Ayr Racecourse

Ayr Racecourse Guide

Welcome to our official guide to Ayr Racecourse, where we explore this significant Scottish jump and flat racing racecourse in detail.

Considered the premier racecourse in Scotland, we look at its rich history, a guide to the track, top local hotel picks, fixtures, travel information, betting guides, a look at the Coral Scottish Grand National and even the weather.

If you are looking for the latest betting tips for Ayr, check out our complete guide to Ayr Racecourse tips.

Find out more about Ayr Racecourse today:

Overview of Ayr Racecourse

Considered Scotland’s premier racecourse, Ayr Racecourse hosts both flat and National Hunt racing throughout the year, and hosts the crown jewels of Scottish National Hunt racing: The Scottish Grand National!

To say that Ayr Racecourse is well favoured would be to understate its popularity: the Racegoers Club has rated it the ‘Best Racecourse in Scotland and the North East’ some NINETEEN times – nine of those in a row!

Designated a five-star attraction by VisitScotland, Ayr Racecourse is truly the star in Scotland’s racing scene.

Ayr Racecourse’s track is an oval-shaped flat left-handed course measuring just over one and a half miles, with a long run-in dependent on the race length. It’s run either as a flat course, a hurdles course, or a steeplechase.

Located less than 2 km from the west coast of Scotland, the course benefits from sandy terrain and a moderate climate, offering excellent racing conditions year-round.

The jumps course, in particular, is known to be a tough one – it runs downhill to the home turn with an uphill finish, so that it can be tricky for even the most skilful of jockeys and horses.

The course can host up to 50 fixtures a year and is most famous for its National Hunt racing. The most famous race it runs is the Coral Scottish Grand National; the Scottish equivalent of the English Grand National run at Aintree.

Ayr Racecourse is one of just five racecourses in Scotland; one used exclusively for flat racing, two for jump, and one other mixed.

It is viewed by the public and those in the equine sport industry as the most prestigious and essential on the scene.

Ayr Racecourse Tips

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Ayr Racecourse History

Horseracing in Scotland dates back at least 900 years, with the Lanark Silver Bell race being documented as far back as the 12th or 13th Century – believed to be one of the first races formally recorded.

In the town of Ayr, records show horseracing having taken place as early as 1576, but the first official publicly-attended race wasn’t until 1771. This was held down the coast slightly in Seafield, on an oval course a mile long with tight bends.

In 1824, the town’s most important race was established: The Western Meeting.

Within a decade, the prize fund had risen to over £2,000, and the race had become the most valuable two-year-old race in the UK.

The track continued to gain popularity, and the facility was quickly not big enough to accommodate everyone who wanted to attend.

In 1907, Ayr Racecourse was established in its current site, based on a blueprint of Newbury Racecourse.

The jumps track was added in 1950, and in 1966, the Scottish National moved to the course when its previous home, Bogside Racecourse in Irving, closed.

The Scottish Grand National is currently sponsored by Coral. The course is known for offering first-class hospitality.

What are the Ayr Racing Fixtures for 2026?

DateRacecourseWeekdayCodeSurface
2/1/2026AyrFridayJumpTurf
13/1/2026AyrTuesdayJumpTurf
29/1/2026AyrThursdayJumpTurf
10/2/2026AyrTuesdayJumpTurf
23/2/2026AyrMondayJumpTurf
6/3/2026AyrFridayJumpTurf
7/3/2026AyrSaturdayJumpTurf
17/4/2026AyrFridayJumpTurf
18/4/2026AyrSaturdayJumpTurf
26/4/2026AyrSundayFlatTurf
5/5/2026AyrTuesdayFlatTurf
20/5/2026AyrWednesdayFlatTurf
19/6/2026AyrFridayFlatTurf
20/6/2026AyrSaturdayFlatTurf
5/7/2026AyrSundayFlatTurf
6/7/2026AyrMondayFlatTurf
13/7/2026AyrMondayFlatTurf
20/7/2026AyrMondayFlatTurf
27/7/2026AyrMondayFlatTurf
8/8/2026AyrSaturdayFlatTurf
10/8/2026AyrMondayFlatTurf
17/9/2026AyrThursdayFlatTurf
18/9/2026AyrFridayFlatTurf
19/9/2026AyrSaturdayFlatTurf
29/9/2026AyrTuesdayFlatTurf
8/10/2026AyrThursdayFlatTurf
31/10/2026AyrSaturdayJumpTurf
11/11/2026AyrWednesdayJumpTurf
30/11/2026AyrMondayJumpTurf

Main Races and Events at Ayr Racecourse

Ayr Racecourse hosts numerous race meets throughout the year, but the two primary ones are prominent races not just in the Ayr calendar but also in the whole of Scotland!

The Scottish National Festival (Scottish Grand National Festival) runs for two days every April and is a Grade 3 handicap National Hunt steeplechase race. The Scottish Grand National race is broadcast live on ITV annually, and more than 20,000 attendees watch it live at the track. Tickets sell out fast, and the whole town of Ayr transforms into a horse racing haven for the weekend, hosting it.

The Ayr Gold Cup is a flat handicap race run over six furlongs every September, with eight races taking place throughout the day. This iconic event is part of Scotland’s rich racing history and is notoriously tricky – no horse has won it more than three times since the 1800s!

Other main Ayr races are:

  • Scottish Champion Hurdle
  • Future Champion Novices Chase
  • Rothesay Stakes
  • Land O’Burns Fillies’ Stakes
  • Harry Rosebery Stakes
  • The Firth Of Clyde Fillies’ Stakes
  • Doonside Cup
  • Arran Scottish Fillies’ Sprint Stakes

Ayr Racecourse Map

There are two racecourses at Ayr, the flat and jumps tracks.

Ayr Flat Racecourse

Below is the map of Ayr Racecourse’s flat track:

Ayr Racecourse Map
Courtesy of At The Races.

Ayr is a left-handed and galloping track.

The round course is about twelve furlongs around with a home straight of 4 furlongs.

The turn approaching the straight is slightly downhill, and those in the front can gain an advantage once they are in line for home.

Sprints are held over the straight course.

It is a particularly wide course that allows sprints to have fields of up to 28.

Ayr Jumps Track

Below is a map of Ayr’s jumps track:

Ayr Jumps Track
Courtesy of At The Races

The jumps course is left-handed with nine fences.

There is a steady downhill run to the home turn and a gentle rise to the finish.

There is a run-in of 210 yards after the last.

Ayr Races

Ayr Racecourse Address

The official address of Ayr Racecourse is:

Ayr Racecourse
Whitletts Road
Ayr
KA8 0JE

How To Get To Ayr Racecourse

The ways to get to Ayr Racecourse are:

  • By car – Ayr Racecourse is situated just off the M77, which links the town of Ayr with Glasgow, less than 40 miles away.
  • By bus – there are regular buses to Ayr from Glasgow using this route, too.
  • By train – the course is less than five minutes from Ayr railway station, with regular services linking the town with the whole of Scotland.
  • By air – for air travellers, the nearest airport is Prestwick International (about 10 mins away), and Glasgow Airport is less than an hour away. Ferries run from Troon and Larne to Ayr seasonally, with sporadic ferry services to and from Ireland.

Hotels Near Ayr Racecourse

Ayr isn’t a large town by any means, but there are plenty of accommodation options available in and around it.

The Fox & Willow offers rooms centrally for £35, and the OYO Glenpark Hotel for around the same price.

Chain hotels in Ayr include Mercure, Travelodge and Premier Inn. For a more premium stay, consider the Savoy Park or Ellisland hotels.

There are plenty of B&Bs and traditional guesthouses in the surrounding residential suburbs that offer competitive rates and are all within walking distance of the town and racecourse.

Local Ayr Betting Shops

In the town centre of Ayr, you’ll find branches of Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral and Betfred.

These are the local betting shops closest to the Ayr Racecourse:

On Course Bookmakers

You can choose to bet at one of the two William Hill on-course; one is located within the Ayrshire Suite, the other is within the Club area on the first story of the Princess Royal Stand.

There are Tote facilities as well as standard betting shops mentioned above, but by far the most popular method for those wanting to have a flutter is with the independent bookies outside in the paddock. The Scots love to support a good, indie Scottish business, after all!

Ayr On Course Bookmakers

Ayr Racecard and Ayr Horse Racing Info

The racecards for the Ayr races are released the day before the races take place.

The racecards will list the owners, stables, racehorses and all the info you need to make a bet.

Other Events Held at Ayr Racecourse

Ayr Racecourse complements many of its race days with live music and performances, but also holds evenings without racing and just music gigs.

The Ayr Sunday Market is a weekly market and car boot sale that takes place at the track, with sessions held indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather.

Facts about Ayr Racecourse

  • Ayr racecourse is a horse racing venue located in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland.
  • It is one of the leading racecourses in the UK, hosting around 24 racedays per year.
  • The course is home to the Scottish Grand National, a major National Hunt steeplechase which takes place annually in April.
  • Other notable races held at Ayr include the Ayr Gold Cup, the Coral Scottish Sprint Cup and the QTS Ayrshire Handicap.
  • The racecourse has a capacity of around 50,000 and features a 1 mile 6 furlong (2,400 m) flat track and a 1 mile 7 furlong (2,800 m) chase track.
  • The main grandstand at Ayr Racecourse was built in 2006 and features several bars, restaurants, and private boxes with views of the track.
  • It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting the Scottish Grand National, the Ayr Gold Cup and the Coral Scottish Sprint Cup.
  • The course is home to the Ayr Gold Cup Festival, which is one of the biggest and most popular horse racing festivals in Scotland.
  • The Ayr Gold Cup is the richest sprint race in Europe, with a prize fund of £200,000.
  • The course record for the Ayr Gold Cup is held by Muhaarar, who ran the race in 1 minute 13.61 seconds in 2015.

Popular Questions

What to wear to Ayr races?

When visiting Ayr Racecourse it is recommended to wear smart casual dress.

The racecourse state that there should be no ripped denims or trainers.

Most people tend to make a day of it and dress smartly.

Are dogs allowed at Ayr Racecourse?

Dogs are not allowed at Ayr Racecourse with the exception of guide dogs.

What is the address of Ayr Racecourse Address?

The address of Ayr Racecourse is:

Ayr Racecourse
Whitletts Road
Ayr
KA8 0JE

How To Get to Ayr Races?

The ways to get to Ayr Races are the below:

  • Road – Ayr racecourse is situated just off the M77, which links the town of Ayr with Glasgow, less than 40 miles away.
  • Bus – there are regular buses to Ayr from Glasgow using this route, too. The course is less than five minutes from Ayr railway station, with regular services linking the town with the whole of Scotland.
  • By air – for air travellers, the nearest airport is Prestwick International (about 10 mins away), and Glasgow Airport less than an hour away. Ferries run into Ayr from Troon and Larne seasonally, with more sporadic ferry services to and from Ireland.

Summary of Ayr Racecourse

Racing at Ayr and in Scotland has a rich history, and Ayr Racecourse is the jewel in the crown of Scottish racing, regarded as the premier racecourse in the country. It hosts the Coral Scottish Grand National and the prestigious Ayr Gold Cup.

Not only is the racing of the highest quality, but the facilities and atmosphere are always outstanding as well.

It is, without a doubt, one of our favourite courses, hosting high-quality flat and jump racing all year round.

One to add to your horse racing bucket list!

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July 2026