Welcome to our official guide to Newmarket Racecourse. In this section we explore this great racing racecourse in detail, looking at its history, a guide to both courses, hotel picks, fixtures, travel information, betting guides and even the weather!
Newmarket Racecourse is a premier thoroughbred British horseracing venue that boasts not one, but two, separate courses: the Rowley Mile and the July course.
The town of Newmarket is often described as ‘the home of British horseracing’, and when you visit, you’ll see why: it lives and breathes everything equine! The town is home to the largest cluster of training yards in the UK and many major racing/equestrian organisations, including Tattersalls, the National Study and the Nation Horseracing Museum.
Both of Newmarket’s tracks host flat racing only, and each has a capacity of just over 20,000 attendees. The Rowley Mile is a course run on one mile two furlongs toward a dip at the end, gently racing downhill and then uphill. Races any longer than this are started slightly off the track and turn right-handed into the straight. The July Course is a one mile straight comprising of a long downhill route before an uphill finish in the last 200m. This too uses the track in between to start races of a longer length. The Rowley is used throughout the spring and autumn seasons, and the July, perhaps unsurprisingly, through the summer.
There is technically a third track at Newmarket, but it’s not entirely relevant to modern day racing and is used just once a year for the historical Newmarket Town Plate. This is known as ‘the Round Course’ but is sparsely attended.
These three racing options make Newmarket the most versatile and adaptable course in the country.
Newmarket Racecourse hosts a packed calendar of events year-round, and like many other courses in the UK, has branched out to become a multi-purpose events venue that’s a local favourite for gigs, weddings and large parties.
Racecourse History
Racing at Newmarket Racecourse can be traced back to 1622, when Lord Salisbury and the Marquess of Buckingham challenged each other to a race for the prize sum of £100; although it wasn’t for another fourteen years that any course was formally founded. In 1665, Charles II inaugurated the Newmarket Town Plate, a race still run at the course to this day. When he passed away, he became – and remains – the only monarch to have ever ‘raced a winner’ in a British horserace!
By 1840, there were seven annual races run at Newmarket Racecourse, and the town around it was fast gaining a reputation as ‘the place to be’ for those who enjoyed or wanted to work in the sport.
Whilst Newmarket may not have continued its Royal patronage quite as much as other notable courses in the UK, it remains the course of favour for jockeys, trainers and experts in horseracing. It is well attended and well regarded, with several major events happening here every year.
Main Races and Events
It’s difficult to identify the biggest or most important of Newmarket’s race events – as there’s 43 of them! But there are some big contenders.
The 2,000 Guineas Stake is the British equivalent of the Kentucky Derby, held on the first Saturday in May. The first leg of the triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, it is run across one mile. The very next day, the 1,000 Guineas Stake hits the track, a fillies’ only one-miler.
Summer at Newmarket is punctuated by the July Cup, part of a wider summer festival of racing. A six furlong flat-out sprint, winners can expect to pick up anywhere in the region of £250,000-£300,000!
The Newmarket Town Plate continues to be run on the Round Course annually, over three miles and six furlongs. A historical cultural race, prizes include a box of locally-sourced sausages and is open to amateur jockeys only.
Newmarket Racecourse Map
Courtesy of At The Races
Newmarket Racecourse Address
Newmarket Racecourse
Foreman’s Office
The Rowley Mile
Newmarket
CB8 0TG
How To Get To Newmarket Racecourse
Newmarket is situated in Suffolk and is easily reached by road from London or Cambridge. There is ample free parking and four electric vehicle charging points.
On race days, coaches and buses service the course directly from Newmarket town centre and areas further afield. There are private air strips available for patrons, but these must be booked in advance.
Hotels Near Newmarket Racecourse
Newmarket isn’t the largest of towns, but there are a few accommodation options for those choosing to extend their stay beyond just a day at the races. The town is walking distance from both courses, and popular hotels include the Bedford Lodge and Spa (a family-run 18th century boutique spa hotel), the Premier Inn Newmarket (a budget choice with free breakfast) and the Best Western Heath Court Hotel (an informal and relaxed hotel with restaurant and bar).
As Newmarket is frequented by so many ‘in the industry’ for work, you’ll also find a good selection of serviced apartments available for short-term hire; so if you’re looking to take a few days out and can work on a self-catering basis, these may be worth looking into.
Also, check out the fantastic range of brilliant hotels available via Booking.com below:
Newmarket Racecourse has betting shops and Tote facilities in all enclosures, and mobile phone signal boosters in the area give the opportunity for patrons to place bets online through their devices, even in the middle of blissful countryside! Newmarket staff are extremely used to dealing with first-time race-goers, so don’t hesitate to ask if you need any advice on having a flutter. You can find the usual independent bookies close to the track, but how many can vary by event.
In Newmarket town centre, you can find branches of Ladbrokes and Paddypower, though please note that one Ladbrokes branch is situated inside the local shopping centre (known as The Guineas) and so abides strictly by their opening and closing times.
Best Newmarket Races Betting Sites
At British Racecourses we often recommend betting online and via apps. This is because you can often get the best odds, great offers when signing up and you can place bets quickly and safely without having to queue.
If you are looking to bet online we recommend the following great deals:
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Important info: 18+. UK+IRE only. Min first bet £5. Must be placed within 14 days of account reg. £20 credited as 4 x £5 free bets. Not valid with CashOut. Free bet valid for 4 days. Free bet stake not returned. T&Cs Apply. Full T&C's Apply
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New Customer Offer. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Please Gamble Responsibly. Full T&C's Apply
Newmarket Racecourse Fixtures
To come.
Newmarket Weather
Punters and race-goers love to keep up with the weather to predict going conditions, as well as making sure what they wear is suitable. Here’s the current weather forecast for Newmarket:
Newmarket is a stunning venue for large parties and often frequented for weddings. A diversification into music has seen the summer evenings hosting live music concerts after a day of racing, with the 2020 ‘Newmarket Nights’ season having booked the likes of Tom Jones, The Pussycat Dolls, Brian Ferry, Rick Astley, McFly and Alfie Boe.
Summary
To come.
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