A Celebration of Racing Festivals
Festivals of Racing is your No.1 information resource for the world’s major horse racing festivals, such as Royal Ascot, The Derby, Cheltenham Festival, Grand National & The Arc.
Festivals of Racing is packed with all you need to know about the top festivals on the horse racing calendar, with information on the races, horses, jockeys, owners, trainers, racecourses, hospitality, dress code, travel and more.
Upcoming UK & Irish Racing Festivals
Aintree : Home Of The World's Most Famous Steeplechase - The Grand National
The marathon Aintree Grand National Festival headlines 3 days of jump racing at the Aintree Grand National Festival near Liverpool in April every year, culminating with a 40-runner steeplechase that is by far the single biggest race on the Jump Racing calendar and the UK’s biggest betting event. A British sporting institution, the whole country seems to grind to a standstill to watch this iconic race. Aintree Racecourse attracts over 150,000 race-goers for this race alone. Over 11 million viewers tune in to watch the race on TV. With prize-money of just under £1 million, and over half going to the winner, the Grand National is the longest, hardest, richest Jumps race on the UK racing calendar.
No other horse racing festival can match the excitement at Aintree over 3 extraordinary days of the Festival. Days 1 and 2 of the 3-day festival – the Grand Opening Day and Ladies’ Day – provide the build for the big race on Day 3; the Aintree Grand National. Since Lottery won the first National in 1839, winning it has been the ultimate ambition for owners, trainers and jockeys and is regarded as one of the most testing National Hunt chases in the world.
Unmissable Racing Festivals
Cheltenham
£600 million will be wagered at the “Jewel in the Crown” of British horse racing; the Cheltenham Festival
Grand National
Over 10 million people watch the world’s greatest jump racing spectacle; The Grand National at Aintree.
Punchestown
The highlight of the Irish racing calendar is the 5-day Irish National Hunt Festival in April / May at Punchestown.
The Guineas
The Guineas at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course is the first major Flat Racing classic of the year.
Boodles Chester
The Boodles May Festival is Chester Racecourse’s most prestigious three-day race meeting.
Epsom Derby
With a £1.6 million prize fund the Derby is the UK’s richest horse race; the ultimate test for horse & jockey.
Royal Ascot
The centrepiece of the British racing calendar; 300,000 attend Royal Ascot in June; including HM the Queen!
Irish Derby
See the best horses in the world at The Curragh in June: The Irish Derby, Irish Oaks, 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas and the Irish St Leger.
Galway Festival
Galway is the highpoint of the Irish Summer racing season with 51 races over 7 glorious days and nights.
Glorious Goodwood
Glorious Goodwood in July / August is the sporting and social highlight of the high Summer Flat racing season.
Champions Weekend
The Irish Champions Weekend is a 2-day event in September, run at both Leopardstown Racecourse and the Curragh in County Kildare.
Dublin Racing Festival
The highlight of the Irish racing calendar is the 5-day Irish National Hunt Festival in April / May at Punchestown.
Latest Racing News
Get all the the festival latest news, features, guides, tips and more with Festivals of Racing.
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