The Flat season in Britain traditionally runs from the Lincoln Meeting at Doncaster in March through until the Futurity Trophy meeting back on Town Moor in November.
Flat racing occurs all year round in the UK and Ireland thanks to the use of all-weather tracks, but the season is defined as running from the Lincoln in March to November.
Some of the key stops include the British Classics at Newmarket, Epsom and Doncaster, alongside the unmatched pageantry of Royal Ascot in June.
There are also major summer festivals at Glorious Goodwood and York before Ascot goes centre stage again for British Champions Day in October after some of the big autumn handicaps and future champions races at Newmarket.
Here's our quick guide to the British Flat season, with a reminder that every race from the UK and Ireland can be watched live via the bet365 Live Sports Streaming Service.
March
- The Lincoln (Doncaster) - 29th March
April
- bet365 Craven Meeting (Newmarket) - 15th - 17th April
May
- 2,000 Guineas Stakes (Newmarket) - 3rd May
- 1,000 Guineas Stakes (Newmarket) - 4th May
- Chester May Festival (Chester) - 8th - 10th May
- Lingfield Oaks Trial (Lingfield) - 10th May
- Lingfield Derby Trial (Lingfield) - 10th May
- Dante Stakes (York) - 14th - 16th May
- Lockinge Stakes (Newbury) - 18th May
- Brigadier Gerard (Sandown) - 29th May
June
- Coronation Cup (Epsom) - 6th June
- Oaks Stakes (Epsom) - 6th June
- Derby Stakes (Epsom) - 6th June
- Royal Ascot (Ascot) - 17th - 21st June
July
- Eclipse Stakes (Sandown) - 5th July
- July Cup (Newmarket) - 12th July
- John Smith’s Cup (York) - 12th July
- King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Ascot) - 26th July
- Glorious Goodwood (Goodwood) - 29th - 31st July
August
- Shergar Cup (Ascot) - 9th August
- Ebor Festival (York) - 20th - 23th August
September
- Sprint Cup (Haydock) - 6th September
- St Leger Festival (Doncaster) - 11th - 14th September
- Ayr Gold Cup (Ayr) - 20th September
October
- Sun Chariot Stakes (Newmarket) - 4th October
- Future Champions Festival (Newmarket) - 10th - 11th October
- British Champions Day (Ascot) - 18th October
- Futurity Trophy (Doncaster) - 25th October
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