Major Events
There are many fantastic Flat racing events throughout the Flat season, each one steeped in history, glamour and always starring the best Flat racing horses in Britain.
Here is our guide to the main events throughout the flat season:
Stan James Guineas Festival
Course: Newmarket
Feature Races: 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas (both classics)
Date: 2 - 3 May
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The Stan James Guineas festival is the first major event of the year...and one of the highlights of the entire flat racing calendar.
Featuring two classic races in the form of the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, this is the first major test of true flat quality of the year, and a festival which is eagerly anticipated from the moment the flat season ends the November before.
The festival takes place every year on the first weekend in May, with the 1 mile 2,000 Guineas for Colts and Fillies the feature of the Saturday, and the Fillies only 1,000 Guineas taking centre stage on the Sunday.
Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes
Course: Newbury
Feature Races: Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes
Date: 16 May
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Prize money of £200,000 will be awarded to the winning connections of The Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes - the feature race to be held at Newbury Racecourse's Juddmonte Lockinge Festival in late May.
The race is always highly contended and is often won by a real Champion, guaranteed to ensure a highly charged and electric atmosphere at the beautiful Berkshire course. With great racing and extra entertainment included shops and children's activities, a great family day out for all is guaranteed.
The Juddmonte Lockinge was upgraded from Group Two status in 1995 and is the first Group One of the 2006 British flat season for horses aged four or older.
The Derby Festival
Course: Epsom
Feature Races: The Oaks, The Derby (both classics), Coronation Cup
Date: 5-6 June
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Epsom Downs Racecourse is the home of one of the most iconic events in the British sporting and social calendar - The Derby Festival. The two day festival of horse racing dates back to 1780 and is held on the first weekend in June.
The festival is the home of two of Britain's Classic flat races and is the most famous and prestigious flat event anywhere in the world.
The Friday of the festival features The Oaks, a Classic 1 mile 4 furlong race and the most important race of the flat season for Fillies .
Then on the Saturday is the main event, the absolute Blue Riband race in Flat competition anywhere in the world, The Derby. The greatest flat race on the planet has seen some memorable moments and fantastic winners, and the atmosphere surrounding this historic event is always electric.
Royal Ascot
Course: Ascot
Feature Races: The Queen Anne Stakes, The St James's Palace Stakes, The King's Stand Stakes, The Prince of Wales's Stakes, The Gold Cup, The Coronation Stakes, The Golden Jubilee Stakes (British Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge)
Date: 16 - 20 June
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Ascot Racecourse is synonymous with quality, style and excellence in providing unparalleled racing and a memorable day out. The pinnacle of the flat racing season is Royal Ascot, the most famous race meeting in the world. Royal Ascot is racing's equivalent to the World Cup, the difference being that Royal Ascot takes place every year as oppose to every four years.
Royal Ascot is a unique 5 day event in the summer social calendar, steeped in tradition, heritage and pageantry dating back to 1711. The jewel in Ascot's crown, Royal Ascot attracts over 300,000 racegoers each year, to view the splendour and colour of five days of the finest racing, fashion and glamour. The quality of the horse racing at the Royal Meeting is simply outstanding. It is an essential date for your diary.
Throughout the festival the racing is absolutely first class, and no 5 day festival features so many of the top races and top horses anywhere in the Calendar. Culminating in the Ascot Gold Cup, the meeting also features the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, St James's Palace Stakes, King's Stand Stakes, Prince of Wales's Stakes, Coronation Stakes and The Golden Jubilee Stakes, alongside a whole series of top class races.
Coral Eclipse Stakes
Course: Sandown Park
Feature Race: The Coral Eclipse Stakes
Date: 3 - 4 July
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The Coral-Eclipse is one of the most coveted prizes in the British Flat racing season and the showpiece Flat racing event of the year at Sandown, where first-class facilities, a wonderful atmosphere and great sport combine to produce a truly memorable day out.
The 10-furlong Coral-Eclipse is the first top-level contest over middle distances for three-year-olds against their seniors and usually brings together an intriguing mix of milers, specialist 10-furlong horses and confirmed stayers.
The clash of styles is one of the Eclipse's most appealing facets - who can forget Dancing Brave proving himself a champion after his Derby defeat in 1986, or dual winner Mtoto out pointing Derby hero Reference Point the following year, or Mill Reef (1971) and Nashwan (1989) dropping back in trip to add to their Derby victories?
Coral Eclipse day is a great social occasion, and many racegoers enjoy dressing-up!
The Ritz Club July Festival
Course: Newmarket
Feature Races: The UAE Hydra Properties Flamouth Stakes, The Darley July Cup (British Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge)
Date: 8 - 10 July
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The July course has a rustic charm and character like no other racecourse. Known as the English rose of racing, open air bars, thatched roofs, flourishing flowers and green velvet turf give the July course a unique romantic ambience.
A glamorous fashion theme runs throughout the whole of the Ritz Club July Festival with 'Best Dressed' competitions every day.
The racing is top class too, featuring Group 1 UAE Hydra Properties Falmouth Stakes and The Darley July Cup, two of the top flat races of the year.
King George Day
Course: Ascot
Feature Race: King George VI Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Date: 24 - 26 July
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The King George VI Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of the most prestigious and lucrative 1 1/2 mile races in Europe, and is the jewel in the crown of a fantastic day's racing at Ascot.
A highlight of the social and fashion year alongside a top day of racing, the King George day is a fantastic summer's day out for all the family.
Glorious Goodwood
Course: Goodwood
Feature Race: Blue Square Nassau Stakes
Date: 29 July - 2 August
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'Glorious Goodwood' not only offers 5 days of the very best in top-class racing, but is one of the highlights of the social summer season - famously described by King Edward VII as 'a garden party with racing tacked on'.
'Glorious Goodwood' and fashion go hand in hand. Ever since King Edward VII discarded formal morning dress in favour of a linen suit and Panama hat in 1906, 'Glorious Goodwood' has become the home of quintessential English summer fashion. Linen suits and the archetypal Goodwood Panama hat are worn by gentlemen, whilst ladies are noted for their classic quintessential English summer style.
Widely regarded as the world's most beautiful racecourse, Goodwood is set high on the South Downs and with far reaching views across the Solent, it really is the perfect place to enjoy horseracing and socialising at its very best. It has always been about effortless chic at Goodwood and coupled with some of the best horseracing in Europe, it really is 'the place to be and be seen'.
Ebor Festival
Course: York
Feature Races: The Juddmonte International Stakes, The Darley Yorkshire Oaks, The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes
Date: 18 - 21 August
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The Ebor Festival, which takes place in August, is the jewel in York's crown. The blend of the very best horses with a sense of tradition and style make it the centrepiece of many a sporting and social calendar.
The totesport Ebor handicap, one of the most famous races of the Festival, was first run in 1843 and is now the feature race on the Wednesday of the meeting. This combined with the Juddmonte International on the Tuesday the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday, which is traditionally Ladies Day, and the famous race for sprinters, The vcbet Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday, makes for a thrilling four days of racing.
Betfred Sprint Cup
Course: Haydock
Feature Race: Betfred Sprint Cup
Date: 5 September
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First run in 1966, the Sprint Cup is the only Group One race at Haydock Park (which is located in the North West of England between Liverpool and Manchester).
The inaugural running was held on November 5, 1966, and fell to Be Friendly, owned by the BBC's "Voice of Racing" - Peter O'Sullevan. Be Friendly took the race again in 1967 and remains the only dual victor to date.
It is the highlight of flat racing in the entire North West and always one of the most talked about sprint tests of the flat season.
The St. Leger Festival
Course: Doncaster
Feature Race: The St. Leger Stakes (classic)
Date: 9 - 12 September
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Every September the St. Leger Stakes is celebrated with four days of festivities at Doncaster Racecourse.
The St. Leger is the fifth and final classic race of the season, and also the oldest, dating back to 1776.
There are too many famous St Leger moments to list, but highlights include the phenomenal Nijinsky and Lester Piggott winning the Triple Crown in 1970, the Queen's Dunfermline out-battling Alleged - the only time he was ever beaten in his racing career, and Oh So Sharp landing the Fillies' Triple Crown in 1985.
The last Classic of the season, the St. Leger is still a truly great race and part of a fantastic festival.
Ascot Festival
Course: Ascot
Feature Race: The Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile
Date: 25 - 27 September
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The Ascot Festival is one of the most prestigious events of the year, showcasing both current and future stars in an array of top-class racing as well as providing entertainment and fun for all the family.
For sheer quality and variety, any racecourse would be hard pressed to top the Ascot Finale. The spectacular programme includes no less than four Group races, headed by the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The Group 1 race is one of the year's top mile contests and has been won by greats such as 1999 winner Dubai Millennium.
This day has a special place in racing history as the scene of Frankie Dettori's famous 'Magnificent Seven' in 1996, when he rode all seven winners on the card. Festival Sunday is family day, with a more relaxed atmosphere and attractions such as fairground rides, celebrity football and circus performers.
Cambridgeshire Meeting
Course: Newmarket
Feature Races: The Shadwell Middle Park Stakes, The Cheveley Park Stakes, The Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes
Date: 1 - 3 October
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The Rowley Mile is the scene for three of the finest days' racing of the year as Newmarket Racecourses stages its renowned Cambridgeshire meeting.
There are so many great races to look forward to on the Course Of Champions with a multitude of top horses competing for glory that could define their career. With three Group 1s and a further three Group races, the sheer quality of the meeting is undoubted.
Add in the stunning spectacle that is the totesport Cambridgeshire, one of British racing's most famous handicaps, and the introduction of the Tattersalls Timeform Million, and you have the ingredients for three unbeatable days of sport at The Home of Racing.
The totesport.com Cambridgeshire ranks as one of the best sights in racing with over 30 horses powering over a mile and a furlong as they seek to secure the spoils in the historic old race.
Champions Meeting
Course: Newmarket
Feature Races: The Champion Stakes, The Darley Dewhurst Stakes
Date: 16 - 17 October
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This is the day that has it all. With six Group races - two Group 1s, three Group 2s and a Group 3 - plus the totesport Cesarewitch Handicap and a million pounds in prize money, it is the highest class raceday in the British flat racing calendar. What a way to celebrate autumn at the Home of Racing!
An array of top-class performers will gathers on The Rowley Mile for one of the biggest days in racing's calendar.
The stars of the sport will assemble at The Home of Racing for a card that features the best of the best. Two Group 1s - the highest class of competition - three Group 2s, a Group 3 and one of the Turf season's biggest handicaps, the totesport Cesarewitch, is run on The Course of Champions.
Champions' Day really is a must-attend event. Why? The atmosphere crackles, the scene is colourful and the action is sizzling. In short, Champions' Day provides an unforgettable experience every year.
Racing Post Trophy Meeting
Course: Doncaster
Feature Race: The Racing Post Trophy
Date: 16 - 17 October
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Traditionally the last major fixture of the Flat season, the Racing Post Trophy is seen as a crucial test for next year's Classic races.
Run over 1 mile at Doncaster the race is an important trial for the Guineas events, as well as a festival of racing to sign the flat season off in style.
Say goodbye to Flat racing for another year at this famous and fantastic event.
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