With autumn and winter behind us, and spring in full bloom, it is now time to consider the numerous UK summer race meetings scheduled to take place each year.
In this preview, we will list some of the major UK summer race meetings that take place each year, giving you the lowdown on when and where they take place, and which are the feature races that are usually the highlight of each meet.
Best of all, these fixtures take place all over the U.K., meaning that fans can usually find at least one, or more, of these meetings relatively local to them.
And if not, then you can follow all the top UK summer race meetings, with plentiful betting opportunities on each and ante-post betting available on many races, at bet365 Sport!
You do need to be a member, however, which is why we suggest you take a look at the current bet365 Welcome Offer, which does give new customers a nice bonus when they sign up!
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Let’s now take a look at a list of the top UK summer race meetings taking place from early May through to September.
QIPCO Guineas Festival
The 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas are the first two of five classics of the flat racing season and take place on Saturday (2,000 Guineas for 3-yr-old Thoroughbreds) and Sunday (1,000 Guineas for 3-yr-old Fillies)
QIPCO Guineas Festival Fun Fact – The 2,000 Guineas is part of British Racing’s ‘Triple Crown’ along with The Derby and the St. Leger.
Boodles May Festival
The oldest racecourse in Britain, Chester has hosted races of some kind since Roman times and horse racing since the 16th century. The Chester Cup is the highlight of the festival, taking in two and a quarter miles around the ‘Roodee’.
Boodles May Festival Fun Fact – Mayor Henry Gee granted permission for races to be run at Chester Racecourse in the 16th century. It is from his surname that the term ‘Gee-Gee’ to describe a horse originates.
Dante Festival
The Dante Festival offers a chance to see some potential classic race winners in action ahead of the races later in the summer, while the horses that shine on Friday are potential Ascot Gold Cup contenders.
Dante Festival Fun Fact – The racecourse at York is known as the ‘Knavesmire’.
Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes Day
A popular one-day meet that boasts a wealth of attractions for racegoers, as well as outstanding racing, including two major races that attract some of the best horses in the country to compete.
Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes Day Fun Fact – The Group 1 Lockinge Stakes is the first Group 1 race for horses aged four and over that is contested over a mile.
Derby Festival
Like the Guineas meeting at Newmarket, the Derby Festival sees two of the five British Classic races contested in the shape of The Oaks and The Derby. For many, the Derby is the most prestigious title to win in the flat racing season. For many fans, it is the most exciting UK summer race meeting.
Derby Festival Fun Fact – Like the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, The Oaks is for 3-yr-old fillies, while The Derby is for 3-yr-old thoroughbreds.
Royal Ascot
One of the most prestigious events in racing, the five days of Royal Ascot is the highlight of all UK summer race meetings. With Royal Patronage and at least 15 Group Races, and one Group 1 race held every day, it has become one of the most popular events for socialites and the well-to-do.
Royal Ascot Fun Fact – Each day of racing at Royal Ascot is preceded by members of the Royal Family arriving via a procession down the course.
Northumberland Plate Festival
After a significant investment in the course and event, the Northumberland Plate Festival is now another of several outstanding UK summer race meetings. A family-friendly festival that mixes fashion and style, with a relaxed atmosphere ideal for first-time racegoers.
Northumberland Plate Festival Fun Fact – The Plate Festival is known as the North’s version of Royal Ascot, while the Plate race itself is known as “Pitmen’s Derby’.
Coral Summer Festival
Set against the backdrop of the glorious Sandown racecourse, the Summer Festival features the Coral Eclipse, one of the highlights of the summer whose past winners include Mill Reef, Sadler’s Wells, Nashwan and Sea the Stars.
Coral Summer Festival Fun Fact – The Eclipse is named after an 18th-century racehorse of the same name and it was first contested in 1886 and was, at the time, the richest race ever run in Britain.
The Boodles July Festival
Raced over the July Course, the Boodles July Festival attracts a number of top-class horses to take part in a number of key races. It is another very popular addition to the roster of UK summer race meetings.
The Boodles July Festival Fun Fact – A race-day at the Boodles July Festival not only includes fantastic racing, but evening entertainment featuring live bands and musicians.
The King George Weekend
Outside of Royal Ascot, this is the racecourse's next-biggest weekend of the year, featuring a number of top races as well as all the social side of racing, including fine dining, post-race entertainment and more.
The King George Weekend Fun Fact – Some of the most famous winners of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes include The Minstrel, Shergar, Dancing Brave, Nashwan, Montjeu, Galileo, Golan and Enable.
The Qatar Goodwood Festival (Glorious Goodwood)
One of the premier UK summer race meetings each year “Glorious” Goodwood offers five days of outstanding racing at the height of the British summer, featuring a number of hugely competitive races and attracting tens of thousands of spectators across the five days. Goodwood is part of the UK summer race meetings establishment!
The Qatar Goodwood Festival Fun Fact – Goodwood was the first racecourse to introduce on-course commentary for its racegoers, doing so in 1952.
The Ebor Festival
Four days of high-quality racing earmarks the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse. The Juddmonte International Stakes has produced some fine winners including Troy, Ezzoud, Halling, Nayef, Frankel and City of Troy.
The Ebor Festival Fun Fact – In 2008, the Ebor Festival had to be abandoned entirely due to unseasonably wet weather. The only time the Festival has been cancelled in its history.
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The Sprint Cup Festival
As the final top-level sprint of the season, the Sprint Cup attracts a quality field of sprinters to compete in the six-furlong race at Haydock Park in September. Past winners include Dayjur, The Tin Man and Montassib.
The Sprint Cup Festival Fun Fact – A bronze statue of the winner of the first two Sprint Cup races, Be Friendly, is located at Haydock Park to commemorate the inaugural two-time winner.
The St. Leger Festival
The final classic of the season and the only one contested in the north of England. The St. Leger is the oldest of the five classic races and he final leg of the Triple Crown.
The St. Leger Festival Fun Fact – The Thoroughbred’s Triple Crown has not been achieved since 1970, when Nijinski completed the treble. Stradivarius, however, completed the Stayers’ Triple Crown of Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup in 2019.
The Ayr Gold Cup
First contested in 1804, the Ayr Gold Cup is the biggest race of this popular meeting held at the beautiful Ayr Racecourse, regularly voted one of the best in Scotland.
The Ayr Gold Cup Fun Fact – No horse has achieved back-to-back successes in the Ayr Gold Cup since Heronslea in 1930 and 1931.
The Cambridgeshire Meeting
Finish the summer in style by heading back to where it all started, the glorious Newmarket racecourse, home to British racing to take in a wealth of group races, as well as the first of two races forming the Autumn Double.
The Cambridgeshire Meeting Fun Fact – The Cambridgeshire Handicap forms the first leg of the Autumn Double, alongside the Cesarewitch Handicap, which is run in October at the same course.
So if you love your UK summer race meetings and fancy a wager either online, or by heading to the course, ensure you add these dates to your diary each year to enjoy the best of British racing each summer!
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