Warwick Racecourse Guide

James Dooley avatar

Written By:

Updated:

Welcome to our official guide to Warwick Racecourse.

We explore this great jump racing racecourse in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the track, the top local hotel picks, the fixtures and events it holds, travel information and how to get there, and betting guides.

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

Find out more about Warwick Racecourse today:

Warwick Racecourse

Overview of Warwick Racecourse

With a prominent program of National Hunt races from September to May each year, Warwick is a must-visit for any serious racing enthusiast.

Owned by The Jockey Club, this racecourse hosts the celebrated Kingmaker Chase, which is its main annual race.

As a track, Warwick is not for faint-hearted jockeys. It measures 1.6 miles around and is left-handed, it’s a flat course and jumps are often taken at pace. The turns are also sharp with the track suiting handy racing types.

Flat racing is no longer conducted at Warwick Racecourse – it had a few mishaps with horses slipping on the flat – however, it is now established as one of the best jumps racing courses in the UK with top trainers sending talented horses to compete.

Thankfully, their hurdles and fences are responsible for a very low number of falls.

As a day out, Warwick races is tough to top. The venue is found in the heart of the town so it’s easy to access, and there’s plenty more to see and do in Warwick as well. Many like to enjoy an extended stay when visiting.

There is no formal dress code when going to the races and the entry price is among the more affordable in the country.

Warwick Racing Tips

MeetingTimeNameBet Slip
–:–
No Race Fixtures found today

History of Warwick Races

Warwick is among the oldest racecourses in the UK, with equestrian events first held in the area in 1694.

Local authorities hoped to tempt deep-pocketed investors to the town following a devastating fire with promises of fine horse racing.

The venue officially opened in 1707, with the grandstand – parts of which remain today –built-in 1809. At this time, Warwick quickly established itself as a “must-visit” venue, especially as it was the first in Britain to include National Hunt racing in its program.

A more contemporary claim to fame for Warwick Racecourse was the presence of Red Rum, who ran a Flat race at the venue in 1967.

Conversely, this was the same year that The Jockey Club purchased the racecourse, and they remain in control of the racecourse today. 

Check out this video below for a quick summary of Warwick Racecourse:

Warwick Racecourse Tickets

Warwick racecourse tickets are always very popular for all of their meetings. You’ll find great offers, deals and early birds to all of their events throughout the year and we always recommend booking in advance so you get to enjoy the day out and can plan ahead.

As racing at Warwick is so popular the events can sell out, so it is best to book early and in advance to avoid disappointment.

If you are looking for the best deals on Warwick Racecourse Tickets follow the official link here.

Warwick Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Warwick Racecourse:

Warwick Racecourse Map
Courtesy of At The Races.

Warwick is quite a tight racecourse and therefore tends to suit those who race handily (those close to the pace and leaders).

It is a left-handed course of a mile and three quarters in circumference, with 10 fences per circuit.

Warwick Racecourse Address

The official correspondence address of Warwick Racecourse is:

Hampton Street
Warwick
Warwickshire
CV34 6HN

How to Get To Warwick Racecourse

To get to Warwick Racecourse you can choose the following options:

  • By foot – it’s around a ten-minute stroll or three-minute taxi ride to reach the racecourse once you have landed in Warwick.
  • By car – if you’re driving to Warwick Racecourse, it’s equally easy to locate. The M40, M42, M5 and M6 will all connect you to the A429, which connects to the racecourse. Just point your car toward Warwick Town Centre and follow the wide array of signs that will guide you the rest of the way. For your sat nav pop in the following details – Hampton Street, Warwick, CV34 6HN.
  • Train – the local train station has a taxi rank if you prefer to be chauffeured, and this station connects to most major cities across the UK. We can’t stress enough that it’s easy to walk and avoid traffic, though. Upon leaving the station, you’ll be on Puckering Lane. Head to the end of the road and turn right onto Bowling Green Street. Take one last right and you’ll find yourself on Friars Street. The racecourse will be visible from here.

One of the great appeals of Warwick Racecourse is how close it is to the town centre.

Need some tips on what to wear at the horse races – check out our guide!

Main Races and Meetings at Warwick Racecourse

Warwick’s calendar is devoted entirely to National Hunt racing meets, kicking off in September and running through to May.

Flat racing ceased at Warwick in 2014.

A typical annual fixture list will resemble:

  • September – Warwick’s racing season opens with the two-day Heart of England meeting. Day one of this event is dubbed the Grand Season Opener, while day two is often tied in with a food and drink festival.
  • October – October sees Warwick host a single event, the Great Autumn Meeting. This is a traditional classic chase afternoon of National Hunt racing.
  • November – November’s sees two meets at Warwick. First is the British Sporting Icon Raceday. The event is once again a traditional National Hunt meet without a gala race, but glamour is provided by a mystery guest from the world of sport. This is followed by a Winter Warmer Raceday later in the month.
  • December – There is a distinctively festive air to Warwick Racecourse in December. Christmas at the Races takes place early in the month, while Warwick also hosts an annual New Year’s Eve race day.
  • January – Blow away the Christmas cobwebs, as January is a big month at Warwick Racecourse. Classic Chase Day in early January is a prime event in the venue’s diary, hosting the race of the same name. The prestigious Leamington Novice’s Hurdle is also run on this day. This event is followed later in the month by Midlands Raceday.
  • February – The Kingmaker Raceday in early February is not to be missed. One of the most celebrated events in British racing, the victor of the annual Kingmaker Chase gains entry to the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National. The Fabulous Fiver Raceday later in the month, which sees entry reduced to just £5 and hosts the Budbrooke Chase, is a welcome accompaniment.
  • March – By the time we reach March, the most reputable races at Warwick have been run. There is still fun to be had, though; this month hosts two further meets, Countryside Day and Spring Race Day.
  • April – April sees another two events at Warwick. St. Mary’s Lands Cup Day opens the month, headlined by a race that awards the titular trophy, while this month also sees the simple-but-effectively named April Race Day.
  • May – Warwick Racecourse concludes its season with a bang, seeing out May with no less than four events. Kids Carnival Day comes first, followed by Ladies Night a week later. The Proudly Warwick Meeting unfolds in the third week of the month before the Celebration Race Day marks the end of the season before the venue enters a brief hiatus.

All race meets are subject to change or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

Warwick Races 2024

Here is the horse racing calendar for Warwick Races in 2024:

DateRacecourseWeekday
13/1/2024WarwickSaturday
22/1/2024WarwickMonday
10/2/2024WarwickSaturday
23/2/2024WarwickFriday
10/3/2024WarwickSunday
4/4/2024WarwickThursday
25/4/2024WarwickThursday
6/5/2024WarwickMonday
11/5/2024WarwickSaturday
22/5/2024WarwickWednesday
30/5/2024WarwickThursday
24/9/2024WarwickTuesday
3/10/2024WarwickThursday
5/11/2024WarwickTuesday
20/11/2024WarwickWednesday
21/11/2024WarwickThursday
12/12/2024WarwickThursday
31/12/2024WarwickTuesday

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

Warwick Racecard

The racecards for Warwick races will be released the day before the races are set to happen. You can view full racecards in advance, check out  – tomorrow’s horse racing meetings and today’s horse racing meetings. In these, you will get an advance look at all the runners, trainers, form and riders.

You can also of course purchase a racecard from the track which carries much of the same useful information. Many like to keep these as souvenirs, especially from big horse racing events.

Best Warwick Races Betting Sites

From our research, here are the best betting brands for Warwick races betting offers, if you want to bet online.

As with most racecourses (UK) there are options to bet with independent bookies down by the rail of the course as well as Tote Betting facilities. Both of these are great and allow you to enjoy a traditional experience of a day at the races. If however, you would prefer to bet online then make sure you look at our sports betting online reviews when we compare the top betting sites around. We take on board a range of factors from best odds promises to customer service, looking at online bookmakers including:

and more!

Hotels Near Warwick Racecourse

As Warwick is a popular tourist destination, you’ll find no shortage of affordable accommodation offering easy access to the racecourse.

If you’re most comfortable with booking into a familiar chain, a Premier Inn and Hilton can both be found within a mile of the venue. Alternatively, if you’re happy to go independent, The Old Fourpenny Shop Hotel is within walking distance from the racecourse.

The Warwick Arms and the Castle Limes Hotel are also both within a mile and offer easy access.

Other Events at Warwick Racecourse

Warwick Racecourse, like all venues owned by The Jockey Club, is open to other events besides racing.

Musical performances and festivals are sporadically scheduled for the venue, which can also be privately hired for weddings, parties and corporate events.

Warwick Racecourse is also a popular venue for exercise, with dog walkers in particular frequently making use of the facilities on non-race days.

The racecourse is also home to a gold course and driving range, managed by the Warwick Golf Centre.

Warwick Races

Popular Questions

✅ Can you walk around Warwick Racecourse?

Yes you can walk to Warwick Racecourse.

Warwick is just off Junction 15 of the M40. The postcode of the course is CV34 6HN.

✅ How do I get to Warwick Racecourse?

The ways to get to Warwick Racecourse are:

  • By foot – it’s around a ten-minute stroll or three-minute taxi ride to reach the racecourse once you have landed in Warwick.
  • By car – if you’re driving to Warwick Racecourse, it’s equally easy to locate. The M40, M42, M5 and M6 will all connect you to the A429, which connects to the racecourse. Just point your car toward Warwick Town Centre and follow the wide array of signs that will guide you the rest of the way. For your sat nav pop in the following details – Hampton Street, Warwick, CV34 6HN.
  • Train – the local train station has a taxi rank if you prefer to be chauffeured, and this station connects to most major cities across the UK. We can’t stress enough that it’s easy to walk and avoid traffic, though. Upon leaving the station, you’ll be on Puckering Lane. Head to the end of the road and turn right onto Bowling Green Street. Take one last right and you’ll find yourself on Friars Street. The racecourse will be visible from here.

✅ How long is Warwick Racecourse?

Warwick Racecourse is left-handed, it is a quite sharp track that is 1m6f in circumference.

✅ What do you wear to Warwick Races?

Warwick races don’t operate a strict dress code, so you can wear what you like, but we suggest smart casual.

No ripped jeans or exercise clothing is permitted.

Summary of Warwick Racecourse Guide

Warwick is a wonderful, historic course, the first to hold national hunt racing (jump racing) in the UK.

Warwick is a stunning city and we recommend staying for a few days so you can take it all in.

It holds some quality racing, a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, and is great for family or days out with friends.

A little gem of a track.