Newmarket Racecourse Guide

Newmarket Racecourse is the home of Flat racing in Britain, situated as it is in the racing hub of Newmarket town. 

Newmarket is widely considered Britain's premier training centre and, within that, it contains the home of Flat racing.

Newmarket contains two tracks, the Rowley Mile and the July Course and it is the venue for the opening Classics of the British season, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas, usually run in late April-early May. We have put together the ultimate guide for everything you need to know about the famous racecourse.

Newmarket Racecourse Location

Where is Newmarket?

Newmarket Racecourse is situated in Newmarket, Suffolk, which is 14 miles northeast of Cambridge.

Newmarket is home to the National Horseracing Museum and the National Stud, as well as being densely populated with racing yards.

How to get to Newmarket Racecourse

By Train

Newmarket Railway Station is just a few miles away from the two Newmarket Racecourses, but organisers advice racegoers to use the free shuttle bus service, which picks customers up from outside the train station and the high street.

Cambridge Railway Station is 14 miles away and has connections to London.

By Bus

The Newmarket shuttle bus service runs between the town centre, Newmarket Train Station and the Racecourses.

Outrider Coach Services are also available on certain days from Cambridge, Royston, Bury St Edmunds and Ely.

By Car

• Due to Newmarket having two different racecourses, there are two different postcodes for the Rowley Mile and the July Course.

• The two racecourses are located on the A14, which offers excellent connections to all major roads in the East of England.

• When visiting the Rowley Mile, use postcode CB8 0TF, while when visiting the July Course, drivers should use postcode CB8 0XE.

Newmarket Racecourse Layout

Track Layout

The Rowley Mile Course

Home to the longest straight in Britain, the Rowley Mile is a wide, galloping track with a 10-furlong straight run-in.

The famous Newmarket Dip – about two furlongs from home – is a real test of a horse's ability to remain balanced on the undulations and can be the undoing of many would-be Classic contenders in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas.

Exiting 'the dip', it is then rising ground all the way to the winning line, ensuring a thorough stamina test. That finishing hill has seen many a Newmarket contender come unstuck, with jockeys needing to be aware of the need not to commit too soon. 

The Rowley Mile is used for racing in the Spring and Autumn and holds most of the Group 1 races that are staged at Newmarket.

The July Course

The July Course is two miles and a furlong in length with a sharp right-handed bend at the halfway point. One key difference in the track is the July Course has a downhill furlong not long after halfway, offering some respite for runners before a steady climb to the line.

The ability to see out a trip remains a prerequisite. The long straight is once again a factor in ensuring fairness overall.

The July Meeting hosts a pair of Group 1 races, the July Cup and Falmouth Stakes, which are the standout contests on this course.

Enclosers and Viewing Areas

The list of enclosures and viewing areas at Newmarket Racecourse are as follows:

• Premier Enclosure
• Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure
• Garden Enclosure

Key Races at Newmarket

1000 Guineas

The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race open to three-year-old fillies over one mile. It takes place on the Rowley Mile and is always held on the Sunday after the 2000 Guineas.

It is the second of Britain's five Classic races and it is the opening leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown, which is then followed by the Oaks and St Leger.

2000 Guineas

The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies.

It is one of Britain's five Classic races and it serves as the opening leg of the Triple Crown, which is followed by the Derby and St Leger.

It takes place each year at the start of May.

July Cup

The July Cup is a Group 1 flat race open to horses ages three years or older, and it is run on the July Course over six furlongs.

It is considered one of Britain's most prestigious sprint races.

Falmouth Stakes

The Falmouth Stakes is a Group 1 flat race open to both fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is also run on the July Course over one mile each July.

Newmarket Racecourse History

Newmarket Racecourse Opening Date

Newmarket Racecourse was founded in 1636, but the first Newmarket Town Plate did not take place until October 1666. Other races were held at the track, but that contest was the first organised race under official rules.

By 1840, there were seven annual meetings held at the iconic racecourse, and it explains why Newmarket is affectionately known as the headquarters of British horse racing.