UK Racing Festivals
Every major flat and jumps festival in one place. Tap a flag on the map or pick a festival below for our previews, tips, results and reviews.
Guineas Festival, Newmarket
The first British Classics of the season. Saturday's 2,000 Guineas (3yo colts) and Sunday's 1,000 Guineas (3yo fillies) on the Rowley Mile — the season's first Group 1s and the first decisive read on the new generation of milers and Classic types.
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Guineas Festival, Newmarket
The first British Classics of the season. Saturday's 2,000 Guineas (3yo colts) and Sunday's 1,000 Guineas (3yo fillies) on the Rowley Mile — the season's first Group 1s and the first decisive read on the new generation of milers and Classic types.
Chester May Festival
Three days on the Roodee — Britain's oldest and tightest track. The Boodles Chester Vase (a key Derby trial), the Cheshire Oaks (an Epsom Oaks trial), the Ormonde Stakes, the upgraded Group 2 Huxley Stakes and the famous Chester Cup Heritage Handicap.
Dante Festival, York
Three days at York including the Dante Stakes — the most important Derby trial of the season — plus the Musidora (Oaks trial), the Yorkshire Cup (Gold Cup pipeline) and the rebranded Minster Stakes (formerly Duke of York Stakes).
Epsom Derby Festival
The most prestigious flat race in the world. Friday's Epsom Oaks (G1, fillies) and Saturday's Betfred Derby (G1, colts) — plus the Group 1 Coronation Cup for older horses on Friday.
Royal Ascot
Five days, eight Group 1s, the largest betting festival of the British flat season. The Queen Anne Stakes opens Tuesday; the Gold Cup is the centrepiece of Ladies' Day; the Diamond Jubilee closes Saturday. Dress code, royal carriages, and serious championship racing.
Qatar Goodwood Festival
Five days on the Sussex Downs. The Sussex Stakes — the 'Mile of the Year' — features Wednesday; the Goodwood Cup and Nassau also Group 1s. Generally one of the most stylish meetings in the British calendar with summer ground and championship-class fields.
Ebor Festival, York
Four days at York's Knavesmire. The Juddmonte International, the Yorkshire Oaks and the Nunthorpe are all Group 1s; the Ebor itself is the biggest flat handicap in Europe by prize money. Often the most-bet flat festival of the late summer.
St Leger Festival
Four days at Doncaster culminating in the St Leger — the world's oldest Classic and the final leg of the British Triple Crown. Saturday's race tests stamina at 1m6f132y on the long, fair Doncaster straight.
British Champions Day
The biggest single day's prize money in British flat racing. Six championship races including four Group 1s — the Champion Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Sprint and the Fillies & Mares — closing the British Champions Series.
Cheltenham Festival
Four days of championship National Hunt racing. The Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers' Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup are the four feature races, one per day. The biggest jumps festival in the calendar.
Aintree Grand National Festival
The world's most famous steeplechase. Three days at Aintree with the Aintree Hurdle (Thursday), the Melling Chase (Friday) and the Randox Grand National (Saturday) — 30 fences, 4 1/4 miles, the biggest betting race of the year by turnover.