When Is Horse Racing Season in the UK? Fixtures & Key Races
Horse racing runs year-round in the UK, moving between turf and all-weather tracks with a steady rhythm of meetings, festivals, and feature races. Each part of the calendar has its own character, with certain months known for major moments that shape the season.
Whether you follow the speed of the Flat, or the stamina tests of jumps, knowing how the schedule fits together can make it far easier to keep track of meetings.
Below, we set out the key seasons, highlight some standout fixtures, and show how the main meetings link across the year.
When Does the Flat Racing Season Start and End?
The Flat season typically opens with the Lincoln Meeting at Doncaster in late March. That curtain-raiser sets the tone for the months ahead, with races run over level ground and distances ranging from sharp sprints, to staying contests.
While all-weather Flat racing continues throughout the winter, the core turf season runs from March to November, closing with the Futurity Trophy meeting at Doncaster. In between, the sport’s most recognisable fixtures take place, including the Guineas at Newmarket in early May, Royal Ascot in June, and The Derby at Epsom soon after. Later in the year, the St Leger Festival brings the Classics to a close.
Flat racing showcases pace, positioning, and racecraft without hurdles or fences. The variety of distances and track layouts means each meeting has its own rhythm and traditions, which is part of the appeal for long-time fans and newcomers alike. If your interest leans toward fences and hurdles, the jumps season follows a different pattern.
When Does the National Hunt (Jump) Season Run?
National Hunt, often called jump racing, centres on hurdles and steeplechases, and typically runs from late October through to late April. The winter months carry the sport’s most high-profile action, with the Cheltenham Festival in March and the Grand National at Aintree in April serving as the standout weeks of the year. Mid-season highlights include the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, a key guide to top steeplechasers.
Through the summer, a lighter programme continues at selected courses. This “summer jumping” period features handicaps, novice races, and regional highlights that keep the code ticking over until the autumn brings deeper fields and stronger form lines. The emphasis across the year is on balance: speed to travel, stamina to finish, and secure jumping to stay in contention.
Key Horse Racing Fixtures Across the UK Calendar
With the shape of each season in mind, it becomes easier to pick out the fixtures that anchor the year. The UK calendar blends heritage meetings with modern festivals, creating a busy schedule across both codes.
Some events can attract global attention, while others are cherished local traditions. Together they map out the narrative from spring to winter, and from emerging prospects to proven champions.
Major Flat Racing Meetings
Flat racing is known for its speed and tradition. In Britain, the Flat season highlights several major events:
Royal Ascot (June, Ascot): A five-day festival featuring top-class races such as the Gold Cup, alongside competitive handicaps and international runners.
The Derby (early June, Epsom): Run over one mile and four furlongs, this Classic is a key test for three-year-olds and a defining moment of the season.
The Guineas (early May, Newmarket): The 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas open the Classics and often set the form for the summer.
St Leger Festival (September, Doncaster): Home to the world’s oldest Classic, the final leg of the English Triple Crown and the closing chapter of the Classic year.
These meetings combine prestige races with deep undercards, offering a clear thread through the spring and summer.
Major Jump Racing Meetings
Jump racing has its own set of landmark occasions. The Cheltenham Festival each March concentrates the sport’s best hurdlers and chasers across four days, with the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Cheltenham Gold Cup as its centrepieces. For many, Cheltenham is where the season’s storylines come together.
A few weeks later, attention turns to Aintree for the Grand National Meeting. The Grand National itself is a long, demanding steeplechase over unique fences, and the wider meeting includes Grade 1 races that suit horses who bypass Cheltenham, or back up their festival runs.
Mid-winter form is often shaped by the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, a fast, right-handed test that can reward accurate jumping at pace. In April, the Scottish Grand National at Ayr adds another historic staying chase to the spring schedule, rounding off the campaign for many stables before the summer break.
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