Newbury Racecourse Guide

Newbury is one of Britain's best-known racing venues, with action all year round at the top level both on the Flat and in National Hunt racing.

The Berkshire venue has hosted racing on its current site for 120 years with racing in the town stretching back more than 200 years. Its combination of excellent facilities and high-class racing makes it well worth a visit for every racegoer.

Newbury hosts a highlight of the jumping calendar with the Gold Cup in the autumn while on the Flat the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes in May attracts a top-notch field each year.

Here's our guide to Newbury Racecourse.

Newbury Racecourse Location

Where is Newbury?

Newbury is in Berkshire, 26 miles south of Oxford and 20 miles west of Reading on the edge of the Berkshire Downs. The racecourse is a 15-minute walk from the town centre but also benefits from its own train station.

How to get to Newbury Racecourse

By Train

Newbury Racecourse railway station is the perfect way to arrive at the track and is within walking distance from the grandstands.

It is served by the Great Western Railway, between Thatcham and Newbury on the Newbury to Reading line, with direct trains available from Paddington.

By Bus

Local bus numbers 8, 9, 9b and 9c stop at Newbury Racecourse, with a bus stop close to the East Entrance.

By Car

• Newbury is a short drive from Junctions 12 and 13 of the M4. It is also easily accessible from the M3.

• Visitors travelling from the east, west and north (via M4) should enter the racecourse via Hambridge Road, while those arriving from the south on the A339 should enter via Racecourse Road.

Newbury offers free on-site parking to all racegoers on racedays.

Newbury Racecourse Layout

Track Layout

Newbury is a left-hand and mostly flat track that is widely regarded to provide a fair test for racehorses and is therefore popular with trainers. It is galloping in nature and generally able to provide excellent ground all year round. Its proximity to the major training centre of Lambourn makes it a staple for some of the leading yards in British racing.

Newbury's Flat circuit is ideal for the big, long-striding type and the action tends to unfold on the stand-side rail or up the centre of the track. The straight mile course is undulating throughout and noted for the absence of any draw bias.

Newbury's jumps track is one of the flatter layouts around. It is regarded as a stiff test of jumping but also a very fair one and is often viewed as a good place to take novices in order to gain experience over jumps.

On the chase course, the home and back straights each host five obstacles including an open ditch, with one fence down the side of the course, while the water jump is in front of the grandstands.

Enclosures and Viewing Areas

Newbury has some of the most impressive facilities in British racing.

• Grandstand enclosure

• Dubai Duty Free Grandstand

• Premier enclosure

• Berkshire Stand

• Hampshire Stand

Key Races at Newbury

Denman Chase

The Denman Chase, formerly the Aon Chase, is a Grade 2 chase over two miles, seven and a half furlongs run in February. Well-known former winners include See More Business (1997), Kauto Star (2007), Denman (2008), Long Run (2012) and Shishkin (2024), while Native River won the race three times in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Greenham Stakes

A key trial for the 2,000 Guineas, the Greenham is run each April over seven furlongs for colts and geldings only. Star names to have won the race include Mill Reef (1971), Celtic Swing (1995), Frankel (2011), Kingman (2014) and Muharaar (2015).

Fred Darling Stakes

The Fred Darling is the fillies' equivalent of the Greenham and has been used as a stepping stone to 1,000 Guineas glory by several famous fillies including Salsabil (1990), Shadayid (1991) and Bosra Sham (1996).

Hungerford Stakes

The Hungerford Stakes is a Group 2 race for older horses over seven furlongs in August, which was promoted from Group 3 in 2006. Previous winners include Inchinor (1993), Harayir (1995) and Excelebration (2011), 

Gold Cup

The Coral Gold Cup, a handicap over three miles and two furlongs, is a key race in the autumn National Hunt calendar often featuring candidates for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Past winners include Burrough Hill Lad (1984), One Man (1994), Denman (2007 and 2009) and Native River (2016).

Challow Novices' Hurdle

The Challow Hurdle is a Grade 1 contest over two-and-a-half miles held in December. Recent winners include the classy Bravemansgame (2020), Stage Star (2021) and The New Lion (2024)

Newbury Racecourse History

Newbury Racecourse Opening Date

Newbury races were first held in 1805 at Enborne Heath before moving to Woodhay Heath in 1811. The current site has hosted racing since September 26th, 1905.

Other attractions at Newbury Racecourse

Newbury plays host to some huge names in the music business with concerts by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Clean Bandit scheduled for 2025, while past visitors have included Madness, Olly Murs and Sir Tom Jones.