000 fans to the Cotswolds each March for four days of high-class jump racing, culminating in the Gold Cup. The Grand National at Aintree, with its iconic fences, remains one of the most watched sporting events on the planet.
Royal Ascot in June, with its fashion, pageantry, and world-class sprinters and middle-distance horses, stands as the pinnacle of the British social and sporting calendar. York's Ebor Festival in August, Goodwood's five-day summer spectacular, and Glorious Goodwood complete a summer of racing unrivalled anywhere in the world.
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Berkshire
1 track
Featured
Berkshire
The home of Royal Ascot and one of the world's most prestigious racing venues, Ascot has hosted royalty and champions on its Berkshire turf since 1711.
Cheshire
1 track
Cheshire
Britain's oldest racecourse, Chester's circular Roman track inside the city walls has hosted racing since 1539 — a unique and atmospheric venue unlike any other.
Gloucestershire
1 track
FeaturedGloucestershire
The spiritual home of National Hunt racing, Cheltenham's famous hill course hosts the annual Cheltenham Festival — four days of jump racing that stop a nation.
Lancashire
1 track
Lancashire
Lancashire's flagship racing venue hosts a mix of high-quality flat and National Hunt fixtures, anchored by the Sprint Cup and a loyal north-west following.
Suffolk
1 track
FeaturedSuffolk
The headquarters of British flat racing since 1622, Newmarket hosts the Classics and the world-famous Rowley Mile and July Course on its open Suffolk heath.
Surrey
2 tracks
FeaturedSurrey
Home of The Derby — the most prestigious flat race in the world — Epsom's undulating downland track has been the stage for equine greatness since 1661.
Surrey
A short drive from London, Sandown Park offers top-class flat and jump racing in an enclosed amphitheatre setting, headlined by the Eclipse Stakes and Tingle Creek Chase.
West Sussex
1 track
West Sussex
Perched on the South Downs with spectacular views, Goodwood is the 'Glorious Goodwood' summer festival venue — five days of elite flat racing loved for its unique setting.
Yorkshire
1 track
Yorkshire
Often called the 'Ascot of the North', York's wide, galloping flat track is widely considered the finest in Britain for jockeys, trainers, and spectators alike.