A Guide to the Races in Suffolk
Click here to look for availability of dates and bookings for Newmarket Racecourse events.
When journeying in Suffolk as you enjoy one of our Barns or Barges for rent, should you find yourself entering an unassuming town in the west, you might notice the welcome sign telling you that you are now entering the ‘Historic Headquarters of Horse Racing.’
Any guesses for where you might be?
Newmarket
Newmarket is a market town located near the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire border, and is considered to be the headquarters of British flat racing. And for good reason. The history in this town of horse racing dates back to around the time of the Iron Age Iceni Tribe, where they very possibly enjoyed a spot of horse racing themselves. Indeed, the Romans recorded that the tribe sold and bred horses of their own.
Then, in the mid-17th century, the Newmarket Town Plate became the first horse racing event which had a proper set of rules to adhere by, which were instituted for the Newmarket Town Plate by King Charles II in 1665, instead of the ones which were previously made up by the locals. This has continued even to this day, and up until 1972, it was the only event which allowed female jockeys to participate.
Today, horse racing events run through the summer months, allowing visitors to enjoy the lovely summer weather whilst watching the horses race around the two courses that Newmarket Racecourse has to offer – the Rowley Mile and the July Course.
Throughout the summer, why not take a trip on a Saturday to Summer Saturdays at Newmarket Racecourse? Here you can enjoy the serenity of the July Course and experience outstanding horse racing events whilst enjoying the summer weather. With different “themes” for each race day, check out their website to see what is on offer!
As well as that, why not enjoy the Afternoon Racing, such as the ‘Cambridgeshire County Day’, taking place on the July Course on the 23rd June where you can enjoy the live racing action and Cambridgeshire’s showcase of different businesses, charities and more. Or, book for the 26th August where you can enjoy another highly anticipated day of horse racing.
Now, deciding what to wear to the races can present a challenge. Luckily, visitors of Newmarket Racecourse are advised on what will be best to wear. Click here to see what might be the best thing in your wardrobe to wear for the racing event.
Depending on where you are positioned in the course area, and where you have booked to be, there is a different range of food and drinks that are on offer. Click here if you want to know more about what refreshments will be on offer in your stand. As well as that, throughout the Newmarket Racecourse complex, there is a different variety of bars and food outlets which host a wide variety of different food and beverages for everyone to enjoy, as well as different restaurants to find foods that may be a little more formal. To find out more about the different bars and food outlets, click here, and to find out more about the different restaurants available, click here.
Throughout the year, Newmarket Racecourse hosts a wide range of other events besides horse racing, such as music events, which are collectively known as Newmarket Nights, which run through the summer months. This year, Newmarket Racecourse has a lineup of: Paloma Faith, Rudimental, The Script, Queen Symphonic, a concert celebrating the hits of Queen, Anne-Marie, The Wombats and Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, where your favourite club-classic hits will be played throughout the July Course. Want a ticket for Newmarket Nights? Well, look no further, and click here so you can get your tickets now.
So, if you want to spend a day out in Suffolk when renting one of our Barns or Barges, why not head over to Newmarket and spend a day at the races?
