thumb|300px|A view of The July Course track, Newmarket, UK
thumb|300px|The Rowley Mile entrance, Newmarket, UK
thumb|300px|A view of The Rowley Mile from The July Course, Newmarket, UK
Newmarket Racecourse is a British Thoroughbred horse racing venue in Newmarket, Suffolk, comprising two individual racecourses: the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Newmarket is often referred to as the headquarters of British horseracing and is home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations, including Tattersalls, the National Horseracing Museum and the National Stud.
Up until 1744, the two most valuable races run at the course were the King's Plate and the Town Plate. Two more Plate races were added in that year, paid for by local traders, both worth 50 guineas – one was a race for five-year-olds carrying 9 stone, one was an open age race in four mile heats. Another paid for by landowners was a four-year-old race over four miles, each carrying 8 stone 7 lbs. At that time, formal races at Newmarket only took place twice a year – once in April, once in October. A second Spring meeting was added in 1753., a second October meeting in 1762, the July meeting in 1765, the Houghton meeting in 1770 and the Craven in 1771.
By 1840, there were seven annual meetings:) and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping tracks used for Flat racing only, each with a capacity just over 20,000, though this is rarely met.
- The Rowley Mile Course has a 1-mile 2 furlong (2 km) straight with minor undulations towards 'The Bushes', two furlongs (400 m) out. The penultimate furlong (200 m) is downhill and the last is uphill, forming 'The Dip'. Races beyond the distance of 1m 2f start on the 'Cesarewitch' or 'Beacon' course which turns right-handed into the straight.
In the late 19th and early 20th Century Newmarket also had a National Hunt course. The Links Gallops uses the course today and some of the buildings still stand adjacent to the Gallops and nearby road.
Notable races
The King's Plate (or Queen's Plate) was a major race run between 1634 and 1765.
Races in 2023 included:
{| class = "sortable" | border="1" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%"
|- bgcolor="#77dd77" align="center"
! style="width:70px" |Month
! style="width:80px" |DOW
! Race Name
! style="width:60px" |Course
! style="width:70px" | Grade
! style="width:80px" |Distance
! style="width:50px" |Age/Sex
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Wednesday
| Feilden Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Listed
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Wednesday
| Nell Gwyn Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Thursday
| Abernant Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Thursday
| Earl of Sefton Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |4yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Thursday
| Craven Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Jockey Club Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |4yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| 2,000 Guineas Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Palace House Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Newmarket Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Listed
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Sunday
| 1,000 Guineas Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Sunday
| Pretty Polly Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Listed
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Sunday
| Dahlia Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |4yo + f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Criterion Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Thursday
| Sir Henry Cecil Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Listed
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Thursday
| Bahrain Trophy
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Thursday
| Princess of Wales's Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Thursday
| July Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Friday
| Falmouth Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo + f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Friday
| Duchess of Cambridge Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Superlative Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Bunbury Cup
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Handicap
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| July Cup
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Hopeful Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Listed
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Sweet Solera Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |July
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Thursday
| Somerville Tattersall Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Friday
| Princess Royal Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo+ f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Friday
| Joel Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Friday
| Fillies' Mile
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Friday
| Oh So Sharp Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Cambridgeshire Handicap
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Handicap
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Sun Chariot Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo + f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Royal Lodge Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Cheveley Park Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Challenge Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Cesarewitch Handicap
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Handicap
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Zetland Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Autumn Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Rockfel Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 2
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only f
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Dewhurst Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Darley Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 3
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |3yo +
|-
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday
| Middle Park Stakes
| style="text-align:center" |Rowley
| style="text-align:center" | Group 1
| style="text-align:center" |
| style="text-align:center" |2yo only
|}
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Locations
(Location of Carpark)
(Rowley Mile)
(July Course)
See also
- Newbury Racecourse
References
Bibliography
- Course guide on GG.COM
- Course guide on At The Races