Newton Abbot Racecourse Guide

Welcome to our official guide to Newton Abbot Racecourse.

We explore this small racecourse in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the track, travel information, and betting guides.

If you are looking for the latest betting tips for Newton Abbot, check out our full guide to Newton Abbot Racecourse tips.

Find out more about Newton Abbot Racecourse:

Overview of Newton Abbot Racecourse

Newton Abbot Racecourse is just a few kilometres from the town of Newton Abbot and the beautiful Dartmoor National Park. The course was for many years, dual-use – housing both horseracing and greyhound racing.

It is now a jumps course, situated just a few miles down the road from Exeter Racecourse.

It sits on the banks of the River Teign, and whilst comparatively small to its neighbour course, remains a popular destination for racegoers and trainers alike.

The track itself is left-handed and tight, favouring handy racers. It is oval-shaped of about one mile, one furlong, and is considered fairly easy to race – with seven non-challenging fences and a short run-in to the finish. Horses who have previously flat raced often do well here.

It houses all of the hospitality facilities you’d expect to find at a mainstream course and works on a programme of rolling development every winter, so fans can return to find better and newer amenities every year they visit.

The course remains independently owned, and its two restaurants; The Winning Post and The Paddock are well-reputed locally.

Ever competitive with Exeter, just 10 miles up the road, the course acts as a business and conferencing centre for companies locally and has diversified into the hosting of several different event types throughout the year.

Newton Abbot Racing Tips

Newton Abbot Races History

The racecourse was founded back in 1866 when local horseracing fans pooled their money together to buy the 91-acre site as somewhere to host races.

The venue quickly grew popular and was well-attended almost immediately, but a lack of further investment meant that a proper grandstand to house spectators was not built on the site until 1969 when Her Majesty The Queen Mother attended to officially open one.

Racing has been halted three times at Newton Abbot – during World War I, when it was occupied by troops and used as a prisoner-of-war camp; during World War II, when racing was suspended to allow for the potential occupation of the site (although this never materialised); and in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic closed the venue, although racing resumed behind closed doors after several months.

In 1974, the nearby Halfway Greyhound Track at Kingskerswell closed, when the land was sold for redevelopment. A new greyhound racing track was constructed in the final turn at the track designed to be de-constructed and removed whenever horseracing took place. The all-sand greyhound track too stayed independent, earning it the nickname ‘in the biz’ as a ‘flapping track’. At its peak, it was famous for hosting local races the Newton Abbot Derby and the Newton Abbot St Leger, with five local independent bookmakers present to manage the betting activities of racegoers. However, the greyhound track was not set for long-term success, and it closed its doors for the final time back in 2005.

The hospitality and conferencing facilities so popular at the racecourse today were opened in 1990, allowing the venue a diversification in business and opening new income streams.

Newton Abbot Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Newton Abbot Racecourse:

The course is left-handed with tight turns.

This means it favours more handy horses ridden up the pace.

Fences are easy and a very short run-in on hurdles course means the lead very rarely changes hands after jumping the final flight.

Main Races and Events Held at Newton Abbot

The most notable race held at Newton Abbot is undoubtedly the Lord Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase. Held every August, the race is run over two miles and five and a half furlongs. It is considered the epitome of summer racing at Newton Abbot and has held listed status in the horseracing calendar since 2008.

The most successful horse at the Lord Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase is Kings Brook, having won twice; although notably Take The Stand won in 2004 and went on to finish second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup later that season. Successful too was Snoopy Loopy, trained by Peter Bowen in 2008, who continued on to win the Haydock Grade 1 Betfair Lancashire Chase.

Newton Abbot Racecourse Address

The address of Newton Abbot Racecourse is:

Newton Abbot Racecourse
Newton Road
Kingsteignton
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 3AF

How To Get To Newton Abbot Races

The ways to get to Newton Abbot Races are:

• By car – a short drive and well signposted from the M5, with free parking available to accommodate up to 5,000 vehicles. Details for your sat nav – Devon TQ12 3AF
• By rail – the rail station sits on the mainline from London Paddington and is less than three-quarters of a mile from the course – a short journey that most racegoers arriving by train choose to walk.
• By bus – bus routes are largely rural, but the town of Newton Abbot itself is well serviced by bus.
• By air – helicopters can land at Newton Abbot by prior arrangement.

Hotels near Newton Abbot Racecourse

The nearest hotel to Newton Abbot course is the Premier Inn Newton Abbot, a straightforward and non-fuss budget accommodation option.

In the surrounding area, other options include The Passage House Hotel, Best Western Queens Hotel and The Union Inn. Newton Abbot isn’t huge, so many racegoers travelling stay in nearby Exeter.

Here are the best hotels near Newton Abbot Racecourse;

• Premier Inn Newton Abbot Hotel (0.1 miles)
• Passage House Hotel (0.8 miles)
• Keyberry (1.3 miles)
• Cockhaven Arms (2.7 miles)

Betting Shops Local to Newton Abbot

Tote betting is particularly popular at the racecourse, and the course frequently lists heavy income from this form of having a ‘flutter’!

Branches of a William Hill betting shop, Ladbrokes betting shop and Betfred betting shop can all be found in Newton Abbot town centre.

Other Events Held at Newton Abbot

The racecourse is anything but a one-trick pony!

As well as a packed racing calendar, it hosts weekly car boot sales, regular antique fairs, The Newton Abbot Country Show, The Newton Abbot Wellbeing Show and The South West Angling Show – all of which attract visitors from the local area and further afield

Summary of Newton Abbot

A small rural course Newton Abbot is always a great day out.

Whilst the racing may not technically be of the highest quality it is always competitive and a great day out for family and friends, as well as those in the know.

A popular and independent course we love spending an afternoon here. It also has great food options.

A little star.