UK Horse Racing

Famous Horse Races UK

A definitive ranking of the ten most famous horse racing festivals in the United Kingdom — from the Grand National's thirty fences and the Cheltenham Gold Cup to the pageantry of Royal Ascot and the history of the Epsom Derby. Each festival is profiled with its feature races, prize money, attendance figures and the stories that make it unmissable.

Festivals

~£45 million+

Combined Prize Money

1M+

Annual Visitors

Year-Round

Racing Calendar

British horse racing has shaped the sport globally. The UK is home to some of the oldest, richest and most prestigious races in the world — from the Grand National, first run at Aintree in 1839, to the Epsom Derby, established in 1780. These festivals are not just sporting events; they are cultural institutions embedded in the British social calendar, attracting millions of spectators and billions in betting turnover each year. Below, we rank the ten most famous, with data on prize money, attendance, feature races and the history behind each one.

The Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire March (4 days)

Jumps

The pinnacle of National Hunt racing, the Cheltenham Festival is the undisputed championship of jumps racing. Four days of relentless drama in the Cotswold hills, where the roar of the crowd as the horses climb the famous hill to the finish line is like nothing else in sport. Irish punters travel in their thousands, making it as much a cultural event as a sporting one.

Feature Race

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Duration

4 days, 28 races

Prize Money

~£4.9 million

Attendance

~65,000/day (260,000 total)

Notable Races

Cheltenham Gold CupChampion HurdleQueen Mother Champion ChaseStayers' HurdleRyanair Chase

Did You Know?

▸The Festival features 14 Grade 1 races — more than any other jumps meeting in the world.
▸The Gold Cup was first run in 1924 and is the most prestigious steeplechase in National Hunt racing.
▸Golden Miller (1932–1936) holds the record with five consecutive Gold Cup wins.
▸The roar of the Cheltenham crowd as the tapes go up for the first race on Champion Day is known as the 'Cheltenham Roar'.

Explore Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire course guide →

Grand National Festival

Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool April (3 days)

Jumps

The world's most famous steeplechase. The Grand National is the one race each year that captures the attention of the entire nation — even those who never otherwise bet. Thirty fences, four-and-a-half miles of Aintree's iconic course, and a story of triumph or heartbreak that has defined the sport since 1839. The festival's Grand Opening Day and Ladies' Day build towards the Saturday showpiece.

Feature Race

Grand National

Duration

3 days, 21 races

Prize Money

~£1 million (Grand National alone)

Attendance

~150,000 over 3 days

Notable Races

Grand NationalAintree HurdleMersey Novices' HurdleMildmay Novices' Chase

Did You Know?

▸The Grand National is watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide across more than 140 countries.
▸Red Rum is the only horse to win the race three times (1973, 1974, 1977), trained by Ginger McCain on Southport beach.
▸The Chair and Becher's Brook are among the most famous — and fearsome — fences in racing.
▸Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Nationals in 2018 and 2019.

Explore Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool course guide →

Royal Ascot

Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire June (5 days)

Flat

Royal Ascot is Britain's most prestigious flat racing meeting and a highlight of the British social calendar. Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, it is the only race meeting where the British monarch attends every day, arriving by carriage in the Royal Procession. The strict dress code in the Royal Enclosure, the pageantry, and world-class racing combine to make this five-day spectacle utterly unique.

Feature Race

Gold Cup (Ascot Gold Cup)

Duration

5 days, 35 races

Prize Money

~£9.5 million

Attendance

~300,000 over 5 days

Notable Races

Gold CupKing's Stand StakesSt James's Palace StakesPrince of Wales's StakesDiamond Jubilee StakesCoronation Stakes

Did You Know?

▸Queen Anne founded Ascot in 1711 after declaring the heath near Windsor Castle 'ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch'.
▸The Gold Cup, run on Ladies' Day (Thursday), is Ascot's oldest surviving race, first run in 1807.
▸The Royal Procession has been a tradition since 1825 and marks the start of each day's racing.
▸Yeats won an unprecedented four consecutive Gold Cups from 2006 to 2009 — a feat unlikely to ever be repeated.

Explore Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire course guide →

The Derby Festival

Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey June (2 days)

Flat

The Investec Derby is the most famous flat race in the world and the richest race run in Britain. First run in 1780, it is the middle leg of the Triple Crown and the ultimate test of the three-year-old colt. Epsom's unique cambered course, with its rollercoaster undulations and Tattenham Corner, makes this one mile and four furlongs unlike any other. The Oaks, for fillies, is the feature on Friday's opening card.

Feature Race

The Derby (Epsom Derby)

Duration

2 days, 16 races

Prize Money

~£1.5 million (Derby alone)

Attendance

~100,000 over 2 days

Notable Races

The DerbyThe OaksCoronation CupDiiaching Stakes

Did You Know?

▸The Derby is named after the 12th Earl of Derby, who won the coin toss to name the race (the story goes he beat Sir Charles Bunbury).
▸The race has been run every year since 1780 — it was only ever cancelled during the World Wars.
▸Epsom's unique camber means horses are effectively running on a tilted track around Tattenham Corner.
▸The Derby is one of British racing's five Classics and the most valuable race run in Britain.

Explore Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey course guide →

Glorious Goodwood

Goodwood Racecourse, West Sussex July–August (5 days)

Flat

Set on the rolling Sussex Downs of the Duke of Richmond's estate, Glorious Goodwood is one of the most beautiful race meetings in the world. Known as 'Glorious' for good reason, it combines top-class flat racing with the glamour of English summer social season. The Sussex Stakes — a mouthwatering clash of milers from the 2000 Guineas and the Irish equivalent — is the headline act on Wednesday.

Feature Race

Goodwood Cup (G1)

Duration

5 days, 25+ races

Prize Money

~£5 million

Attendance

~100,000 over 5 days

Notable Races

Goodwood CupSussex StakesNassau StakesKing George StakesStewards' Cup

Did You Know?

▸Goodwood is known as 'the world's most beautiful racecourse', set high on the South Downs with views to the Solent.
▸The Sussex Stakes is one of the few races where three-year-olds take on older horses at a mile at the highest level.
▸The Stewards' Cup, a 6f handicap on the final Saturday, is one of the most competitive sprints of the season.
▸Goodwood is the only UK racecourse with a circular stewards' box — the Grade II* listed building dates from 1931.

Explore Goodwood Racecourse, West Sussex course guide →

York Ebor Festival

York Racecourse, North Yorkshire August (4 days)

Flat

York's flagship four-day meeting is the highlight of the northern racing calendar. The Knavesmire has hosted racing since Roman times, and the Ebor Festival — named after the Ebor Handicap, York's oldest race — delivers world-class sport in a relaxed, celebratory atmosphere. The Juddmonte International is regularly ranked among the best flat races in the world by international handicappers.

Feature Race

Juddmonte International Stakes (G1)

Duration

4 days, 24+ races

Prize Money

~£4 million

Attendance

~90,000 over 4 days

Notable Races

Juddmonte InternationalYorkshire OaksNunthorpe StakesEbor Handicap

Did You Know?

▸Racing at York dates back to at least 1530, with the current Knavesmire site in use since 1731.
▸The Juddmonte International was ranked the world's best flat race by the IFHA based on average rating of the first four finishers.
▸The Ebor Handicap, first run in 1843, is the richest handicap in Europe with a prize fund of £500,000+.
▸Frankel ended his unbeaten career with victory in the 2012 Juddmonte International at York.

Explore York Racecourse, North Yorkshire course guide →

St Leger Festival

Doncaster Racecourse, South Yorkshire September (4 days)

Flat

The St Leger Festival at Doncaster is the oldest of Britain's five Classic races and the final leg of the Triple Crown. First run in 1776, the St Leger is the longest of the Classics at one mile six furlongs and is a supreme test of stamina for three-year-olds. The four-day Town Moor meeting in September is a fixture of the late-season calendar and a celebration of staying power.

Feature Race

St Leger Stakes (G1)

Duration

4 days, 24+ races

Prize Money

~£1.5 million

Attendance

~50,000 over 4 days

Notable Races

St Leger StakesDoncaster CupPark StakesMay Hill Stakes

Did You Know?

▸The St Leger, first run in 1776, is the oldest Classic race in the world.
▸It is the final leg of the Triple Crown (2,000 Guineas, Derby, St Leger) — only 15 horses have won all three.
▸The race is named after Lieutenant-General Anthony St Leger, who lived near Doncaster.
▸Nijinsky in 1970 was the last horse to complete the Triple Crown — no horse has managed it in over 50 years since.

Explore Doncaster Racecourse, South Yorkshire course guide →

Newmarket July Festival

Newmarket Racecourse (July Course), Suffolk July (3 days)

Flat

Newmarket — the historic Home of Racing — hosts its summer highlight on the July Course, where the parade ring sits directly in front of the grandstand. The July Cup is the championship sprint of the European season, while the Falmouth Stakes brings together the finest fillies and mares. The July Course's relaxed summer atmosphere and Friday Ladies' Day make it one of the most enjoyable meetings of the year.

Feature Race

July Cup (G1)

Duration

3 days, 20+ races

Prize Money

~£2 million

Attendance

~45,000 over 3 days

Notable Races

July CupFalmouth StakesPrincess of Wales's StakesSuperlative Stakes

Did You Know?

▸Newmarket is known as the 'Home of Racing' — racing has taken place there since the reign of James I.
▸The July Cup is the European sprint championship and has been won by some of the fastest horses in history.
▸Newmarket is the headquarters of British breeding and training, with over 3,000 racehorses in training locally.
▸The July Course features a unique abutting hill that provides one of the best viewing experiences in racing.

Explore Newmarket Racecourse (July Course), Suffolk course guide →

QIPCO British Champions Day

Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire October (1 day)

Flat

The richest single day in British racing, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot brings the flat season to a spectacular close each October. The fixture was launched in 2011 to create a Grand Final for European flat racing, with four Group 1 races and a fiercely competitive Long Distance Cup. It is the day when championships are decided and legends are crowned.

Feature Race

QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1)

Duration

1 day, 6 races

Prize Money

~£4.3 million

Attendance

~30,000

Notable Races

Champion StakesQueen Elizabeth II StakesChampion Sprint StakesChampion Fillies & Mares Stakes

Did You Know?

▸British Champions Day is the richest race day in British racing history with over £4.3 million in prize money.
▸The Champion Stakes was first run in 1877 and is the headline race of the card.
▸Frankel signed off his 14-race unbeaten career on this day in 2012, winning the Champion Stakes in front of a sell-out crowd.
▸The day also hosts the finale of the QIPCO British Champions Series, a season-long points competition across 35 races.

Explore Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire course guide →

Punchestown Irish Racing Festival

Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare April–May (5 days)

Jumps

While strictly across the Irish Sea, the Punchestown Festival is inextricably linked to the UK racing calendar, especially coming days after Cheltenham and Aintree. It is Ireland's largest racing festival and a five-day celebration of jumps racing that regularly draws the biggest names from both sides of the Irish Sea. The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grand National-type test of stamina and jumping.

Feature Race

Punchestown Gold Cup (G1)

Duration

5 days, 40+ races

Prize Money

~€8 million

Attendance

~120,000 over 5 days

Notable Races

Punchestown Gold CupChampion HurdleChampion SteeplechaseChampion Stayers Hurdle

Did You Know?

▸Punchestown is home to the largest cross-country steeplechase bank in the world, standing at over 14 feet high.
▸The festival has been running since the 1860s and is Ireland's most valuable jumps meeting.
▸Many horses that run at Cheltenham and Aintree reappear at Punchestown — it often decides end-of-season championships.
▸The famous Punchestown Bank, a natural cross-country fence, is unique in European racing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous horse race in the UK?▾

The Grand National at Aintree is the most famous horse race in the UK. Run over four-and-a-half miles and 30 fences, it is watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide each year. The Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Epsom Derby are the other two contests that lay claim to being the most prestigious races in British racing.

Which UK horse racing festival has the biggest attendance?▾

Royal Ascot draws the largest attendance of any UK racing festival, with around 300,000 visitors across its five days in June. The Cheltenham Festival follows with approximately 260,000 across four days. Both are among the most attended sporting events in the British calendar.

What is the richest horse race in the UK?▾

The Epsom Derby, with prize money of approximately £1.5 million for the race itself, is the richest single race run in Britain. The most valuable race day is QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot in October, which offers over £4.3 million across six races. Royal Ascot has the highest total prize money of any meeting at approximately £9.5 million across five days.

What are the five British Classic horse races?▾

The five British Classics are the 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas (both at Newmarket in May), the Oaks and the Derby (both at Epsom in June), and the St Leger (at Doncaster in September). Only 15 horses have ever won the Triple Crown — the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger — with Nijinsky in 1970 being the most recent.

What is the difference between flat racing and National Hunt (jumps) racing?▾

Flat racing is run on level ground without obstacles, typically over distances from 5 furlongs to 2 miles 4 furlongs, and features no jumps. National Hunt (or jumps) racing requires horses to jump obstacles — either hurdles or fences — over longer distances, typically 2 miles to 4 miles 4 furlongs. The Cheltenham Festival and Grand National are the flagship jumps meetings, while Royal Ascot and the Derby are the top flat festivals.

When is the best time of year to attend a UK horse racing festival?▾

The UK racing festival calendar runs year-round. Spring (March–April) brings the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National — the highlights of the jumps season. Summer (June–August) is the peak of flat racing with Royal Ascot, the Derby, Glorious Goodwood, and the York Ebor Festival. Autumn (September–October) rounds out the flat season with the St Leger and British Champions Day.