Premier Handicap Horse Races

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The premier handicap races are high prize money races for racehorses in the handicap class.

Premier Handicaps are the premium horse racing handicap events. The premier handicap racing events are a test for the best racehorses who are weighted depending on age and previous form. The weight allowance means horses with previous success carry a penalty for winning.

In our premier handicap horse racing guide, we will list everything you need to know about the biggest and best premier handicap horse races.

All Premier Handicap Horse Races

Here is a list of all the premier handicap races in the UK:

Race NameRacecourseDistanceAge/SexMonth
Lincoln HandicapDoncaster1m4yo+March
Rosebery StakesKempton1m 2f 219y4yo+March
European Free HandicapNewmarket7f3yoApril
Newbury Spring CupNewbury1m4yo+April
Great Metropolitan HandicapEpsom1m 4f 6y4yo+April
City and Suburban HandicapEpsom1m 2f 17y4yo+April
Esher CupSandown1m3yoMay
Chester CupChester2m 2f 147y4yo+May
Victoria CupAscot7f4yo+May
Hambleton StakesYork7f 192y4yo+May
Braveheart HandicapHamilton1m 4f4yo+May
Silver BowlHaydock1m 37y3yoMay
Whitsun CupSandown1m4yo+May
Zetland Gold CupRedcar1m 2f 1y3yo+June
Epsom DashEpsom5f3yo+June
Ascot StakesAscot2m 3f 210y4yo+June
Royal Hunt CupAscot1m3yo+June
Britannia StakesAscot1m3yoJune
King George V StakesAscot1m 3f 211y3yoJune
Sandringham HandicapAscot1m3yo fJune
Duke of Edinburgh StakesAscot1m 3f 211y3yo+June
Wokingham StakesAscot6f3yo+June
Carlisle BellCarlisle7f 173y3yo+June
Northumberland PlateNewcastle2m 56y3yo+June
Old Newton CupHaydock1m 3f 175y3yo+July
Bunbury CupNewmarket7f3yo+July
John Smith’s CupYork1m 2f 56y3yo+July
Stewards’ CupGoodwood6f3yo+August
Summer CupThirsk7f 218y3yo+August
Great St. Wilfrid StakesRipon6f3yo+August
Ebor HandicapYork1m 5f 188y4yo+August
Portland HandicapDoncaster5f 143y3yo+September
Ayr Gold CupAyr6f3yo+September
Cambridgeshire HandicapNewmarket1m 1f3yo+September
Cesarewitch HandicapNewmarket2m 2f3yo+October
November HandicapDoncaster1m 3f 197y3yo+November

Guide To All UK Premier Handicap Races

Here is a guide to all the premier handicaps in the UK:

Lincoln Handicap

The Lincoln is a Premier Handicap horse race hosted at Doncaster Racecourse in March over a 1-mile distance. The race is eligible to horses four years old and above, and it draws a tough field of milers hoping to win the year’s first Premier Handicap.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Lincoln Premier Handicap event.

Rosebery Stakes

The Rosebery Stakes is a 1 mile 2 furlongs and 219 yard Premier Handicap horse race contested at Kempton Racecourse in March.

Rosebery Stakes

Horses must be four years old or older to compete in this race at the start of the Flat season.

European Free Handicap

The European Free Handicap is a Listed flat horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged three years and up. In mid-April, it is run over a distance of 7 furlongs on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket.

For more information, check out our full guide to the European Free Handicap horse race.

Newbury Spring Cup

The Newbury Spring Cup is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged four and higher.

Newbury Spring Cup

It takes place every year in April at Newbury over a distance of one mile.

Great Metropolitan Handicap

The Great Metropolitan Handicap is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged four and up.

Great Metropolitan Handicap

It is run at Epsom in April over a distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs and 6 yards during the Epsom Spring meeting.

City and Suburban Handicap

The City and Suburban Handicap is a flat handicap horse competition featuring in the United Kingdom for horses aged four and over.

City and Suburban Handicap

It is run at Epsom in April over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 17 yards during the Epsom Spring meeting.

Esher Cup

The Esher Cup is a three-year-old flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom.

Esher Cup

It is held every year in late April at Sandown Park over a distance of one mile.

Chester Cup

The Chester Cup is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged four and higher. It is run at Chester in May over a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs, and 147 yards.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Chester Cup event.

Victoria Cup

The Victoria Cup is a flat handicap horse event hosted in the Uk for horses aged four and higher.

Victoria Cup

In May, it is run over a distance of seven furlongs at Ascot.

Hambleton Stakes

The Hambleton Stakes is a handicap flat horse event taking place in the United Kingdom for horses aged four and up.

Hambleton Stakes

It is held every year in May at York over a course of 7 furlongs and 192 yards.

Braveheart Handicap

The Braveheart Handicap is a four-year-old and over flat handicap horse conference organized in the Uk.

Braveheart Handicap

It is held at Hamilton over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs and takes place each year in May.

Silver Bowl

The Silver Bowl Stakes is a three-year-old flat handicap horse conference organized in the Uk.

Silver Bowl

It is held annually at Haydock Park over a distance of 1 mile and 37 yards (1,643 metres) and takes place around the end of May.

Whitsun Cup

The Whitsun Cup is a flat handicap horse competition featuring in the United Kingdom for horses aged four and higher.

Whitsun Cup

It is held every year at the end of May at Sandown Park over a distance of one mile.

Zetland Gold Cup

The Zetland Gold Cup is a flat handicap horse festival hosted in the United Kingdom that is open to horses aged three and up. It takes held every year at the end of May or the beginning of June at Redcar over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 1 yard.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Zetland Gold Cup event.

Epsom Dash

The Epsom Dash is a flat handicap horse festival hosted in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and up. It takes held every year in early June at Epsom over a distance of 5 furlongs.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Epsom Dash event.

Ascot Stakes

The Ascot Stakes is a flat handicap horse competition featuring the United Kingdom for horses aged four and over. It is held at Ascot every year in June on the first day of the Royal Ascot meeting and is run over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Ascot Stakes event.

Royal Hunt Cup

The Royal Hunt Cup is a flat handicap horse event taking place in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and higher. It takes place every year in June at Ascot over a distance of one mile.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Royal Hunt Cup event.

Britannia Stakes

The Britannia Stakes is a British flat handicap horse event for three-year-old colts and geldings. It is held each year on the third day of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot over a distance of one mile on the straight course.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Britannia Stakes event.

King George V Stakes

The King George V Stakes is a three-year-old flat handicap horse event in Great Britain. It is held every year on the third day of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards.

For more information, check out our full guide to the King George V Stakes event.

Sandringham Handicap

The Sandringham Handicap is a British flat handicap horse race for three-year-old fillies. It is held every year in June on the fourth day of the Royal Ascot meeting and is run over a distance of one mile.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Sandringham Handicap event.

Duke of Edinburgh Stakes

The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is a flat Handicap horse race held in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and up. It is held every year in June at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes event.

Wokingham Stakes

The Wokingham Stakes is a flat handicap horse competition featuring in the Uk for horses aged three and up. It takes place every year in June at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Wokingham Stakes event.

Carlisle Bell

The Carlisle Bell is held every year in June at Carlisle Racecourse over a distance of 7 furlongs and 173 yards (1,566 metres), and it is run alongside another classic event, the Cumberland Plate.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Carlisle Bell event.

Northumberland Plate

The Northumberland Plate is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and up. It is held every year in late June or early July at Newcastle over a distance of 2 miles and 56 yards.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Northumberland Plate event.

Old Newton Cup

The Old Newton Cup is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged four and higher. It is held every year in July at Haydock over a course of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 175 yards.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Old Newton Cup event.

Bunbury Cup

The Bunbury Cup is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom that is open to horses aged three and up. It takes contested every year in July on Newmarket’s July Course over a distance of 7 furlongs.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Bunbury Cup event.

John Smith’s Cup

The John Smith’s Cup is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and up. It takes place every year in July and is run over a course of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 56 yards at York.

For more information, check out our full guide to the John Smith’s Cup event.

Stewards’ Cup

The Stewards’ Cup is a flat handicap horse event held in the Uk for horses aged three and higher. It is held at Goodwood over a distance of 6 furlongs and takes place every year in late July or early August.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Stewards’ Cup event.

Summer Cup

The Summer Cup is an English Listed National Hunt handicap steeplechase open to horses aged five and up. The race takes held every year in late June or early July at Uttoxeter over a distance of 3 miles, 2 furlongs, and 13 yards (3319 metres).

For more information, check out our full guide to the Summer Cup event.

Great St. Wilfrid Stakes

The Great St. Wilfrid Stakes is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and up. It takes place every year in August at Ripon over a distance of 6 furlongs. The festival is named after Ripon’s patron saint, St. Wilfrid.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Great St. Wilfrid Stakes event.

Ebor Handicap

The Ebor Handicap is a flat handicap horse event held in the Uk for horses aged four and up. It is held at York and is 1 mile 5 furlongs and 188 yards long. Every year in August, it is scheduled to take place.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Ebor Handicap event.

Portland Handicap

The Portland Handicap is a flat handicap horse festival hosted in the U.k for horses aged three and over. It is held each year in September at Doncaster over a distance of 5 furlongs and 143 yards.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Portland Handicap event.

Ayr Gold Cup

The Ayr Gold Cup is a flat handicap horse event taking place in the U.k for thoroughbreds aged three and higher. It is held each year in September at Ayr over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres).

For more information, check out our full guide to the Ayr Gold Cup event.

Cambridgeshire Handicap

The Cambridgeshire Handicap is a flat handicap horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and up. It is held every year in late September on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Cambridgeshire Handicap event.

Cesarewitch Handicap

The Cesarewitch Handicap is a flat handicap horse competition featuring in the U.k. for horses aged three and up. It is a two-mile and two-furlong race that takes place at Newmarket and concludes on the Rowley Mile. Every year in October, it is scheduled to take place.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Cesarewitch Handicap event.

November Handicap

The November Handicap is a flat handicap horse festival hosted in the Uk for horses aged three and over. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 197 yards, and it is held in early November each year.

For more information, check out our full guide to the November Handicap event.

Summary

The premier handicap races are run over various distances varying from 5 furlongs up to 2-mile events.

If you like Irish Racing check out our guide on all the Premier Handicaps in Ireland.

Punters enjoy placing bets on the Premier Handicaps because they are well-contested races that are hard to predict the winner.

Other popular horse racing events you might be interested in are:

Check out our guide for the full list of horse racing fixtures 2024 in the UK.

Understanding handicaps in horse racing are vital for punters interested in horse racing betting. Horses in a race are allocated different weights (displayed on UK racecards in stone and lbs) according to their official ratings (OR).

If punters can study the form and find racehorses who like the course, ground and think it will return to form for the premier handicap there are amazing odds to be wagered on with Premier Handicap races.

Here are all the related articles to the Types of Horse Races 2024:

If you do choose to bet, please bet responsibly.