Newmarket Racecourses

There is no place like Newmarket - it is the ancestral home of racing, where the racehorse reigns supreme and the Sport of Kings belongs to all. Newmarket owes its heritage to the monarchy, who established it as the official headquarters of racing over 300 years ago. The first race run under any form of written rules: The Town Plate, was founded by Charles II at Newmarket in 1664 and was the forerunner of racing as we know it today. Of the UK's 59 racecourses Newmarket is unique in providing not one but two complete and distinct racecourses in the same town

The NatWest Rowley Mile Racecourse situated on the fringes of the town is the larger of the two courses and hosts racing of the highest calibre including two of the five classic races: the 2000 Guineas and the 1000 Guineas, held in May, The Cambridgeshire Meeting held in October, and the superlative Champions Day also in October. It has fantastic facilities within it's spectacular Millenium Grandstand.

The July Racecourse resides alongside the National Stud on the approach road to Newmarket. It is a course that captivates visitors with it's rustic charm and summer garden party atmosphere. The July Racecourse plays host to the illustrious Ritz Club July Festival and the increasingly popular "Newmarket Nights" - This year at Newmarket Nights we have: Friday 22nd June - INXS, Friday 29th June - Artist TBC, Friday 20th July - Artist TBC, Friday 27th July - Artist TBC, Friday 3rd August - Jools Holland and his Rhythmn and Blues Orchestra, Friday 10th August - Artist TBC and Friday 17th August - Artist TBC. Artists will be announced on the Newmarket Racecourses Website as they are confirmed.

The top racing event at the July Course is the 'Ritz Club July Festival' which takes place Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th July. The Ritz Club July festival features three days of high class racing with an irresistible garden party atmosphere, making for a fantastic social occasion. For the opening day of the festival, Newmarket teams up with with Classic FM for a special days racing with classical interludes of music before, during and after the racing. The second day, Thursday 12th July is Newmarket's Ladies Day is the most glamorous of Newmarket's summer race days. It is without a doubt the most stylish day of the festival. Friday presents the Darley July Cup which is the number one sprint race in Europe. Come along on the final day of the festival to witness the fastest thoroughbreds fighting for the Champion Stakes Crown. The whole festival is a fantastic occasion. Its the perfect way to treat yourself to a extremely long weekend.