Leicester Racecourse Guide

Welcome to our official guide to Leicester Racecourse.

In this section, we delve into this popular flat and jumps racecourse in detail, examining its history, the best local hotels, fixtures, travel information, and betting guides.

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

Find out more about Leicester Racecourse today:

Overview of Leicester Racecourse

Steeped in over a century of racing history, Leicester Racecourse is a reputed tough nut to crack – a tricky course and an air of historical prestige lend to this course’s stature.

Situated a couple of miles south of the East Midlands city of Leicester, it has made a name for itself on several occasions through the years.

The track itself is a right-handed course and measures almost two miles, and hosts both flat and National Hunt racing.

Leicester Racecourse hosts a racing schedule of around 30 events per year, approximately two-thirds of which are flat races. Leicester Racecourse’s facilities are ample and amongst the best in the UK, primarily because of the use of physical space on the course.

There are 108 stables available, and 6 with high-priority security features for those very high-profile runners!

Leicester Racecourse is well known as a challenging course for horses and is very much seen as a stamina test for those racing here, particularly early in the season. On both soft going, the uphill finish is tough, and National Hunt runners face a formidable run-in.

That said, the course’s fantastic facilities for horses, their trainers and jockeys mean that they are rarely injured here, and the course’s record of dealing with injuries and accidents is superb.

Whilst no longer one of the most prominent racecourses in the UK racing calendar, Leicester has, like many venues in the sport, diversified its offerings.

Entertainment and conferencing venue ‘The Kube’ opened at Leicester Racecourse in 2014 and hosts a variety of events for both business and pleasure! This includes conferences and exhibitions, as well as themed parties, occasion nights, and weddings. With a capacity of up to 1,000 people, The Kube has quickly become a popular venue in the wider Leicester area.

What are the Leicester Racecourse Fixtures for 2026?

The fixtures for Leicester racecourse in 2026 are:

Date	Racecourse	Weekday	Code
7/1/2026	Leicester	Wednesday	Jump
20/1/2026	Leicester	Tuesday	Jump
28/1/2026	Leicester	Wednesday	Jump
12/2/2026	Leicester	Thursday	Jump
24/2/2026	Leicester	Tuesday	Jump
6/3/2026	Leicester	Friday	Jump
13/4/2026	Leicester	Monday	Flat
25/4/2026	Leicester	Saturday	Flat
9/5/2026	Leicester	Saturday	Flat
25/5/2026	Leicester	Monday	Flat
26/5/2026	Leicester	Tuesday	Flat
8/6/2026	Leicester	Monday	Flat
13/6/2026	Leicester	Saturday	Flat
25/6/2026	Leicester	Thursday	Flat
4/7/2026	Leicester	Saturday	Flat
14/7/2026	Leicester	Tuesday	Flat
22/7/2026	Leicester	Wednesday	Flat
29/7/2026	Leicester	Wednesday	Flat
9/8/2026	Leicester	Sunday	Flat
8/9/2026	Leicester	Tuesday	Flat
21/9/2026	Leicester	Monday	Flat
6/10/2026	Leicester	Tuesday	Flat
13/10/2026	Leicester	Tuesday	Flat
26/10/2026	Leicester	Monday	Flat
17/11/2026	Leicester	Tuesday	Jump
29/11/2026	Leicester	Sunday	Jump
3/12/2026	Leicester	Thursday	Jump
9/12/2026	Leicester	Wednesday	Jump
28/12/2026	Leicester	Monday	Jump

Leicester Racing Tips

Leicester Racecourse History

Racing in Leicester is well-documented from 1773, when it took place at Victoria Park, a venue closer to what is now the built-up city centre.

Some 110 years later, in 1883, Leicester’s horse racing centre relocated to what is now Leicester Racecourse, in Oadby, and has been situated there ever since.

It would be fair to say that Leicester Racecourse’s ‘heyday’ was in the last 19^th Century, when it hosted some of the country’s most valuable races. This included The Portland Stakes and The Prince Of Wales Stakes, which, back in the 1880s, carried a higher prize fund than any of the UK’s five classic race meets.

Leicester races made headlines not just across the country but across the whole world in the 1980s when it was the venue for the Flockton Grey scandal: one of the largest betting scandals ever to hit Great Britain. As an unknown and undistinguished gelding, Flockton Grey made his debut at Leicester Racecourse in March 1982 and, as such, was priced at 10/1 odds. Some £20,000 was bet on Flockton Grey by just two people (spread across several bookmakers), and the horse was slyly replaced with a more successful runner, Good Hand, who was a year older and had a considerable weight advantage. Good Hand won the race easily, and the bookmakers became so suspicious that pay-outs were suspended. Investigations involving the course veterinarian and the study of official race photographs revealed that the horse that raced was not Flockton Grey, but was instead traced back to the perpetrators. It remains a major scandal, although both those involved, Ken Richardson (owner) and Stephen Wiles (trainer), have since appeared in other sports.

Be sure to watch the video below for our Leicester Racecourse Guide and how you can make the most of your day at Leicester races.

Leicester Racecourse Maps

Below are the Leicester Racecourse maps for the flat and jumps courses:

The Leicester flat course is a right-handed, one-mile-and-three-quarter-round track.

It has a home-straight run-in of four and a half furlongs.

The straight course (on which all races from 5-7 furlongs are run) is downhill to halfway, then a steep uphill finish over the final two furlongs. Although the track is a galloping and stamina test, prominent racers also perform well.

Like the flat track, the jumps course is a right-handed round course with an uphill finish of around three furlongs.

The hurdle races are run on the flat course.

There tends to be an advantage in taking wide routes over hurdles when the going is testing, possibly because the course is used all year round.

Main Races and Events at Leicester Racecourse

Leicester Racecourse is home to the listed race, The King Richard III Stakes, run every April over seven furlongs by horses aged four or over. The race has been known as The King Richard III Stakes since 2013, when the body of the ex-monarch was uncovered and identified in a Leicester car park.

Previously, it was known by several different names, including the Leicestershire Stakes, but sponsorships have come and gone over the years.

The most successful horse at The King Richard III Stakes thus far is Warningford, who won in 1999, 2001 and 2002.

Leicester Racecourse Address

The official address of Leicester Racecourse is:

Leicester Racecourse
Leicester Road
Oadby
Leicester
LE2 4AL

How To Get To Leicester Racecourse

The ways to get to Leicester Racecourse are:

• By road – the course is easily accessible from the Midlands motorway network and is well signposted. Parking is free every day of the year, except on Ladies’ Day. The info for your sat nav is Leicester LE2 4AL.
• Buses – buses run from Leicester to Oadby and stop just across the road from the racecourse entrance.
• By Train – the nearest train station, Leicester, is two miles away and is easily walkable, but there is a taxi rank outside that’s frequently patronised.

Hotels Near Leicester Racecourse

Leicester itself is not a tourist destination, but as a well-situated city, there are plenty of accommodation options for those visiting.

You’ll find most brand-name chains in the centre: Ramada Jarvis, Travelodge, Ibis, Marriott, Novotel, Holiday Inn, Mercure, and the course itself recommends the Hilton.

There aren’t many independent hotels in Leicester, but those hoping for something different can look at the Aparthotel Adagio – a quirky and arthouse style indie option.

Betting Shops Local to Leicester Racecourse

Leicester Racecourse has all the betting facilities you’d expect, but there are not many local independent bookmakers about, so the choice available may be less than you’re used to.

Mobile signal is fine for online betting, and in the nearby city centre are branches of Ladbrokes Leicester, Betfred, Paddy Power Leicester, Megabet and Coral, as well as Mark Jarvis Bookmakers in Oadby itself (just a few minutes walk from the course!).

Other Events Held At The Racecourse

‘The Kube’ venue onsite at Leicester has been exceedingly popular since its inception and now hosts lots of events year-round.

The most significant public events held at The Kube are their Christmas-themed evenings and parties, which are well-known in the local area for being a great night out, complete with fantastic food and drink.

Perhaps the best-attended non-racing events are the weddings held there, including many beautifully ornate and celebratory Asian civil ceremonies!

Summary of Leicester Racecourse

Leicester is a lively and buzzy track.

Busy throughout the year, hosting flat and national hunt racing, the racing is of good quality, and the track is known for its steep uphill finish.

It’s worth a visit if you are looking for an enjoyable afternoon or evening at any time of year!