Horse Racing In October

Horse Racing in October 2026: UK Fixtures, Major Races & Meetings

October is one of the most varied months in the British horse racing calendar. The Flat season still has some of its biggest races to come, while the jumps programme gathers momentum at Cheltenham, Aintree, Wetherby, Chepstow and other National Hunt courses.

The major Flat dates include Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival and British Champions Day at Ascot. October also stages the Sun Chariot Stakes, Fillies’ Mile, Dewhurst Stakes, Cesarewitch, Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Futurity Trophy.

For jumps followers, Chepstow’s October meeting provides an early-season marker before Cheltenham returns with The Showcase on 23 and 24 October. Aintree follows with the Old Roan Chase on 25 October, while Wetherby stages jumps racing at the end of the month.

Below is the complete British horse racing fixture list for October 2026, followed by the races and meetings worth watching.

UK Horse Racing Fixtures October 2026

The scheduled British horse racing fixtures for October 2026 are:

DateRacecourseCodeSurface
1/10/2026NottinghamFlatTurf
1/10/2026SouthwellJumpTurf
1/10/2026SalisburyFlatTurf
1/10/2026NewcastleFlatAWT
2/10/2026AscotFlatTurf
2/10/2026HexhamJumpTurf
2/10/2026WolverhamptonFlatAWT
2/10/2026NewcastleFlatAWT
3/10/2026Fontwell ParkJumpTurf
3/10/2026AscotFlatTurf
3/10/2026NewmarketFlatTurf
3/10/2026RedcarFlatTurf
3/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
4/10/2026KelsoJumpTurf
4/10/2026UttoxeterJumpTurf
5/10/2026PontefractFlatTurf
5/10/2026Stratford-on-AvonJumpTurf
5/10/2026YarmouthFlatTurf
5/10/2026WolverhamptonFlatAWT
5/10/2026Kempton ParkFlatAWT
6/10/2026BrightonFlatTurf
6/10/2026HuntingdonJumpTurf
6/10/2026LeicesterFlatTurf
6/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
7/10/2026LudlowJumpTurf
7/10/2026NottinghamFlatTurf
7/10/2026SedgefieldJumpTurf
7/10/2026Kempton ParkFlatAWT
8/10/2026Market RasenJumpTurf
8/10/2026AyrFlatTurf
8/10/2026BathFlatTurf
8/10/2026Chelmsford CityFlatAWT
9/10/2026ChepstowJumpTurf
9/10/2026NewmarketFlatTurf
9/10/2026YorkFlatTurf
9/10/2026Kempton ParkFlatAWT
10/10/2026ChepstowJumpTurf
10/10/2026HexhamJumpTurf
10/10/2026NewmarketFlatTurf
10/10/2026YorkFlatTurf
10/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
11/10/2026ChepstowJumpTurf
11/10/2026GoodwoodFlatTurf
12/10/2026MusselburghFlatTurf
12/10/2026WorcesterJumpTurf
12/10/2026YarmouthFlatTurf
12/10/2026NewcastleFlatAWT
12/10/2026Kempton ParkFlatAWT
13/10/2026HerefordJumpTurf
13/10/2026LeicesterFlatTurf
13/10/2026SouthwellJumpTurf
13/10/2026WolverhamptonFlatAWT
14/10/2026Ffos LasJumpTurf
14/10/2026NottinghamFlatTurf
14/10/2026WetherbyJumpTurf
14/10/2026Kempton ParkFlatAWT
15/10/2026ExeterJumpTurf
15/10/2026Market RasenJumpTurf
15/10/2026BrightonFlatTurf
15/10/2026Chelmsford CityFlatAWT
16/10/2026FakenhamJumpTurf
16/10/2026Haydock ParkFlatTurf
16/10/2026RedcarFlatTurf
16/10/2026UttoxeterJumpTurf
16/10/2026NewcastleFlatAWT
17/10/2026AscotFlatTurf
17/10/2026Catterick BridgeFlatTurf
17/10/2026Newton AbbotJumpTurf
17/10/2026Stratford-on-AvonJumpTurf
17/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
18/10/2026Kempton ParkJumpTurf
18/10/2026SedgefieldJumpTurf
19/10/2026PlumptonJumpTurf
19/10/2026PontefractFlatTurf
19/10/2026BathFlatTurf
19/10/2026WolverhamptonFlatAWT
19/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
20/10/2026HexhamJumpTurf
20/10/2026ExeterJumpTurf
20/10/2026YarmouthFlatTurf
20/10/2026NewcastleFlatAWT
21/10/2026Fontwell ParkJumpTurf
21/10/2026NewmarketFlatTurf
21/10/2026WorcesterJumpTurf
21/10/2026Kempton ParkFlatAWT
22/10/2026NewmarketFlatTurf
22/10/2026CarlisleJumpTurf
22/10/2026LudlowJumpTurf
22/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
23/10/2026CheltenhamJumpTurf
23/10/2026DoncasterFlatTurf
23/10/2026NewburyFlatTurf
23/10/2026WolverhamptonFlatAWT
24/10/2026CheltenhamJumpTurf
24/10/2026DoncasterFlatTurf
24/10/2026KelsoJumpTurf
24/10/2026NewburyFlatTurf
24/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
25/10/2026AintreeJumpTurf
25/10/2026WincantonJumpTurf
26/10/2026LeicesterFlatTurf
26/10/2026RedcarFlatTurf
26/10/2026HerefordJumpTurf
26/10/2026Kempton ParkFlatAWT
26/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
27/10/2026Bangor-on-DeeJumpTurf
27/10/2026Catterick BridgeFlatTurf
27/10/2026NewcastleJumpTurf
27/10/2026WolverhamptonFlatAWT
28/10/2026HuntingdonJumpTurf
28/10/2026Newton AbbotJumpTurf
28/10/2026NottinghamFlatTurf
28/10/2026Kempton ParkFlatAWT
29/10/2026BathFlatTurf
29/10/2026Ffos LasJumpTurf
29/10/2026Stratford-on-AvonJumpTurf
29/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT
30/10/2026NewmarketFlatTurf
30/10/2026UttoxeterJumpTurf
30/10/2026WetherbyJumpTurf
30/10/2026NewcastleFlatAWT
31/10/2026AscotJumpTurf
31/10/2026AyrJumpTurf
31/10/2026NewmarketFlatTurf
31/10/2026WetherbyJumpTurf
31/10/2026SouthwellFlatAWT

For meetings across the rest of the season, see our complete 2026 UK horse racing fixtures calendar.

Biggest Horse Racing Meetings in October 2026

October has two clear Flat racing focal points.

Newmarket dominates the first half of the month, with the Sun Chariot Stakes followed by the Future Champions Festival. Ascot then stages British Champions Day on Saturday 17 October.

The jumps programme becomes increasingly prominent as the month progresses. Chepstow, Cheltenham and Aintree are among the tracks to watch as established chasers and hurdlers begin their new campaigns.

Sun Chariot Stakes – 3 October 2026

Newmarket stages the first British Group 1 of the month when the Sun Chariot Stakes takes place on the Rowley Mile.

The race is run over one mile for fillies and mares aged three and older.

It provides an important late-season opportunity for leading milers and creates an interesting clash between the Classic generation and older horses.

Newmarket’s Rowley Mile is a demanding straight course with an uphill finish. Horses that have shown their best form on flatter or sharper tracks face a different test here.

The Sun Chariot is also useful when looking ahead to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Leading fillies and mares can move from competing against their own sex at Newmarket to taking on a wider field at British Champions Day.

Future Champions Festival – 9 and 10 October 2026

The Future Champions Festival takes place at Newmarket on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October 2026.

The two-day meeting is one of the most important juvenile fixtures in Europe.

Friday’s card features the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, while Saturday is headed by the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. The Cesarewitch provides a very different test on Saturday’s card and is one of Britain’s major staying handicaps.

The festival matters beyond the immediate results. Performances by the leading two-year-olds shape expectations for the following season’s 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas and other Classics.

Fillies’ Mile – 9 October 2026

The Fillies’ Mile is a Group 1 race for two-year-old fillies over one mile.

It has a strong history of producing horses capable of competing at Classic level as three-year-olds.

The mile trip provides more information about stamina than many earlier juvenile races. The Rowley Mile’s uphill finish adds to the test.

Previous form over seven furlongs or a mile, the strength of the opposition already faced and the way a filly finishes her races can all provide useful clues.

The result also has an immediate effect on the ante-post market for the following year’s 1,000 Guineas.

Dewhurst Stakes – 10 October 2026

The Dewhurst Stakes is one of Britain’s most important races for two-year-olds.

Run over seven furlongs on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, its roll of honour contains numerous horses that subsequently developed into leading three-year-olds.

Frankel won the Dewhurst in 2010 before his unbeaten three-year-old campaign began with victory in the 2,000 Guineas on the same course.

The Dewhurst is valuable for future form analysis because the race brings together leading juvenile form lines from Britain, Ireland and sometimes France.

A dominant victory can establish a clear winter favourite for the following year’s 2,000 Guineas, but the additional furlong required in the Classic remains an important question.

Cesarewitch Handicap – 10 October 2026

The Cesarewitch Handicap is one of the longest major Flat handicaps in Britain.

Run over approximately two miles and two furlongs, it starts on Newmarket’s Cesarewitch course before the runners join the Rowley Mile.

Stamina is essential.

The distance also makes the race attractive to trainers with horses capable of competing under both Flat and National Hunt rules. Jump trainers have enjoyed considerable success in the race.

The Cesarewitch forms the second half of Newmarket’s traditional Autumn Double with the Cambridgeshire, which takes place in September.

Handicap marks, stamina, going and the ability to settle all deserve attention. A horse racing freely in the early stages can use valuable energy long before the field reaches Newmarket’s demanding finish.

Our guide to horse racing handicapping explains how ratings and weights work in races such as the Cesarewitch.

British Champions Day – 17 October 2026

British Champions Day takes place at Ascot on Saturday 17 October 2026.

It is Britain’s richest raceday and the major finale of the British Flat season.

The card brings together leading horses from different divisions, from stayers and sprinters to milers and middle-distance performers.

The principal races include:

  • British Champions Long Distance Cup: A major staying contest.
  • British Champions Sprint Stakes: A six-furlong championship sprint.
  • British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes: A championship contest for fillies and mares.
  • Queen Elizabeth II Stakes: One of Britain’s leading mile races.
  • Champion Stakes: The major middle-distance feature of the afternoon.

British Champions Day often presents a different challenge from the major summer festivals.

October ground can be softer and more testing, although conditions vary from year to year. Horses may also arrive after long campaigns stretching back to the spring.

That makes current condition, previous form on the going and the demands of the season particularly relevant.

British Champions Long Distance Cup

The British Champions Long Distance Cup is the staying race on Champions Day.

It is run over approximately two miles.

Leading stayers can arrive after competing in races such as the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Lonsdale Cup and Doncaster Cup during the summer.

By October, the question is often as much about current condition as established ability.

A horse that has been racing since the spring can be meeting a rival arriving after a lighter campaign.

British Champions Sprint Stakes

The British Champions Sprint Stakes is contested over six furlongs.

Ascot’s straight course and potentially testing autumn ground make it a different challenge from some of the major summer sprints.

Form from races including the July Cup, Sprint Cup and other leading six-furlong contests helps establish the main contenders.

Pace also deserves attention. Large sprint fields can develop differently according to where the quickest early runners are drawn.

Our pace bias guide explains how the location of early speed can affect a race.

British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

The British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes provides a late-season Group 1 target for leading middle-distance fillies and mares.

Three-year-olds meet older horses, creating one of the recurring analytical questions of autumn racing.

The younger generation may have progressed considerably since the spring, while established older horses bring greater experience.

Going and the demands of Ascot’s finish can also change the complexion of the race.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is the championship mile contest on British Champions Day.

It is one of the strongest mile races in the British calendar.

Three-year-olds emerging from the Guineas generation can meet established older milers, while horses that competed at Royal Ascot, Goodwood, York, France and Ireland can converge on Ascot.

The straight mile places a premium on tactical speed and the ability to finish strongly.

Soft ground can increase the stamina requirement considerably.

Champion Stakes

The Champion Stakes is the feature middle-distance race on British Champions Day.

It is run over approximately a mile and a quarter.

The race moved from Newmarket to Ascot when British Champions Day was established in 2011 and has since become the centrepiece of the meeting.

The distance creates opportunities for horses arriving from different routes. Established ten-furlong specialists can meet milers stepping up in trip and horses dropping back from a mile and a half.

That makes previous form only part of the assessment. Distance suitability, going and the expected pace can determine whether a horse produces its best performance.

Flat Racing Does Not End at Champions Day

British Champions Day is the major championship finale, but it is not the final Flat meeting of the year.

Flat racing continues after Ascot.

Newmarket stages further fixtures later in October, including meetings on 21 and 22 October and its final meeting on 30 and 31 October. Doncaster, Newbury and other turf courses also continue their autumn programmes.

All-weather Flat racing carries on throughout the winter at tracks including Newcastle, Southwell, Wolverhampton, Kempton and Chelmsford.

This distinction matters because British Champions Day is frequently described as the “end of the Flat season”. It is more accurately the climax of the championship Flat season rather than the final Flat fixture.

Futurity Trophy – 24 October 2026

Doncaster races on Saturday 24 October, with the Futurity Trophy providing another major test for two-year-olds late in the season.

The Group 1 race is run over a mile.

Like the Dewhurst, it can have a major influence on the following year’s Classic markets.

The timing creates an additional challenge. Juveniles running in late October have already been through much of their two-year-old campaign, and testing autumn conditions can place more emphasis on stamina.

The Futurity Trophy has a long history of producing horses capable of developing into leading middle-distance three-year-olds.

The Jumps Season Builds Through October

Jump racing takes place during the summer, so October is not technically the start of the National Hunt season.

What changes is its prominence.

As the major Flat programme moves towards its conclusion, more established hurdlers and chasers begin returning to action and the quality of the jumps fixtures rises.

That process is visible at Chepstow early in the month and becomes much clearer with Cheltenham’s Showcase, Aintree’s Old Roan meeting and Wetherby’s late-October fixtures.

For followers who concentrate on the jumps, October is when the new season starts to take shape.

Chepstow’s October Jumps Meeting

Chepstow races over jumps on 9, 10 and 11 October.

The meeting traditionally provides useful early evidence for the months ahead.

Chepstow can be a demanding track, particularly when autumn rain arrives. Fitness and jumping fluency become important when horses return from lengthy breaks.

Early-season form should still be treated carefully.

Some horses are ready to perform close to their peak immediately, while others are being prepared with later targets in mind.

Trainer form and comments about a horse’s preparation can therefore add useful context.

Cheltenham Showcase – 23 and 24 October 2026

Cheltenham Racecourse stages its first meeting of the 2026/27 season on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October.

The Showcase is significant because it brings competitive racing back to the course that will stage the Cheltenham Festival the following March.

Not every Showcase winner develops into a Festival contender, and early-season results should not be overstated.

The meeting does provide useful evidence.

Course form matters at Cheltenham because of its undulations, stiff finish and distinctive jumping test. Horses that travel and jump efficiently around the course can establish valuable evidence for later meetings.

The Showcase also gives bettors an early opportunity to assess novice hurdlers and chasers as the winter season develops.

Old Roan Chase – 25 October 2026

Aintree’s October fixture on Sunday 25 October features the Old Roan Chase.

The race is run over approximately two miles and four furlongs on Aintree’s Mildmay Course.

This is important because the Old Roan is not run over the Grand National fences.

The Mildmay Course uses conventional fences and provides a different test from the Grand National course.

The Old Roan has attracted high-class chasers throughout its history and gives established performers an early-season opportunity over an intermediate distance.

Fitness can be particularly important. Many runners are making their first appearance of the season and may have larger targets ahead.

Wetherby at the End of October

Wetherby stages jumps fixtures on 30 and 31 October.

The Yorkshire track is closely associated with the point at which the jumps season begins to move into its winter programme.

Conditions can change quickly at this time of year, so going becomes increasingly important.

The official going description provides a starting point, but previous evidence on similar ground should be assessed alongside it. Our horse racing going page explains the main descriptions and how they affect different horses.

What to Look for When Betting on October Flat Racing

October Flat racing requires a slightly different approach from the height of summer.

Some horses have been racing regularly for months. Others have deliberately been given a break before an autumn target.

There is also a greater chance of softer ground.

Useful factors include:

  • Recent Form: Check the quality of the races rather than relying only on finishing positions.
  • Going: Autumn rain can significantly change the test, particularly at Ascot and Newmarket.
  • Course Form: Previous evidence at tracks such as Newmarket and Ascot can be valuable.
  • Distance: Do not assume a horse will stay a new trip because it finishes strongly over shorter distances.
  • Pace: Large fields can create strong positional advantages.
  • Draw: Assess the stalls alongside pace, ground and field size rather than treating historic draw statistics as permanent.
  • Trainer Form: Some yards deliberately target major autumn meetings.
  • Campaign: Consider how much racing the horse has already had during the season.

Our horse racing form page explains how to read the main figures, symbols and abbreviations on a racecard.

What to Look for When the Jumps Horses Return

Early-season National Hunt racing presents a different set of questions.

Fitness becomes more difficult to judge when a horse has not raced for several months.

Some runners have strong records when fresh. Others improve after their first start of the season.

Useful factors include:

  • Fitness: Check previous performances after similar breaks.
  • Jumping: Mistakes become costly as the quality of races improves.
  • Going: Autumn ground can change rapidly.
  • Course Experience: Cheltenham and Aintree provide distinct tests.
  • Trainer Form: Stable form can provide useful evidence when horses return from breaks.
  • Handicap Mark: Established horses may begin the season from a different rating after their previous campaign.
  • Future Targets: A horse may be starting its season rather than reaching its main objective.

Our handicap ratings guide explains how Official Ratings influence handicap races.

Following October Racecards and Form

The final declarations provide much more useful information than early entries.

Once a racecard is confirmed, you can assess the field, jockey bookings, weights, draw and recent form together.

Our today’s racecards page covers the day’s runners, while tomorrow’s racecards helps with the following day’s racing.

For a deeper assessment, our horse race analysis page explains how to combine the main factors rather than relying on a single statistic.

Horse Racing Tips in October

October creates plenty of opportunities for racing analysis because the programme includes Group 1 Flat racing, major handicaps and increasingly competitive jumps fixtures.

British Racecourses publishes free horse racing tips across the British racing calendar.

It is worth separating a strong selection from a strong bet.

A horse can have the best chance of winning but still be too short in the market. Comparing your assessment with the available price is an important part of betting.

Our betting odds section explains how prices translate into returns and implied probability.

Watching Horse Racing in October

The major October meetings receive extensive television coverage.

ITV Racing covers many of the biggest terrestrial fixtures, while Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing provide wider coverage across the British programme.

Our Racing TV page explains the service, channels and racecourse coverage.

Some licensed bookmakers also provide live racing streams to qualifying customers. Our horse racing live streaming page explains the main options.

Betting on the Major October Meetings

Major meetings produce some of the deepest betting markets of the month.

Prices can move considerably between early markets and the start of a race, particularly when going changes or a well-backed horse attracts significant support.

For readers comparing accounts specifically for racing, our best horse racing betting sites page covers the features that matter to racing bettors.

Mobile users can separately compare horse racing betting apps.

The two should not be treated as the same decision. A bookmaker can have competitive racing terms while its app experience is less suitable for somebody who places bets primarily on a phone.

October Horse Racing FAQs

Is there horse racing in the UK every day in October 2026?

There is racing on most days during October 2026, with a mixture of Flat turf, all-weather and National Hunt fixtures. Check the current declarations before travelling because fixtures can change.

What is the biggest horse racing meeting in October?

British Champions Day at Ascot is the major championship meeting of the month and takes place on Saturday 17 October 2026.

Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival on 9 and 10 October is another major meeting, particularly for two-year-old Flat horses.

When is British Champions Day 2026?

British Champions Day takes place at Ascot on Saturday 17 October 2026.

When is the Future Champions Festival 2026?

Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival takes place on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October 2026.

When is the Dewhurst Stakes 2026?

The Dewhurst Stakes is scheduled for Saturday 10 October 2026 at Newmarket during the Future Champions Festival.

When is the Fillies’ Mile 2026?

The Fillies’ Mile takes place at Newmarket on Friday 9 October 2026.

When is the Cesarewitch 2026?

The Cesarewitch is staged at Newmarket on Saturday 10 October 2026.

When is the Champion Stakes 2026?

The Champion Stakes is staged at Ascot on British Champions Day, Saturday 17 October 2026.

When is the Old Roan Chase 2026?

The Old Roan Chase takes place at Aintree on Sunday 25 October 2026.

When does Cheltenham racing return in October 2026?

Cheltenham’s 2026/27 season begins with The Showcase on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026.

Does the National Hunt season start in October?

No. Jump racing takes place during other parts of the year, including the summer.

October is better described as the month when the main National Hunt programme starts to gather momentum and many leading winter horses begin returning to the racecourse.

Does Flat racing finish after British Champions Day?

No.

British Champions Day is the major championship finale, but Flat racing continues afterwards. Turf fixtures continue later in October and all-weather Flat racing runs throughout the winter.

Where is the best Flat racing in October?

Newmarket and Ascot stage most of the month’s highest-profile Flat races.

Newmarket hosts the Sun Chariot Stakes and Future Champions Festival, while Ascot stages British Champions Day.

What are the biggest Group 1 races in October?

Major British Group 1 races during October include the Sun Chariot Stakes, Fillies’ Mile, Dewhurst Stakes, British Champions Sprint Stakes, British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Champion Stakes and Futurity Trophy.

See our complete Group 1 horse races page for the wider British programme.

Where can I find today’s runners?

Our today’s racecards page covers the current day’s British racing, with tomorrow’s racecards available for the following day.

British Racecourses has individual guides to many of October’s major races:

Summary

October 2026 brings together the closing stages of the major Flat season and the increasing strength of Britain’s autumn jumps programme.

Newmarket is central to the first half of the month. The Sun Chariot Stakes takes place on 3 October before the Future Champions Festival on 9 and 10 October, featuring the Fillies’ Mile, Dewhurst Stakes and Cesarewitch.

Ascot stages British Champions Day on Saturday 17 October, with the Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the other championship races bringing together many of the season’s leading Flat horses.

Attention increasingly shifts towards jumping later in the month. Cheltenham returns on 23 and 24 October before Aintree stages the Old Roan Chase on 25 October and Wetherby races over jumps at the end of the month.

For the full annual programme, see our 2026 horse racing fixtures and major horse racing festivals pages.

Here are all of October’s horse racing-related posts:

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Free Betting Sites

Fast Withdrawals

Mobile Betting Sites

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October 2026