Newcastle Racecourse: Complete Guide

Newcastle Racecourse is unusual in British racing because it effectively houses three separate tracks at Gosforth Park: a left-handed Tapeta all-weather circuit, a left-handed turf flat track, and a hurdle course that uses sections of both. Understanding how each surface works — and how they differ — is essential if you're planning a visit or studying the form.

The Tapeta All-Weather Track

The Tapeta circuit is the main attraction for much of the year. It's a left-handed, oval track of roughly one mile and two furlongs in circumference, with sweeping bends and a run-in of approximately three and a half furlongs. The track is notably wide — wider than any other all-weather venue in Britain — which means large fields can spread across the course and the draw tends to be less of a factor than at tighter tracks like Wolverhampton.

The Tapeta surface itself is a blend of silica sand, fibres and a rubber-coated wax. It rides consistently regardless of weather conditions, which is its primary advantage. However, it doesn't ride identically to turf. Horses tend to produce faster closing sectionals on the Tapeta, and front-runners who would comfortably make all on turf sometimes get caught late here. The surface favours horses with a strong finishing kick rather than those who rely purely on galloping stamina.

Races are staged at distances from five furlongs up to two miles. The five-furlong course starts on a chute that feeds into the back straight, while the mile start is positioned on the far side of the oval. Races beyond a mile involve the full circuit plus extensions, and the stamina demands increase progressively — there's no real downhill section to give horses a breather.

The Turf Track

The turf course sits inside the all-weather circuit and is used primarily from April to October. It's left-handed with an oval configuration of about a mile and three furlongs in circumference. The ground at Gosforth Park drains reasonably well but can get testing during prolonged wet spells in autumn.

The turf track hosts all the major summer fixtures, including Northumberland Plate day and the supporting programme of Listed and pattern races. It's a fair, galloping track that generally favours horses who settle and finish strongly rather than those who lead from the front. The home straight is around three furlongs long, giving jockeys time to organise their challenge but not so much that tearaway leaders are routinely caught.

The Hurdle Course

Newcastle's hurdle track was installed as part of the 2016 redevelopment and uses the Tapeta surface with portable hurdle flights. It's a left-handed circuit with flights placed at regular intervals around the track. The going is consistent year-round — there's no waterlogging or frozen ground to worry about — which makes it a reliable option for National Hunt trainers during the winter months.

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is by far the most important race staged on the hurdle track. Run over two miles in late November, it's one of the first Grade 1 hurdle races of the National Hunt season and regularly attracts top-class hurdlers.

Key Characteristics

What matters most at Newcastle is understanding which surface you're dealing with. Tapeta form doesn't always translate to turf, and vice versa. The wide, galloping nature of the all-weather track tends to produce fair results — the best horse usually wins — but the surface characteristics mean you need to assess each runner's suitability individually rather than relying on general all-weather form.

Newcastle's fixture list is one of the busiest in the country, with over 80 meetings a year spread across both surfaces. The Tapeta track runs year-round, keeping the calendar filled from January to December, while the turf programme delivers the headline action during the summer months.

The Northumberland Plate Meeting (Late June)

The Northumberland Plate is Newcastle's flagship fixture and one of the great traditions of northern racing. Run over two miles on the turf course, it's a prestigious staying handicap that's been known as the Pitmen's Derby since the 19th century — a nod to the coal miners who treated it as their unofficial day out. The Plate itself carries prize money in the region of £150,000, making it one of the richest handicaps of the summer.

The supporting card on Plate day is strong too, typically featuring Listed races and valuable handicaps that attract runners from major yards across the country. It's the biggest day in the North East racing calendar, and the atmosphere reflects it — expect a lively, enthusiastic crowd.

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Late November)

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is one of the most prestigious races in Newcastle's calendar and one of the first Grade 1 hurdle contests of the National Hunt season. Run over two miles on the Tapeta hurdle track, it's named after the Northumberland regiment — the Fighting Fifth — and regularly draws some of the best hurdlers in training. Champions like Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon, Katchit and Buveur D'Air have all won this race.

The November fixture doubles as Newcastle's marquee jumps meeting, with a quality supporting card of handicap hurdles and novice races.

All-Weather Championships Trials (Winter/Spring)

Newcastle plays a significant role in the All-Weather Championships series, staging several trial races through the winter and early spring. These are competitive finals-day qualifiers across distances from sprints to staying trips, and they attract quality all-weather performers aiming for Finals Day at Lingfield in April.

The Good Friday card is particularly notable, often featuring multiple championship trials and drawing a healthy holiday crowd.

Summer Evening Meetings

Newcastle stages a popular series of evening meetings during the summer months, typically on weekday evenings from May through August. These combine turf and Tapeta action with a social atmosphere — they're a great way to enjoy a casual evening's racing without the formality of a big-day fixture.

All-Weather Winter Programme

Through the winter months, Newcastle's Tapeta track stages regular fixtures — often two or three meetings a week — that form the backbone of the all-weather programme. While individually these aren't headline events, they provide consistent racing opportunities and include plenty of competitive handicaps that are popular with regular punters.

Boxing Day and New Year

Newcastle's festive fixtures are a North East tradition. The Boxing Day meeting, run on the all-weather surface, draws one of the biggest crowds of the winter calendar. It's a social occasion as much as a racing one, with families and groups making it part of their Christmas celebrations.

What to Prioritise

If you're picking one meeting a year, the Northumberland Plate day is the obvious choice — top-quality racing, a brilliant atmosphere and real history. For jumps fans, the Fighting Fifth card in November is unmissable. And if you want a lower-key but thoroughly enjoyable visit, the summer evening meetings are hard to beat.

Newcastle's facilities were comprehensively overhauled as part of the 2016 redevelopment, and the result is a modern venue that balances functionality with comfort. It's not the flashiest racecourse in the country, but everything works well and the viewing — particularly from the main grandstand — is excellent.

Enclosures

Newcastle operates with two main enclosure options on most racedays. The Grandstand & Paddock enclosure gives you access to the main stand, the parade ring, the winners' enclosure and the betting ring. The viewing from the upper levels of the grandstand is superb — you can see the entire Tapeta circuit and most of the turf track from the tiered seating areas.

The Premier Enclosure offers a step up, with access to the ground-floor restaurant, premium bars and a more exclusive section of the grandstand. On bigger days like the Northumberland Plate and the Fighting Fifth, Premier tickets are worth considering if you want a more comfortable experience.

Admission prices vary by fixture — expect to pay more for the bigger meetings — and advance booking usually saves a few pounds compared to gate prices.

Hospitality

Newcastle offers several hospitality packages that range from private boxes overlooking the course to restaurant dining with table service. The Tapeta Restaurant is the main dining option, serving a set menu with views of the course, and it's a solid choice for groups or celebrations. Private boxes are available for parties who want their own space and are popular for corporate entertainment.

For the bigger fixtures, bespoke hospitality packages often include champagne reception, multi-course dining and premium viewing positions. These tend to sell out well in advance, particularly for Plate day.

Food and Drink

For a more comprehensive guide to eating and drinking at the course, see our day out guide. In summary, you'll find a decent selection of food outlets throughout the grandstand — the usual racecourse fare of burgers, fish and chips and sandwiches, plus a few options that aim slightly higher. The bars serve the standard range of draught beers, wines and spirits, and there are Champagne and cocktail bars on bigger racedays.

Betting Facilities

The betting ring at Newcastle is well-organised, with the main bookmakers' pitches located between the grandstand and the parade ring. There are also Tote windows inside the stand and self-service betting terminals throughout the venue. The layout makes it easy to watch the parade ring, place your bet and get to a viewing spot without too much rushing between races.

Accessibility

Newcastle is one of the more accessible racecourses in the country. The grandstand has lift access to all levels, there are dedicated wheelchair viewing areas, and accessible toilets are available throughout the venue. The course recommends contacting them in advance if you have specific accessibility needs so they can arrange the best possible experience.

Newcastle Racecourse is located at Gosforth Park, roughly three miles north of the city centre. The postcode is NE3 5HP. Getting there is straightforward whether you're driving, using public transport, or coming from further afield — the city's transport connections are among the best in the North East.

By Car

From the south, follow the A1(M) northbound and take the A1 exit towards Newcastle/Gosforth. The racecourse is signposted from the A1 at the Gosforth Park turn-off — you can't really miss it. From the north, it's the same route in reverse via the A1 southbound.

The course has ample on-site parking, and it's free on most racedays. On bigger fixtures like the Northumberland Plate day, the car parks fill up faster, so arriving early is a good idea. There's usually overflow parking available in adjacent fields when the main car parks are full.

By Metro

The Tyne and Wear Metro system is the most convenient public transport option. Regent Centre is the nearest Metro station, about a 15-minute walk from the racecourse entrance. It's on the green line, with direct services from Newcastle city centre taking around 10 minutes. On bigger racedays, the course sometimes arranges shuttle buses from the station to the gates.

By Train

Newcastle Central station is the nearest mainline station, with direct services from London King's Cross (around three hours), Edinburgh (90 minutes), Manchester, Leeds and most major cities. From the station, you can hop on the Metro to Regent Centre or grab a taxi — the ride to the racecourse takes about 15 minutes depending on traffic.

By Bus

Several bus routes serve the Gosforth area, with stops within walking distance of the racecourse. Services run regularly from the city centre, and Go North East operates most of the routes. Check timetables in advance, particularly for evening meetings when frequencies may be reduced.

By Taxi

A taxi from Newcastle city centre to the racecourse costs around £10-15 and takes 15-20 minutes. There's a taxi rank at the course for the return journey, though waiting times can be lengthy after the last race on busy days. Booking a return taxi in advance is worth considering, especially on big racedays.

Top Tip

If you're combining a trip to the races with a night out in Newcastle, the Metro makes it easy. You can be back in the city centre within 20 minutes of leaving the course — perfect for catching dinner or heading out in town.