Top jockey Jim Crowley, who won the 2016 Flat jockey crown and scored 29 Group One wins, has retired from race-riding 10 months after a serious fall at York.

Jim, 48, announced his retirement on Saturday (1 August) and was given a guard of honour by his weighing room colleagues at Goodwood, a racecourse where he has enjoyed some of his most memorable days.

“It has been tough, the hardest decision of my life,” said Jim. “I had my first ride when I was 17. Time does not wait for anybody, and the injuries I had at York have taken a lot longer than I anticipated. But I feel very fortunate to have come out of that accident because it was a pretty nasty one.

“On to the next chapter. I only made the decision last night – I thought Goodwood is on, my local track, and it is a nice way to finish.”

He added: “I have talked to a couple of my closest friends, whose judgement I really respect, but at the end of the day the decision came from me because I have never listened to anyone my whole life.

“When I was a jump jockey, people said I would not do any good on the Flat, so that made me more determined. It is just one of those things. I am young enough to start training now and it is something I really want to get my teeth into.”

Jim started his career as an amateur on the Flat, then became a professional National Hunt jockey and learned his trade riding for Sue Smith and her husband, Olympic showjumper Harvey Smith. He rode 252 winners in Britain during his jumps career, switching back in 2006, when he started riding for West Sussex-based trainer and his sister-in-law Amanda Perrett.

“I wasn’t struggling over jumps – I was riding on average 50 wins a season – but I wasn’t where I wanted to be,” he told H&H in a 2017 interview.

In 2009, he rode his first Group One winner – Lord Shanakill, trained by Karl Burke, in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly. The following year, he was appointed stable jockey for Ralph Beckett, and his career continued its upward trajectory.

He was crowned champion Flat jockey in 2016, receiving the trophy on Champions Day at Ascot from Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper Nick Skelton, and subsequently landed the job as retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation.

“There are so many people to thank. Obviously, the whole Shadwell team, Sheikha Hissa and her father Sheikh Hamdan, who gave me the job. Angus Gold, Richard Hills, everybody at Shadwell. My agent, Tony Hind, who has worked tirelessly over the years. Valets, jockeys, stable staff – everybody has helped me along the way,” said Jim.

“There are a thousand emotions running through me, good ones and sad ones, but I have had a lovely send-off and there is no finer place, so I am very happy.”

Jim Crowley: ‘I have been so spoilt’

Jim had a superb association with Shadwell’s stars including Baaeed, Battaash, Mostahdaf, Anmaat, Hukum and others.

“Baaeed was special and Goodwood has always been a lucky track for me. I rode my 2,000th winner here as well, so it is great to finish here,” he said.

“I have had so many good horses and was fortunate to be champion jockey, which got me the position with Shadwell. Baaeed, Hukum winning the King George, Ulysses, Battaash, Mohaather, Anmaat – so many. You would settle for one of those, but to get all of them, I have been so spoilt.”

A Shadwell spokesperson said everyone at the stud would like to thank Jim “for his invaluable contribution since becoming our retained rider in 2016” and wishes him well for his “exciting new chapter as a trainer”.

“He has played a vital role within the operation, enjoying many memorable victories in the blue and white silks,” said the spokesperson.

“From the brilliant sprinter Battaash, including his track record-breaking ride in the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes to Group One winners Al Husn, Anmaat, Eqtidaar, Eshaada, Hukum, Minzaal, Mohaather, Mostahdaf, Mustashry and Nazeef, Jim has enjoyed remarkable success at the highest level for Shadwell.

“His victory aboard Anmaat in the QIPCO Champion Stakes marked his final Group One success in the Shadwell colours.”

The spokesperson added: “Perhaps most significant of all was his partnership with the exceptional Baaeed, guiding the champion to six breathtaking Group One victories and creating memories that will live long in the history of Shadwell and with racing fans around the world.”

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Watch The July Festival live this week and witness the finest horses and jockeys take centre stage in a celebration of speed, style and atmosphere at Newmarket.

At a glance

• The July Festival date: 9–11 July 2026
• Watch July Festival on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
• Watch July Festival from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch The July Festival on TV

ITV will screen some of the action from The Debenhams July Festival live and for free on ITV and ITVX across the three days, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.

ITV Racing will broadcast the first four races on Thursday and Friday, as well as the first six on Saturday, while Racing TV will cover every race.

You don’t need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What time is the July Cup?

The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup will run at 4.35pm and will be the sixth of eight races at Newmarket on Saturday 11 July.

How to watch The July Festival from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

The July Festival race times

Races in bold will be shown on ITV.

Thursday 9 July: Ladies’ Day

Friday 10 July: Festival Friday

Saturday 11 July: July Cup Day

What is The July Festival?

Newmarket is the home of British horseracing and The July Meeting dates back to 1765. The July Course itself is known for its intimate, relaxed, and picturesque summer garden-party feel, in contrast to the more formal spring Rowley Mile events.

The pinnacle of the three days is the July Cup, which is recognised as one of the most prestigious sprint races in the world and a highlight of the British racing calendar. The Group 1 Flat race is open to horses aged three years or older and run over 6f.

Many future classic and Group 1 winners first make their mark in juvenile races during the festival.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

A bluffer’s guide to reading a racecard

Major UK horseracing events for your calendar in 2026

A beginner’s guide to betting

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

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Flat racing fans who want to watch the live action from Coral-Eclipse day at Sandown Park (5 July) will need to tune into ITV or a free livestream. With two-and-a-half hours’ live footage on the main ITV channel, ITV Racing will be covering four races on the day of this Group One meeting, plus there are livestream options to choose from too.

The Coral-Eclipse is a Group One Flat race, run over a distance of 1m1f and 209 yards and is named after Eclipse, who was a top racehorse in the 18th Century.

Ombudsman, who was impressive when winning the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes at Royal Ascot last month is currently evens-priced favourite to take the 2025 Coral-Eclipse under William Buick for trainers John and Thady Gosden and owner, Godolphin.

Here’s our full TV guide so you don’t miss a moment of the action…

ITV and the ITVX streaming service will be showing four of the Coral-Eclipse day races races for free in the UK. If you’re abroad, and trying to watch ITVX like you normally would back in the UK, then you can use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 76% off, four extra months free (which does not appear until you go to the check out) plus a £50 Amazon gift card and a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

The Coral-Eclipse on TV: how to watch

ITV is the place for UK audiences to watch the Coral-Eclipse, with four of the races from this meeting being streamed for free on ITVX. There is also an ITVX app that works on almost all smart devices. Just search for the app on any device, phone or console you have.

Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani will host the live TV coverage which runs from 1.30pm to 4pm on Saturday 5 July.

They will be joined by former jockey and expert Jason Weaver with Adele Mulrennan, plus other top racing names.

The Opening Show will be presented by Oli Bell on the morning of the Coral-Eclipse, previewing the day’s big races.

You can also watch the action live via the pay-for channel, Racing TV.

What time does the Coral-Eclipse start?

The ITV Racing Coral-Eclipse coverage will show racing between 1.30pm and 4pm on the main ITV channel.

ITV’s Opening Show will be shown between 9.30am and 10.30am on the morning of the meeting.

The full 2025 Coral-Eclipse day racecard is as follows.

Saturday 5 July

1.50pm: Coral Charge (Group Three)

2.25pm: Coral Challenge

3pm: Coral Distaff

3.35pm: Coral-Eclipse (Group One)

4.12pm: Coral Celebrating 50 Year Eclipse Sponsorship Handicap

4.45pm: Coral “Pipped-At-The-Post” And Win Handicap

5.15pm: Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap

How to watch the Coral-Eclipse from anywhere

Not in the UK right now? You don’t have to miss out on any of the action from Coral-Eclipse day. ITVX is geo-restricted, meaning it doesn’t usually work outside of the UK, but a VPN is a simple and safe way around this.

A Virtual Private Network will alter your device’s IP address to make it appear to be in a different country, allowing you to access your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world. It’s great for watching racing on the move, and it’s also handy even if you’re watching at home. VPNs are designed with internet security in mind, creating encrypted connections that keep your data safe from third parties and improve streaming speeds by preventing bandwidth ‘throttling’ from your internet service provider.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, which is the best VPN in the world according to our colleagues at TechRadar.

How do I bet in the Coral-Eclipse?

Online betting companies will be clamouring for your custom during Coral-Eclipse day so look out for some of their promotional deals for new customers which include everything from a free bet to giving your money back if your horse loses. You’ll need to deposit some money into your betting account, choose a race, select your horse (you could study the form, or you could simply pick your lucky number of favourite colour from the jockeys’ silks) and the type of bet — then get ready to cheer!

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We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Download and install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access – UK for ITV.

3. Then head over to your streaming service on your device and enjoy the live stream.

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Watch the Coral-Eclipse live this weekend and enjoy the action from Britain’s first Group 1 “generation clash” of the season at Sandown Park.

At a glance

• Coral-Eclipse date: 4 July 2026
• Watch Coral-Eclipse on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
• Watch Coral-Eclipse from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch the Coral-Eclipse on TV

ITV will screen some of the action on Coral-Eclipse Day live and for free on ITV4 and ITVX from 1.30pm to 4.05pm on Saturday 4 July, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.

ITV Racing will broadcast the first four races from Sandown Park (1.50pm, 2.25pm, 3pm and 3.35pm), which will include the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, while Racing TV will cover every race.

You don’t need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What time is the Coral-Eclipse?

The Coral-Eclipse Stakes will run at 3.35pm and will be the fourth of seven races at Sandown Park on Saturday 4 July.

How to watch the Coral-Eclipse from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

Coral-Eclipse race times

What is the Coral-Eclipse?

The Eclipse Stakes was first run in 1886 and is named after Eclipse, the legendary 18th-century racehorse who won all 18 of his starts and appears in the pedigrees of an estimated 95% of all male thoroughbreds alive today. It is raced over 1m 1f 209y, which is equivalent to 2.002km.

The race has been sponsored by Coral since 1976, making it the longest-running Group race sponsorship in the world. It is also one of the most valuable summer races of the British racing calendar and attracts the world’s finest middle-distance champions.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

A bluffer’s guide to reading a racecard

Why do horses wear sunglasses?

A beginner’s guide to betting

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

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• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

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Watch the Epsom Derby live this weekend and enjoy the action from what’s known as “the greatest flat race in the world”.

Horses only have one chance to shine in the Epsom Derby as it’s only open to three year olds, so the stakes are higher than ever.

At a glance

• Epsom Derby date: 6 June 2026
• Watch Epsom Derby on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
• Watch Epsom Derby from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch the Epsom Derby on TV

ITV will screen much of the action from the Epsom Derby Festival live and for free on ITV1 and ITVX from 1pm to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.

ITV Racing will broadcast six races on each day of the festival, including The Derby and The Oaks, while Racing TV will cover every race.

You don’t need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What time is the Epsom Derby?

The Derby will run at 4pm and will be the fifth of eight races at Epsom Downs on Saturday 6 June.

What time is the Epsom Oaks?

The Oaks starts at 4pm and will be the fifth of eight races at Epsom Downs on Friday 5 June.

How to watch the Epsom Derby from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

Epsom Derby Day race times

How long is the Epsom Derby?

The Derby is 1m4f, which is approximately 1.5 miles or 2.414km.

What is the Epsom Derby?

The Epsom Derby is one of Britain’s richest and most prestigious Classic Flat races. It is open exclusively to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, and is the second leg of the triple crown – preceded by the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and followed by the St Leger at Doncaster.

The course at Epsom Downs is known for its extreme undulations and camber. Horses face a tough, steep climb in the first half-mile before navigating a sweeping descent and a long straight to finish. The Derby serves as the ultimate test of a racehorse’s speed, stamina and balance.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Final runners for The Derby confirmed ahead of the 2026 Classic

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Watch the Guineas this weekend and enjoy the action from the first two Classics of the British Flat racing season.

The big story for this year’s 2,000 Guineas is Billy Loughnane bidding for his first Classics win on Bow Echo, while the 1,000 Guineas belongs to the fillies and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Precise is looking to be an early favourite.

At a glance

• 2,000 Guineas date: 2 May 2026
• 1,000 Guineas date: 3 May 2026
• Watch the Guineas on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
• Watch the Guineas from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch the Guineas on TV

ITV will screen much of the action from the Betfred Guineas Festival (including the two feature races) live and for free on ITV1 and ITVX, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.

You don’t need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What time is the 2,000 Guineas?

The 2,000 Guineas post time is 3.35pm and is the fifth of nine races at Newmarket on Saturday 2 May.

What time is the 1,000 Guineas?

The 1,000 Guineas starts at 3.35pm and is the fourth of seven races at Newmarket on Sunday 3 May.

How to watch the Guineas from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

What are the Guineas?

As the first two Classics of the British Flat racing season, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas are among the most famous horse races in the world.

Run over a mile at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile racecourse, the 2,000 Guineas is contested by colts and fillies and the 1,000 Guineas solely by fillies. The two races are limited to three-year-old Thoroughbreds only.

The 2,000 Guineas was first run in 1809, while the inaugural 1,000 Guineas was staged five years later. At the time the races were named after the prize money given to the winner of each – with one guinea amounting to 21 shillings or £1.05.

By the 1860s the Guineas were considered to be two of the most significant races in the UK for three-year-olds and today attract the very best horses of their age in Europe. Often the races highlight potential contenders and winners of the third and fourth Classics of each year, the Derby and Oaks staged at Epsom Downs.

The total prize money for each race is more than £500,000, with the winner of the 2,000 Guineas taking home £297,728, while the winner of the 1,000 Guineas takes home £311,025. The 2,000 Guineas is also the first leg of the Triple Crown, followed by Epsom Derby and St Leger.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Already a record-breaker, is Billy Loughnane the future champion Flat jockey?

How to watch the Kentucky Derby live from anywhere in the world

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Billy Loughnane tells Lucy Elder about his hopes for 2026 and the feeling that comes with riding a big winner, in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers

Billy Loughnane knows exactly what he wants. The young talent, speaking on the cusp of his 20th birthday, has a crystal clear goal in his sights.

“I want to be champion jockey,” he tells H&H. “That’s the main thing; I won’t be happy until I’ve achieved that.”

Billy’s success has been meteoric since riding his first winner in November 2022, Swiss Rowe, trained by his father Mark. It is, he says, all he has ever wanted to do.

“Being a jockey has been it since day dot,” says Billy, whose idol growing up was 20-time champion jump jockey AP McCoy – although he’s always been drawn to the Flat.

“My dad trains. I’ve been brought up with horses my whole life, racehorses. I was on ponies pretty much from the beginning – I did some showjumping when I was younger – and then progressed onto racehorses. I’ve been riding out since I was 11.

“The showjumping I did was low level, just through my school showjumping team. I rode at Hickstead a couple of times, but just relatively small. I had a cool little pony called Dancer who I enjoyed playing around with.

“I always knew I wanted to be a jockey. I was just showjumping with time to kill before I was able to start pony racing, and then I stepped across.

“Pony racing was a really good foundation and gave me great experience of riding at a lot of tracks.”

That grounding served as a launchpad. Within 12 months of his first winner, he was named champion all-weather apprentice, became the youngest jockey in more than 60 years to ride in a British Classic, partnered more than 100 winners, and was crowned 2023 champion apprentice at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day.

And the milestones keep on coming. In 2024, he notched his first Royal Ascot winners and last year recorded his debut Group One success before going on to wave farewell to 2025 by setting a new record for the number of winners in a calendar year.

“That record wasn’t something that I set out to achieve specifically last year, but I had a great season that finished off well,” he says.

“I just wanted to try and ride as many winners as possible last year. I’d obviously been in the country for the majority of the year – January to January – which probably isn’t as common for a lot of the bigger jockeys. So I’ve had a lot more rides, and then towards the end certain goals started popping up in terms of the numerical number of winners.”

Billy Loughnane: ‘I like the adrenaline rush’

So what is it about this sport and working with these remarkable animals each day that drives him?

“I like the adrenaline rush. Big winners on big days, and seeing how good the horses can be,” says Billy.

He reflects on how he handles the pressure that comes with his position. He’s reached stratospheric heights and broken records all while still a teenager, he’s at the top of the game and with that, of course, comes expectations.

“I think first of all, it’s a feeling of relief to ride big winners, there’s obviously a lot of pressure on big days, and it’s just a proper buzz,” he says.

“A lot of it’s just wanting the horse to win, more than anything. Pressure is probably not quite the word for it… it’s a feeling of relief when the horse has won.”

Billy has top agent Tony Hind in his corner – “he’s the best agent in the country” – and support from yards including his father’s, Charlie Appleby and George Boughey.

“He [George] has looked after me since I was claiming. I’m lucky to have someone like him behind me,” says Billy. “Soprano winning at Royal Ascot was our first big winner together, I got a real kick out of that.”

Charlie Appleby, too, has been behind some of Billy’s biggest successes, including his first top-flight victory.

“Rebel’s Romance in Germany last year was my first Group One winner, he’s probably top of the pecking order,” says Billy, reflecting on the biggest moments in his career so far.

“That was a buzz. He’s a very good horse, it was my first time riding him and he’s been around the block, so he was pretty push-button.”

Aiming for a century-old record

Last year, Billy Loughnane finished second to Oisin Murphy in the Flat jockeys’ championship and has his sights on going one better this year. Oisin was 24 when he was crowned champion for the first time in 2019; should Billy succeed, he would be the youngest champion in more than 100 years – a record currently held by the late Sir Gordon Richards, who won his first championship in 1925 at the age of 21.

Hard-working, talented, professional are the words frequently used to describe Billy – and he shares the same advice to any youngsters sharing his dream.

“Keep your head down, work hard, and you’ll get there,” says Billy, who makes time for our chat having just landed back from the Middle East – before war broke out – and on his way to ride eight at Southwell that night.

“Usually I fly in and out, but this year I’ve been based over there for January and February, which has been a bit different, but I’ve enjoyed it,” he says.

“I’ve been in Dubai for the past couple of months, riding in the Middle East. I was in Saudi Arabia last weekend, Bahrain… I’ve been riding in a lot of countries around there, but I’m ready to get going over here.”

And so he has, this month backing up a treble at Kempton on his 20th birthday with a five-timer at Wolverhampton, as his laser focus turns in earnest to his main goal for 2026.

“My aim this year is to try and be champion jockey,” he says. “Oisin has had a tight grip on it the past few years, and I need to ride a lot more winners than I did last year to get close to him. I’ll be trying to ride as many winners as possible to give that a kick.”

From Billy the kid, to perhaps Billy the champion in 2026 – the sky is the limit for this shooting star.

• For more exclusive interviews with top riders and trainers, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Watch the Dubai World Cup on TV and celebrate the event’s 30th anniversary with other racing fans across the world.

It’s one of the richest horse races in the world, and we’ll reveal the runners and how you can watch the spectacle from wherever you are right now.

At a glance

• Dubai World Cup date: 28 March 2026
• TV coverage: ITVX
• Watch Dubai World Cup from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal (77% off)

How to watch the Dubai World Cup for free

ITV Racing has jumped back into the ring for the Dubai World Cup in 2026 and will be broadcasting coverage from Meydan.

Fans in the UK can watch it on the ITV4 channel or via the ITVX broadcasting platform, which is completely free providing you have a valid TV license.

How to watch the Dubai World Cup live from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 77% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

What time does the Dubai World Cup start?

There are nine races across the day. The first race starts at 11:45am GMT (3:45pm local time), and the last race (the Dubai World Cup) sets off at 4:45pm GMT (8:45pm local time).

What is the Dubai World Cup?

The Dubai World Cup is a thoroughbred horse race that has been held annually at Meydan Racecourse in UAE since 1996. It is a Group One Flat race on dirt over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 10 furlongs).

It is open for northern hemisphere thoroughbreds aged four years old and over, and southern hemisphere horses three years old and over. The total prize money on offer is $30.5m (£22.84m).

Dubai World Cup runners 2026

Horse (Trainer)

• Forever Young (Yoshito Yahagi)
• Magnitude (Steven M Asmussen)
• Hit Show (Brad H Cox)
• Meydaan (Simon and Ed Crisford)
• Imperial Emperor (Bhupat Seemar)
• Tumbarumba (Hamad Al Jehani)
• Walk Of Stars (Bhupat Seemar)
• Heart Of Honor (Jamie A Osborne)
• Tap Leader (Doug Watson)
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America’s first Triple Crown winner for quarter of a century, Secretariat’s speed records from 1973 still stand today. Jamie Haase tracks the enduring significance of the bright chestnut who reset racing’s boundaries

More than half a century later, Secretariat’s records and reputation still reign supreme,” said Leeanne Meadows Ladin, author and president of the non-profit Secretariat For Virginia.

Today, Leeanne lives in the farm manager’s house at Meadow Stable, Virginia, surrounded by a landscape that once raised and conditioned a young Secretariat – his foaling shed and yearling barn, largely untouched, are preserved as historic landmarks.

Earlier this year, nearly 350 acres of adjacent pastureland, including “The Cove,” locally known as Secretariat’s nursery, were placed under permanent conservation easements. From this vantage, Leeanne lives alongside a legacy firmly grounded – not distant history, but uninterrupted, a continuum between yesterday and tomorrow.

Horseracing in the United States dates to the early 17th century, with Long Island’s Newmarket Course, established in 1665, marking the first organised racetrack in colonial America. Named for Britain’s racing capital, it was designed to formalise English racing tradition throughout the colonies. Three centuries later, on Saturday, 9 June 1973, American thoroughbred racing reached a pinnacle never before seen – and never replicated since.

At the summit stood a chestnut colt whose supremacy not only secured the Triple Crown, but reset the sport’s boundaries. For five extraordinary weeks, the record books were not simply rewritten but reimagined and today Secretariat’s official times still stand unchallenged.

‘Everything about Secretariat is out of this world’

Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby in 1min 59.4sec over 1¼ miles and the Preakness Stakes in 1min 53sec over 1³⁄₁₆ miles. At Belmont Park, he completed the sweep with one of the most dominant performances in sporting history.

“Secretariat set a world record for a mile and a half, 2min 24sec, which still stands, and won the race by 31 lengths,” his owner, Penny Chenery, later wrote in The New York Times.

The 1973 season was not built on soft opposition. Sham, Secretariat’s chief rival, possessed speed that eclipsed many past Triple Crown winners, yet his abilities were repeatedly obscured by unparalleled athleticism. At Churchill Downs, before a record crowd of 134,476, Sham finished second after recording an estimated 1min 59⅘sec – fast enough to have set a new track record and to have won virtually any other Derby in history.

Under the protocols of the era, however, only the winner’s time was captured, leaving Sham’s performance unacknowledged – and Secretariat standing between him and immortality.

The Belmont Stakes, above all others, captured the performance that fixed Secretariat’s name in the public imagination, carried as much by the moment as by the voice that delivered it.

Calling the race, broadcaster Chic Anderson found the words on cue to match what was unfolding: “Secretariat is widening now, he is moving like a tremendous machine.” More than half a century later, the call endures as faithfully as the record it immortalised.

Secretariat won 16 of his 21 starts, earning $1,316,808 (£989,000). Behind those figures stood a team whose influence shaped the colt’s rise and restraint. Trainer Lucien Laurin served as an anchor, guiding a talent that could easily have outrun its own narrative.

He once described Secretariat as “beautiful, everything about him is out of this world… in all his races he has taken the worst of it by coming from behind, usually circling his field”.

For those who worked closest to him, the relationship was personal. Secretariat’s exercise rider Charlie Davis later reflected on the bond they shared: “We didn’t make Secretariat. Secretariat made us.”

Genetics further fuelled the Sham and Secretariat rivalry through their grandsire, Princequillo – a transatlantic influence conceived in France, born in Ireland and safeguarded in the United States during World War II. Sired by Prince Rose, Princequillo was imported by Arthur “Bull” Hancock Jr in 1945 and later stood at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, leaving an intercontinental imprint on thoroughbred stamina.

Princequillo’s bloodline converged at Meadow Stable just north of Richmond, Virginia, before it reached the racetrack. After establishing the farm in 1936 and constructing many of its buildings himself, Christopher Chenery built the Meadow into one of the industry’s most respected breeding operations. It was there, on 30 March 1970, that Somethingroyal, in foal to Bold Ruler, delivered the future 1973 Triple Crown champion.

In 1967, as his health declined, Christopher Chenery’s daughter Penny Chenery assumed control of the Meadow. With her siblings urging liquidation, she chose instead to safeguard the operation, motivated as much by loyalty as by conviction. Her resolve was vindicated in 1972, when the home-bred Riva Ridge won both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

That same year, Riva Ridge’s Meadow stablemate, the two-year-old Secretariat, was crowned Horse of the Year, quietly setting the stage for what was to follow.

Breaking records on and off the track

In 1973, entering his three-year-old season, Secretariat did not find his stride immediately, but when it came, it came decisively. Ángel Cordero Jr, the Hall of Fame jockey who beat Secretariat in his maiden start at New York City’s Aqueduct Racetrack, recalled a colt still in development, not yet the phenomenon he would become.

“When Secretariat first entered the scene, the jockeys all knew he was special, a great horse,” Ángel tells H&H. “But it wasn’t until he competed at Saratoga in the summer of 1972, stringing together decisive victories in the Sanford Stakes and the Hopeful Stakes, that we recognised just how astonishing he was.”

Penny Chenery already knew as much. Anticipating both opportunity and obligation, she chose to syndicate Secretariat into shared stud ownership before the 1973 campaign even began. The record-breaking $6.08m (£4.57m) agreement was announced on 26 February, little more than a month after her father’s death in January.

Meanwhile, Seth Hancock, newly installed as Claiborne Farm’s third-generation president at just 23, was also navigating the recent loss of his father, Bull Hancock, while assuming responsibility for both the farm and the Secretariat syndication. Seth later told H&H that one of the reasons the deal succeeded was that friends of his father stepped in to buy shares because they “didn’t want to see me fail”, support that helped make the agreement possible.

On 28 October 1973, in Toronto, Ontario, with the Triple Crown secured and his times fixed in the record books, Secretariat made his final start in the Canadian International Championship Stakes on Woodbine Racetrack’s cold turf, surging effortlessly to win by 6½ lengths.

The venue was a fitting farewell. Both trainer Lucien Laurin and jockey Ron Turcotte were Canadian, but Penny Chenery’s choice carried deeper resonance, reflecting the long-standing relationship between her father and the Canadian breeder, EP Taylor, of Windfields Farm. An architect of Woodbine and breeder of Northern Dancer and his Epsom Derby-winning son Nijinsky, Taylor became a trusted adviser after Christopher Chenery’s death and an early backer of the syndication.

After his final lap in Toronto, Secretariat was withdrawn from training and sent to Claiborne to begin stud duties. There would be no gradual winding down, no four-year-old campaign. He left the racetrack not in decline, but at full speed, his legacy intact.

Secretariat at stud

With competition in the rear-view, the bloodline enterprise began. Carrying extraordinary expectations, Secretariat arrived at Claiborne on 12 November 1973, taking up residence in the stall once occupied by his sire, Bold Ruler.

From his early crops emerged high-class performers, including Kentucky Derby runner-up General Assembly, Breeders’ Cup-winning filly Lady’s Secret and dual Classic winner Risen Star.

Yet as his lineage evolved, it became clear that Secretariat was the exception, not the rule. For all his brilliance on the track, he could not reproduce himself in direct male succession, a familiar pattern in racing, where athleticism often proves easier to display than to transmit through DNA. His more enduring influence flowed through his daughters. As a broodmare sire, his impact shaped elite pedigrees worldwide, most notably Storm Cat and AP Indy.

That legacy extended into European Pattern racing, where a small but distinguished group achieved elite success. Athyka emerged as a leading ambassador with back-to-back victories in the Prix de l’Opéra, while Bluebook, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, won at Group level. In total, more than 90 of Secretariat’s progeny raced in Europe, with 11 becoming stakes winners.

Amy Zimmerman, a close friend of Penny Chenery and senior vice president and executive producer at Santa Anita Park, is in no doubt of the significance of Secretariat’s influence on the sport.

“He is the reference point by which all other horses are judged,” she says. “It is stunning that so many Eclipse Award winners, Kentucky Derby entrants and Breeders’ Cup runners over the past decade carry the name ‘Secretariat’ somewhere in their pedigrees.”

As the current fourth-generation president of Claiborne Farm, Walker Hancock says that the memories of Secretariat remain vivid within the farm itself.

“It may be known by some, but I don’t think people fully realise just how much he loved attention,” he says. “Secretariat was a complete ham for the camera. The moment someone pulled one out, he would come to life – posing, engaging and soaking it all in.

“He seemed to know he was special and fully embraced it. Everyone around him couldn’t help but love him and be awestruck by his presence. He truly was a rock star.”

That presence, Walker says, carries forward into a responsibility of stewardship.

“There is real pressure to ensure Secretariat is remembered and respected in the way he deserves,” he says. “He is the most famous horse in the history of thoroughbred racing, and we feel a responsibility to make sure his legacy endures.”

A cultural icon: “grown men wept”

On 4 October 1989, Secretariat passed away from complications of laminitis. A necropsy revealed that he possessed an unusually large heart, more than twice the size of a typical thoroughbred’s.

Dr William F Gilsenan, a board-certified equine internal medicine specialist at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, outlines the potential effect of this anomaly.

“It is plausible – if not probable – that there is a hereditary basis for factors such as cardiovascular capacity and heart size,” he explains.

“Assuming normal cardiac function, a larger heart is capable of enhancing an animal’s oxygen-carrying capacity.”

Walker Hancock was born just two months before Secretariat passed, but the colt’s absence nonetheless weighed heavily throughout his formative years.

“Grown men wept long after his passing, and there was a real sense of loss – a void that was hard to fill after losing such a cultural icon,” he recalls.

In the years since, many champions have emerged, and comparison with Secretariat has remained unavoidable. What ultimately distinguishes him from the field is not excellence but permanence: many records fall when conditions align – his times remain insulated by the sheer scale of their margins.

Ron Turcotte captured it simply: “He was the greatest racehorse who ever lived, and I was the luckiest guy in the world to be on his back.”

In assessing Secretariat’s place among the greats, the language of ranking often fails, assuming a scale that shifts with eras and evolution. He instead occupies a fixed position. He is not merely measured against others, he defines the terms by which all others are measured.

Leonard Lusky, a longtime friend and associate of Penny Chenery and Ron Turcotte, frames it this way: “He has transcended his sport to become a timeless cultural phenomenon, for many, a veritable chestnut Elvis.”

For the modern reader and for generations to come, Secretariat’s most enduring achievement lies in the rare convergence of fate, circumstance, skill and spirit. He emerged at a moment when the United States was struggling politically and economically, and the clarity of his brilliance offered something steadier than the era itself.

It was not simply his decisive victories, nor the influence of his progeny, nor even the acclaim that followed. Secretariat instead left behind a standard so explicit and fully documented, and so scarcely realised that it crystallised definitively – the very notion of equine perfection.

Did you know?

• The bright chestnut with three white socks was nicknamed “Big Red”
• Only Derby winner to run each quarter-mile faster than the previous one
• Appeared on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated in the same week
• In 2025, every Kentucky Derby starter traced their descent to Secretariat
• Equestrian clothing company Ariat is named after Secretariat, whose spirit inspired the brand’s founders
• His first foal was a spotted half-Appaloosa, named First Secretary, after there were question marks over his sperm quality and the stud wanted to test his fertility via a reliable Appaloosa broodmare
• He featured on a 1999 US postage stamp

Secretariat in numbers

76% strike rate

31 lengths – winning margin for his record-breaking Belmont victory

16.2hh – height

$6.08m – his value at syndication

Fact file

Foaled: 30 March 1970, Meadow Farm, Virginia

Sire: Bold Ruler

Dam: Somethingroyal

Breeder: Christopher and Penny Chenery (Meadow Stable)

Owner: Meadow Stable

Trainer: Lucien Laurin

Primary jockey: Ron Turcotte

Groom: Eddie Sweat

Died: 4 October 1989

Cause of death: laminitis

Burial: Claiborne Farm, Kentucky; buried whole (an honour reserved for only a few thoroughbreds)

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A day at the races is often a rare treat, perhaps once a year for a major festival or a local trip with friends to mark a special occasion. Chances are, you purchase a racecard, not only as a souvenir of the day, but to help you follow the action. The snag is that to the uninitiated, reading the information within the racecard can be like deciphering secret code.

Whether you’re off to the Cheltenham Festival or an evening on the all-weather, knowing how to read a racecard can give you wonderful intel into the race, the horses, their form – and ultimately help you make an informed decision where to put your £5 note.

Not all racecards are created equal, however there is a certain language that applies to all of them and, once you understand the code, you can work out how to read any racecard across the country.

With up to 20 different pieces of code providing each nugget of information, it’s understandable that many people never get any further than name, colours and starting price. But understanding what the additional letters, figures and numbers mean will add rich flavour to a day at the races.

How to read a racecard

Above is a generic example of a racecard, from Royal Ascot. For the purposes of this decoding exercise, below we have broken down the essential figures into the typical sections you’ll find on all racecards. They may be in slightly different arrangements, and there are of course variations according to whether the race is on the Flat or National Hunt.

This is a hypothetical example for the purpose of showing all the possibilities for both Flat or jumps horses – it could not be a real specimen as it shows elements exclusive to each code but should enable you to decipher any racecard.

Key for reading a racecard

a) Owner’s colours, shirt and hat silk worn by the jockey.

b) Draw (4) – this is the starting stall number and only applies to the Flat as the jumpers start with tapes with no drawn order.

c) Saddle cloth number (14). If there is an R as shown in this case, it means the horse is on standby to run in case of any non-runners. If NR is shown here, it means the horse is a non-runner. It is not the same as the draw number because it depends on the horse’s weight/rating in the handicap, while the draw is randomly assigned.

d) Colour and sex – this horse is a grey gelding.

For colours:

• b=bay
• bl=black
• br=brown
• ch=chestnut
• gr=grey

For sex:

• c=colt
• f=filly
• h=horse (an entire male horse that is five years old or over)
• m=mare (female horse of five years old or over)

The number 1 after “g”, as shown here, indicates that this is the first time the horse is running since being gelded.

e) Horse’s name. If bred outside Britain, the country code is noted, for example IRE for Ireland, FR for France, USA.

f) Sire and dam – this is the horse’s pedigree, and sometimes the damsire (maternal grandfather) will be listed after the dam in brackets.

g) Number of days since the horse last ran in this type of race. In brackets is the number of days since it last ran under a different code. For example, if this was a hurdle race, this horse last ran over hurdles 155 days ago. However, it ran on the Flat (denoted by F) 24 days ago. PTP would indicate point-to-point.

h) Age of horse – six in this case.

i) Weight allocated for the horse to carry – 10 stone 11 pounds. If the jockey can claim an allowance or is riding overweight, this is not shown here (see notes on J and P).

j) Penalty – this applies to handicaps only, and is the extra weight in pounds that a horse has to carry on top of the allocated weight, according to any improved performances since the handicapper last made its rating. In this case, the horse has 3lb extra to carry, so 11st in total.

k) The horse’s form, most recent on the right.

• All-weather or point-to-point will typically be in bold.
• Hyphen – means new season.
• Slash / means a longer break, so two seasons ago or more.

There are many letter abbreviations used, mostly applying to National Hunt:

• B=brought down
• F=fell,
• P=pulled up
• R=refused
• S=slipped up
• U=unseated rider
• V=void

Numbers apply to placings, with 0 meaning unplaced.

So this horse’s form shows that he has had significant time off after a fall and an unseat, finished second on his comeback last season, and second on his only run so far this season.

l) Horse’s race history

• BF=beaten favourite on last run
• C=course winner
• D=distance winner (to nearest half-furlong)
• CD=course and distance winner
• Hc=horse’s handicap debut.

m) Official rating. There may be one, two or three rating numbers here, which could be calculated by the Racing Post, the official handicapper, Timeform or the British Horseracing Authority. These might take into account the horse’s past race times within the standard time, adjusted for weight and going. These will vary according to the racecard, and is getting into the nitty-gritty for the serious punter.

n) Owner.

o) Trainer. Some racecards will print a number after the trainer’s name to indicate if the horse is having his first or second run for a new stables.

p) Jockey. If there are numbers after his name, this denotes a weight allowance for an inexperienced jockey – this jockey claims 5lb, which means the horse carries 5lb less than his allocated weight.

q) W1 shows that the horse has had one wind operation. This is obligatory for trainers to declare. Some racecards will label wind surgery as WS.

r) Odds at which the horse is expected to start. This is rarely available in printed programmes because the starting price changes all the time.

s) Betting history, showing whether the horse is shortening or drifting in the market.

t) Headgear abbreviations to indicate whether the horse has blinkers, a tongue-tie and so on. The number 1 denotes that this is the first time they have worn this headgear under this code. This horse is wearing first-time blinkers.

• b=blinkers
• e/s=eye shield
• e/c=eye cover
• h=hood
• t=tongue-tie
• p=sheepskin cheekpieces
• v=visor

Crack the code and the racecard transforms from a baffling list of symbols into an essential guide to every horse’s story, form and chance in the race.

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If you’re wondering what to wear to the races, this guide will help you work out what’s a good option and what to avoid, depending on what type of race meeting you’re attending.

In 2023, The Jockey Club announced that formal dress codes will no longer be in place at any of its 15 racecourses in order to make racing more accessible and inclusive, but many racegoers will still choose to dress up for a day at the races, especially if they’re heading to one of the big meetings. Not every outing requires you to dress up as if you’re heading to Royal Ascot, but there are still several things to consider when deciding what to wear to the races.

That said, some racecourses (as not all are owned by The Jockey Club) do employ dress codes, especially for prestigious racedays. The dress codes usually vary between enclosures and will also differ for men and women. For example, men may be required to wear a particular type of jacket, such as a morning coat, while women may need to wear a hat or fascinator. If you’re struggling with what to wear to the races, we always recommend checking whether there are rules for the meeting and enclosure at the racecourse you plan to attend.

What to wear to the races: the considerations

As there is quite a difference in what to wear to the races depending on the fixture, there are a few things you need to consider before you start thinking about individual items of clothing. It’s currently National Hunt racing season (until the end of April) and this calls for stylish yet practical attire, focusing on warmth, comfort and, often, country chic.

Weather

Much of the excitement at a fixture is outside, whether it’s heading down to the parade ring to check out the runners, placing a bet at the bookmakers in front of the grandstand or standing at the rail to watch your horse come in, so it’s important you’re dressed for the weather.

Some seating areas are covered, but not all, so be sure to check your ticket.

Time of year

All-weather racecourses mean that racing can go on year round, but traditionally the Flat racing season runs from the Newmarket 2000 Guineas meeting at the start of May until Champions Day at Ascot in mid-October, while the bigger meetings in the National Hunt season run from the end of October to the end of April.

Enclosure

Generally, the more expensive an enclosure is to access, the smarter people tend to dress. Some enclosures will have dress codes you’ll need to adhere to, but these vary so it’s best to check on the racecourse’s website.

Time of day

Most meetings are held in the daytime, but some racecourses, such as Windsor, are known for their evening meetings, while many all-weather tracks also hold evening meetings under lights throughout the winter. Some jumps meetings also take place in the evening during the summer months. If you’re heading to an evening meeting, it’s definitely worth taking a jacket or something to cover your shoulders.

For specific areas of advice or inspiration, jump to:

• Men’s footwear
• Men’s legwear
• Men’s shirts and jackets
• Men’s accessories
• Women’s footwear
• Women’s dresses
• Women’s legwear
• Women’s tops and jackets
• Women’s accessories

What men should wear to the races

Although not compulsory in all enclosures or at all racecourses, men usually dress smart.

At jumps meetings, men tend to adopt a “dress for the weather” approach as most of the big meetings take place during the winter months. Many traditionalists wear tweed, but this is personal preference. If you’re a corporate guest at a big meeting, such as the Cheltenham Festival, a suit is more appropriate.

For Flat racing, men usually wear a collared shirt with trousers and smart shoes. Some choose to finish the look with a tie and blazer, but again this is personal preference and not essential – and to some extent determined by the weather.

Men’s footwear

First thing’s first – you can expect to be on your feet all day at the races. Consequently, the footwear you select needs to be comfortable and suitable for day-long wear. If you’re keen to buy a new pair of shoes for the races, ensure your first wear of them does not coincide with raceday. To ensure the shoes have suppled up and moulded to your feet, wear them in a good few times around the house or in the office.

Next, consider the style of shoe you want to wear. As as general rule, trainers are largely regarded as a no-go for the races – however, they are often welcome at more low-key racedays or weekday meetings. Oxfords or brogues pair well with a suit, and you may want to opt for a boot, such as a Chelsea, for the depths of winter. In summertime, loafers can help keep you cool and comfy.

You should also ensure the colour you opt for compliments the colour and material of your attire. As a rule, black suits should be paired with black shoes, while navy suits may go more pleasantly with a brown or burgundy shoe. Light or grey suits can be successfully paired with a warmer colour, such as shades of brown, navy or oxblood. That said, black shoes are a classic and usually pair well with most suits.

Finally, be sure your shoes are in good order before you go. In essence, make certain they are clean and polished and the laces are in a good state of repair. It would be a shame to detract from an otherwise chic look with shabby shoes.

Men’s legwear

A formal, tailored trouser in a slim or regular fit looks smart and is comfortable – but think about your material. A wool, tweed or a heavier cotton twill are good choices for cooler weather, while a linen or linen/cotton blend will help you beat the heat at a summertime fixture.

A chino is also a great move for raceday – but be wary of shorts. Some events where dress codes are in place do not permit them. Even so, the general consensus is a preference for longer trousers, so at the end of the day it’s about your comfort. If it’s baking hot and you want to rock a short, in most cases you’ll be at liberty to.

Smart jeans are out for the more prestigious racedays and the fanciest enclosures, though smart casual racing outfits featuring denim are very popular on weekday meetings.

Men’s shirts and jackets

Shirts with a collar are the obvious choice and it’s your choice to opt for a dress shirt if you wish – cufflinks are a fun accessory. Most men opt for a classic Oxford shirt, however.

If you’re not going to a full tailored suit, a suitable blazer or jacket will be what to wear to the races. Fabric will be a major player as with trousers, and it’s advisable to avoid a high polyester content if you can. Jackets with a high concentration of polyester are not especially breathable and could cause you to overheat.

Some men like to opt for a three-piece suit, which has the addition of a waistcoat. These are smart and add a little personality to an outfit (especially if they have a fun lining). What’s more, they give you an layering option in changeable weather. On the coldest racedays (or nights), you might add an overcoat to you look.

Men’s accessories

A smart belt is great, if it matches your shoes then even better. A wristwatch is another nice touch, especially if the strap also ties in to your belt and shoe colour.

Most men pair their collared shirt with a tie and you could even go the extra mile and choose a matching pocket square (like this one).

A pair of smart gloves are just the ticket on chilly winter racedays.

What ladies should wear to the races

Although ladies do tend to dress up for the races, you do not need to go to the lengths you would for Royal Ascot for other race meetings.

As with the gentlemen, it is a case of wearing weather-appropriate clothing in the winter for National Hunt racing. We wouldn’t advise heels as the conditions are likely to be wet and you’re likely to spend much of the day on your feet.

Many ladies attending Flat racing meetings in the summer use it as a chance to get dressed up, although this is not always compulsory. Some of the more prestigious meetings, such as Royal Ascot, and the increasing number of ladies’ days put the spotlight on fashion. Some meetings also offer competitions for the best-dressed racegoers to enter.

Women’s footwear

It’s a caution that’s worth repeating – at the races about 90% of your time is spent on your feet, so it’s a very good idea to ensure you’re shod primarily for comfort. That said, there’s no need to sacrifice on style and there are so many chic options at your fingertips. Even so, if you’re buying new, give them a few wears before you step out on raceday.

Strappy sandals and open-toed stilettos are tempting for aesthetic purposes – but a few words of caution. Firstly, racedays can draw huge crowds and you wouldn’t want your toes getting trampled on. Secondly, there’s a high chance you’ll be walking across grass at some point and risk sinking into the turf. Finally, the grace period for which most people can tolerate such shoes is usually very short. Strappy, thin-heeled shoes are likely suspects in causing tired, aching and blistered feet. So, what to wear to the races?

Chunkier, close-toed shoes are a great choice and heeled pumps or court shoes are elegant yet practical. Block heels are especially comfortable. If you aren’t keen on fully enclosing your foot, a slingback pump is a good shout and makes for a summery look. Or, why not go for some smart flats? Loafers, Mary Janes or mules would be ideal choices.

Heels are seen much less in the winter and many ladies opt for a pair of stylish boots instead. Ankle and Chelsea boots are popular options, or invest in a pair of knee-highs that will serve you well through the colder months.

As with the men, trainers are not traditionally worn, but are becoming more popular as dress codes become more and more relaxed.

Women’s dresses and jumpsuits

When we think of the ultimate raceday look, a dress is often the thing that springs to mind. Dress code pointers that apply to dresses usually relate to straps, sheer fabric and skirt length, so double check before you attend.

Sky’s the limit in terms of style, cut and fabric – the most important consideration is your comfort and wearing something you feel good about. One thing to bear in mind is that synthetic fabrics do not have the breathable properties of natural ones, and can be more liable to pilling. Cotton jersey dresses are on the casual end of the scale, linen and cotton poplin somewhere in the middle and wool, silk, satin and velvet numbers offer the most polished look.

Another all-in-one option that shouldn’t be overlooked is the jumpsuit – a super garment for overcast days when you don’t need a jacket, but a summer dress would leave you chilly. Alternatively, you might opt for a jumpsuit if you’re a habitual trouser wearer and fancy a compromise. The styles vary from super slim-fitting, to a tailored bodice and wide-leg pant, or even a relaxed all-over fit.

Women’s legwear

If you’re more of a trouser person, your options are far ranging. Whether you’re after a high-waisted nautical vibe, a statement culotte or a wide-leg linen, you can build an outfit as casual or chic as you like.

On wintery days a wool or tweed trouser with a boot will keep the cold at bay. Dark colours disguise any mud and opting for a smooth grain leather will be easier to clean.

Jeans can be on the agenda dress code permitting – we can recommend bootcut, wide leg or flared styles to give your look an upmarket feel, while skinny jeans fit nicely under knee-high boots in winter.

Women’s tops and jackets

Double check for any rules on straps and sheer fabrics, but other than that sky’s the limit on the top you choose. If you’re struggling to pair a top and trousers it can sometimes help to go for opposite fit styles for each garment. For example, pair a loose, wide-leg trouser with a more fitted top.

Similarly, you can use your top to dress down a more elegant trouser to give off a smart-casual vibe. A nicely-fitted, well-made white cotton jersey t-shirt would pair wonderfully tucked in to a high-waisted statement trouser.

When dressing for colder weather, you have the opportunity to elevate your look with whatever you choose to layer up with. Long wool or tweed overcoats, capes or ponchos – especially those with a faux fur trim – keep you cosy while looking looking glam.

Women’s accessories

We need to talk headwear. Again, you’ll need to check the dress code for the meet you plan to attend to know if you need one, but in the majority of cases preference will be the decider.

There are two obvious options when it comes to raceday headwear: a hat or a fascinator. What you choose will come down to budget, style and personal preference. The main difference between the two is that fascinators affix to the head using a headband or clip, ideal for fine, silky hair, or a comb, best suited to thicker hair. Traditionally, fascinators are worn on the right side of the head.

Hats and fascinators can be as subtle or as bold as you like, so consider how best your headwear can complement your outfit. If your look is thus far muted, opt for a more striking colour or style. On the other hand, you’re already sporting eye-catching attire, opt for a more subtle hat or fascinator so as not to detract from your outfit.

If you need a winter style, a fedora, trilby, pill box or cossack-style hats are smart and chic. Look for felt-type or velvet options for a wintery feel.

What to wear to the races at Cheltenham

Known as the home of jump racing, Cheltenham holds a number of racedays and meetings throughout the year, the biggest of which is the Cheltenham Festival. If you’re heading to Cheltenham, we’ve put together a specific guide on what to wear to Cheltenham races. You can also find Cheltenham edits by brands including Fairfax & Favor or Really Wild.

What to wear to the races at Royal Ascot

The dress code and expectations at Royal Ascot are different to almost all other race meetings in the UK. There is a strict Royal Ascot dress code and in some Ascot enclosures you’ll be required to wear an appropriate hat or fascinator. We’ve picked out a selection of suitable hats for Royal Ascot and dresses for Royal Ascot to help give you some inspiration and guidance on what’s accepted.

Things to take to the races

Depending on the time of year and type of meet you’re heading to, there are a few things you shouldn’t be without:

• A large umbrella, like this one available at Amazon
• A pair of binoculars – we’ve rounded up the best binoculars for horseracing
• Picnic basket, like this one, if you’re heading to a summer meeting

How to save money on raceday outfits

Without doubt, picking up a new look for a trip to the races can be a pricey affair. Given that there’s the cost of travel and the price of entry, investing in a new look on top might feel like a stretch. With this is mind, can you be smart about your spending? Here’s how…

Think multi-purpose – could the boots you’d like to top off your winter raceday look work in your regular wardrobe rotation? On the other hand, maybe the hat you want for Ascot would go perfectly with your wedding guest outfit later in the year? There’s nothing worse than buying something beautiful and wearing it once. Instead, think about what to wear at races in terms of your closet as a whole.

Hit the charity shops – it’s an age-old tip but truly, you never know what hidden gems lie in these treasure troves of preloved articles.

Rent your look – wear something flashy for the fraction of the cost with designer clothing rental services like By Rotation. You can rent garments and accessories to upscale your look and when you’re done, simply return them. No wasted money or wardrobe space – and it’s a greener way to style yourself, too.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also like:

Heading to the races? Here are 7 of the best binoculars to keep you abreast of the action

A bluffer’s guide to reading a racecard

What to wear to Cheltenham Races – outfits for ladies and gents

I’ve been to Royal Ascot at least a dozen times and these are my eight golden rules

Avoid a fashion faux pas at Royal Ascot with the full 2026 dress code for every enclosure

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

The Horse & Hound team always has one eye on the major horseracing events in the UK, and another on the other major equestrian sporting events.

We’re looking forward to an action-packed calendar throughout the year with plenty of racedays to attend in person or watch on TV. Here’s our quick guide to the key race meetings in 2026.

Major UK horseracing events 2026

If you are viewing this on a mobile, swipe left for more info

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

A bluffer’s guide to reading a racecard

Heading to the races? Here are 7 of the best binoculars to keep you abreast of the action

What to wear to the races – all occasions covered

How to pick a winner and what to wear: H&H’s ultimate guide for first time racegoers

Don’t know the difference between a banker and a bumper? Hat or no hat? Swot up with our guide for

Discover the top UK equestrian events on the 2026 calendar

The major UK horse trials that eventing fans shouldn’t miss in 2026

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Teenage apprentice Flat jockey Jack Callan is the son of global horseracing sensation and multiple Group One-winning jockey Neil Callan, but he’s carving out his own exciting career in the saddle. Jack is already in high demand from some of the country’s leading Flat trainers including George Boughey and Charlie Johnston and the 18-year-old is catching the eye with some masterful winning rides.

Jack finished fourth in the apprentice jockeys’ championship last season and, during a landmark summer, he made his debut at Royal Ascot just hours after sitting an A-level exam at school in the morning. He is now spending the winter months riding in Australia and Hong Kong, where he grew up, before returning to England in the spring for the start of the new Flat racing season.

“I’ve had some ups and downs but overall 2025 has been a great year – I’m very lucky to have the right people supporting me,” says 18-year-old Jack, who enjoyed showjumping – including helping his school team win at the national championships at Hickstead – as well as a bit of Pony Club in his childhood, which he credits for giving him an “excellent foundation”.

Jack Callan on riding out before school

From the age of 14, he started riding out for Newmarket trainer David Simcock at weekends, and in the mornings before school he’d join George Boughey’s string, determined to fulfil his dream of becoming a fully fledged jockey after sitting his A-levels – the compromise he made with his parents.

“I just loved it! Riding my first winner was brilliant – it took me a really long time though!” says Jack of his debut success at Yarmouth riding Longuerue for trainer Robert Eddery. “That was the best feeling ever. Then riding my first winner for George Boughey was the most satisfying.”

Father versus son on the racetrack

“The first phone call I make after every ride is to my dad, no matter what happens,” says Jack. “He’s pretty harsh on me but I’m pretty harsh on myself as well. My dad is an extra bit of competition when I’m riding against him, too!

“Becoming champion apprentice would be a main goal and it would be nice to add it to my CV, but it’s not the be all and end all. I just try to take one day at a time but I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next year.”

• Enjoyed reading this? For more expert insight on top riders, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Flat racing fans who want to watch the live action from the St Leger at Doncaster meeting (11–14 September) will need to tune into ITV, who will be showing 12 hours of footage on all four days of the event, or a free livestream. ITV Racing will be covering 20 races during the meeting of this prestigious meeting, plus there are livestream options to choose from too.

The St Leger meeting plays host to the Group One Betfred St Leger Stakes on the third day of this Doncaster meeting. This 1m6½f contest is open to any racehorse who is three years old or above and the winner will take home £396,970.

Irish raider Scandinavia is currently favourite to take the win at odds of 11/8 for trainer Aidan O’Brien and owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs John Magnier.

Here’s our full guide on how to watch the St Leger at Doncaster on TV so you don’t miss a moment of the action…

ITV and the ITVX streaming service will be showing 20 races from the St Leger at Doncaster meeting for free in the UK. If you’re abroad, and trying to watch ITVX like you normally would back in the UK, then you can use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 76% off, four extra months free (which does not appear until you go to the check out) plus a £50 Amazon gift card and a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

How to watch the St Leger from Doncaster on TV

ITV is the place for UK audiences to watch all four days of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster for free on terrestrial TV and ITVX. There is also an ITVX app that works on almost all smart devices. Just search for the app on any device, phone or console you have.

Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani will host the live TV coverage which runs from 1pm to 4pm between Thursday and Saturday and 2.15-5pm on Sunday. They will be joined by former jockey and expert Jason Weaver with Adele Mulrennan, plus other top racing names.

The Opening Show will be presented by Oli Bell on the morning of the Saturday of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster on ITV4, previewing the day’s big races between 9.30am and 10.30am.

You can also watch all of the action from both days of the meeting live via the pay-for channel, Sky Sports Racing.

What time does the St Leger at Doncaster start?

The showcase Betfred St Leger Stakes gets underway at 3.40pm on Saturday 13 September.

How to watch the St Leger from Doncaster on TV from anywhere

Not in the UK right now? You don’t have to miss out on any of the action from the St Leger. ITVX is geo-restricted, meaning it doesn’t usually work outside of the UK, but a VPN is a simple and safe way around this.

A Virtual Private Network will alter your device’s IP address to make it appear to be in a different country, allowing you to access your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world. It’s great for watching racing on the move, and it’s also handy even if you’re watching at home. VPNs are designed with internet security in mind, creating encrypted connections that keep your data safe from third parties and improve streaming speeds by preventing bandwidth ‘throttling’ from your internet service provider.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, which is the best VPN in the world according to our colleagues at TechRadar.

How do I bet during the St Leger?

Online betting companies will be clamouring for your custom during the St Leger so look out for some of their promotional deals for new customers which include everything from a free bet to giving your money back if your horse loses. You’ll need to deposit some money into your betting account, choose a race, select your horse (you could study the form, or you could simply pick your lucky number of favourite colour from the jockeys’ silks) and the type of bet — then get ready to cheer!

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Download and install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access – UK for ITV.

3. Then head over to your streaming service on your device and enjoy the live stream.

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Crowd-favourite and stalwart of the Flat racing stayers’ division, Trueshan, has been put down after picking up a serious injury in the Goodwood Cup on 29 July.

The nine-year-old, who was purchased for 31,000gns at the Tattersalls Breeze-Up sale in 2018, was trained by Alan King, owned by the Singula Partnership, and earnt more than £2m in prize money over his 35 career starts.

“He was a very tough horse, and a very sound horse,” Alan King said to ITV Racing. “He didn’t miss a day of exercise at home really and we were careful not to run him on quick ground as he didn’t perform on it. He was a kind horse too.”

Trueshan, who was mostly ridden by Hollie Doyle during his career, notched up some impressive results, including winning the 2021 Goodwood Cup, 2022 Northumberland Plate and the Prix du Cadran in 2021 and 2023.

“When he won the Goodwood Cup, which was my first Group One in England, it was very special but he was a wonderful racehorse,” said Alan, who trains at Barbury in Wiltshire.

“He’s coming back to Barbury. We have a graveyard here so he’s going to be with Viking Flagship, Balder Succes and Katchit, which is where he should be.”

Hollie, who partnered Trueshan on 23 of his starts and with whom she had a wonderful relationship, called him a “special, special horse” while speaking to the PA news agency.

“I’m just devastated,” said Hollie. “He’s been amazing for me, a star, and those memories we have together are some of my very best.”

The BHA’s director of equine health and welfare James Given said to ITV Racing: “What has happened, unfortunately, is an accident mid-race in a straight line going up the hill. His left-hind pastern broke, which left him in a situation that wasn’t recoverable from. Alan was able to get down there and assess him with the vets and they felt there was no option really but to put him down.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

H&H interview: Hollie Doyle — ‘I didn’t think I’d be good enough’ *H&H Plus*

‘The most amazing day’: Flat racing’s power couple tie the knot

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Find out more about this power duo...

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Watch the King George at Ascot live this weekend and join thousands of racing fans coming together to witness some of Europe’s finest middle-distance horses.

This year marks the 76th running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but there is so much to see throughout the The King George Weekend at Ascot Racecourse, with 14 races across the two days.

Last year’s winner of the feature race, Calandagan, is favourite to win Saturday’s £2 million showpiece, with Benvenuto Cellini tipped as the primary threat.

At a glance

• King George dates: 24–25 July 2026
• Watch King George on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
• Watch King George from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch the King George at Ascot on TV

ITV will screen the feature race, along with three others (schedule below), live and for free on ITV1 and ITVX on the second day of the King George Racing Weekend, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast all the races via its subscription-based service.

The ITV coverage will be presented by Francesca Cumani and Ed Chamberlin, with analysis from Jason Weaver and Adele Mulrennan, reports by Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald, and commentary from Richard Hoiles

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

How to watch the King George at Ascot from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

King George Weekend race times

• To stay up to date with all the latest news from major events across the disciplines, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Flat racing fans who want to watch the live action from the Debenhams July Festival at Newmarket (10-12 July) will need to tune into ITV or a free livestream. With eight-and-a-half hours’ live footage on the main ITV channel, ITV Racing will be covering 14 races across the three days of this prestigious meeting, plus there are livestream options to choose from too.

The July Festival plays host to two Group One Flat races; the Falmouth Stakes for fillies and mares on the Friday and the July Cup Stakes on the Saturday.

Cinderella’s Dream is currently 11/4 favourite for the Falmouth Stakes for trainer Charlie Appleby and owners Godolphin and will be ridden by William Buick, while Notable Speech is currently 7/2 favourite to take the July Cup Stakes for the same connections.

Here’s our full TV guide so you don’t miss a moment of the action…

ITV and the ITVX streaming service will be showing 14 races from The July Festival for free in the UK. If you’re abroad, and trying to watch ITVX like you normally would back in the UK, then you can use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 76% off, four extra months free (which does not appear until you go to the check out) plus a £50 Amazon gift card and a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

The July Festival on TV: how to watch

ITV is the place for UK audiences to watch the majority of The July Festival for free on ITVX. There is also an ITVX app that works on almost all smart devices. Just search for the app on any device, phone or console you have.

Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani will host the live TV coverage which runs from 1.30pm to 4pm on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 July and between 1.30pm and 5pm on Saturday 12 July.

They will be joined by former jockey and expert Jason Weaver with Adele Mulrennan, plus other top racing names.

The Opening Show will be presented by Oli Bell on the morning of the July Cup Stakes, previewing the day’s big races between 9.30am and 10.30am.

You can also watch the action live via the pay-for channel, Racing TV.

What time does the July Cup Stakes start?

The July Cup Stakes gets underway at 4.35pm on Saturday 12 July.

How to watch The July Festival from anywhere

Not in the UK right now? You don’t have to miss out on any of the action from The July Festival. ITVX is geo-restricted, meaning it doesn’t usually work outside of the UK, but a VPN is a simple and safe way around this.

A Virtual Private Network will alter your device’s IP address to make it appear to be in a different country, allowing you to access your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world. It’s great for watching racing on the move, and it’s also handy even if you’re watching at home. VPNs are designed with internet security in mind, creating encrypted connections that keep your data safe from third parties and improve streaming speeds by preventing bandwidth ‘throttling’ from your internet service provider.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, which is the best VPN in the world according to our colleagues at TechRadar.

How do I bet during The July Festival?

Online betting companies will be clamouring for your custom during The July Festival so look out for some of their promotional deals for new customers which include everything from a free bet to giving your money back if your horse loses. You’ll need to deposit some money into your betting account, choose a race, select your horse (you could study the form, or you could simply pick your lucky number of favourite colour from the jockeys’ silks) and the type of bet — then get ready to cheer!

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Download and install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access – UK for ITV.

3. Then head over to your streaming service on your device and enjoy the live stream.

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If a trip to the USA to watch the Belmont Stakes (8 June in the UK) in person isn’t feasible this year, there is no need to miss the action with our helpful TV guide to ensure you keep up to speed with this year’s winners as they pass the post.

The UK’s free racing broadcaster ITV and the ITVX streaming service will NOT be showing the Belmont Stakes live. Sky Sports Racing will have full coverage of the race though for Sky Sports subscribers.

If you’re abroad, and trying to watch Sky Sports Racing like you normally would back in the UK, then you may need to use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 73% off, plus a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

For details of other 2025 Belmont Stakes TV channels and live streams, scroll down to read more.

What is the Belmont Stakes?

The Belmont Stakes is one of the most prestigious horse races in the USA.

The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade One stakes race, run at Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga Springs, New York and is open to three-year-old Thoroughbred geldings, colts and fillies.

It is is the traditional third and final leg of the Triple Crown and usually held on the first or second Saturday in June, five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes, which make up the first two parts of the Triple Crown.

The Belmont Stakes is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles) with a prize of $2m (about £1,484,640) going to the winner.

The Belmont Stakes on TV: how to watch

ITV Racing will not be showing the Belmont Stakes live. Sky Sports Racing will be showing the race and this is the best option for viewers in the UK.

Sky Sports Racing TV channel for those who subscribe to Sky Sports normally costs £22 per month with a 24-month minimum term, alongside a new 24-month Sky TV contract.

If you are in the USA, FOX will be showing all of the Belmont Stakes action.

What time does it start?

The Belmont Stakes gets underway at 00.04am British time (7.04pm ET) on Sunday 8 June in the UK.

How to watch the Belmont Stakes outside the UK

While it is not necessary to use a VPN to access Sky Sports Racing’s live stream, if you would like to protect your online viewing from being monitored by third-parties, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you do this. A VPN creates a private connection between your device and the internet, such that the servers and services you’re accessing aren’t able to track what you’re doing. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get 73% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

How to use a VPN

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access.

3. Then head over to Sky Sports Racing on your browser or device and enjoy the livestream.

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing. 

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

One in four US punters selects a horse to bet on by its name alone, study finds

A beginner’s guide to betting

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you’re gearing up for race day and want to catch every thrilling moment from a front-row perspective, having a pair of the best binoculars is a game-changer. Think of it like having a personal front-seat upgrade – you get to see every gallop, every stride, and every burst of speed without having to scramble for a better view.

There are plenty of options out there to suit different needs. In this guide to the best binoculars for horse racing we’ll give you all the information you need to pick the best binoculars to enhance your enjoyment at the races, whether you’re heading to Cheltenham Festival or your local track. If you’re a bit befuddled by the numbers and specifications, here’s a super-simple explainer.

Best binoculars for horse racing: H&H’s quick guide

Best value binoculars: Nikon Prostaff P7 10×42

Best compact binoculars: Steiner BluHorizons 10×26

Best premium pick: Canon 10×30 IS

Best budget pick: Olympus 8×25 WP

Nikon Prostaff P7 10×42

Magnification: 10x

Objective lens diameter: 42mm

Weight: 645g

RRP: £259

Reasons to buy

• Sharp, high-contrast images with multi-coated lenses
• Waterproof and fog-proof, ideal for all weather conditions
• Comfortable rubber-armoured grip for secure handling

Reasons to avoid

• Slightly heavier than some compact models
• Higher magnification can make it harder to keep a steady image without a tripod

The Nikon Prostaff P7 10×42 is a solid all-rounder, perfect for racegoers who want crisp, detailed views without jumping to a premium price bracket. The multi-coated optics and phase-corrected roof prisms enhance brightness and clarity, helping you track fast-moving horses with ease.

Built to handle the elements, these binoculars are waterproof and nitrogen-filled, meaning you won’t have to worry about misting up in damp conditions. The textured rubber coating ensures a comfortable and secure grip, even on a long day at the races.

With 10x magnification, you’ll get up-close views of the action, but if you struggle with a steady hand, a lower magnification model might be easier to use. However, for those looking for a high-quality pair that balances performance, durability, and affordability, the Nikon Prostaff 7S is a great pick.

Steiner BluHorizons 10×26

Magnification: 10x

Objective lens diameter: 26mm

Weight: 310g

RRP: £199

Reasons to buy

• Ultra-compact and lightweight
• Auto-adjusting light technology for glare-free viewing
• Rugged, rubber exterior for durability

Reasons to avoid

• Smaller objective lens lets in less light in low-light conditions
• 10x magnification can be tricky to keep steady in a compact model

The Steiner BluHorizons 10×26 is perfect for racegoers who want a lightweight, pocket-sized binocular without sacrificing performance. The lens automatically adjusts brightness to reduce glare – ideal for those sunny days at the track.

While the 10x magnification provides fantastic close-up views, the smaller 26mm objective lens means they perform best in bright daylight. If you want something compact that’s easy to carry but still powerful enough for a detailed view, these are a great option.

Canon 10×30 IS

Magnification: 10x

Objective lens diameter: 30mm

Weight: 600g

RRP: £469.99

Reasons to buy

• Image stabilisation tech (IS) for a steady view
• Crisp, high-contrast optics
• Comfortable, ergonomic design for extended use

Reasons to avoid

• Battery-powered stabilization requires replacements
• More expensive than non-stabilized models

The Canon 10×30 IS stands out with its image stabilisation technology, which compensates for hand movements, delivering a steady, shake-free view. This makes them perfect for following the action, even at higher magnifications.

The 30mm objective lens balances portability and light-gathering ability, making them a solid mid-range option. If you struggle to keep binoculars steady but want the benefits of 10x zoom, these are the best horse racing binoculars for you.

Olympus 8×25 WP

Magnification: 8x

Objective lens diameter: 25mm

Weight: 260g

RRP: £109.99

Reasons to buy

• Extremely lightweight and compact
• Waterproof design for all-weather use
• Budget-friendly without sacrificing quality

Reasons to avoid

• Lower magnification compared to others on this list
• Small objective lens limits brightness in dim conditions

The Olympus 8×25 WP is one of the most compact and affordable options on this list, making it a great pick for casual racegoers. Despite its small size, the optics are surprisingly sharp and its waterproofing ensures durability.

If you’re after something lightweight that still provides clear and stable viewing, these are an excellent choice for the price.

Zeiss Terra ED 8×42

Magnification: 8x

Objective lens diameter: 42mm

Weight: 725g

Reasons to buy

• Wide field of view
• Exceptional optics with ED glass for high contrast and sharp details
• Waterproof and nitrogen-filled for durability

Reasons to avoid

• Higher price point compared to similar models
• Slightly bulkier than compact binoculars

The Zeiss Terra ED 8×42 is a premium choice for those who want exceptional clarity and a wide field of view. The ED glass enhances contrast and reduces chromatic aberration, meaning you get razor-sharp images with true-to-life colors.

With 8x magnification, you get a broader perspective, making it easier to track horses in motion. They’re slightly larger than some competitors, but if optical quality is your top priority, these are worth the investment.

Steiner Wildlife 8×24

Magnification: 8x

Objective lens diameter: 24mm

Weight: 350g

RRP: £189

Reasons to buy

• Lightweight and compact for easy carrying
• Wide field of view for tracking movement
• Robust, rubber design

Reasons to avoid

• Smaller objective lens limits brightness in low light
• Not as powerful as larger models

For racegoers who want a balance between portability and performance, the Steiner Wildlife 8×24 could be the one for you. The 8x magnification offers a steady, wide view, making it easier to track moving horses.

Designed for rugged use, the rubber coating ensures a secure grip, even in wet conditions. While the smaller objective lens means they’re best suited to bright daylight, their lightweight design makes them easy to carry all day.

Celestron Outland X 10×42

Magnification: 10x

Objective lens diameter: 42mm

Weight: 624g

RRP: £95

Reasons to buy

• Great value for a 10×42 model
• Waterproof and fog-proof for all-weather use
• Rubber coating for a secure grip

Reasons to avoid

• Image clarity not as sharp as premium models
• Slightly heavier than some alternatives

For those on a budget, the Celestron Outland X 10×42 provides decent magnification and a robust, waterproof design at a low price point. They don’t match the clarity of higher-end options, but they’re solid for casual use.

How to choose a pair of binoculars for horse racing

There are plenty of binoculars available. Some are super compact and easy to carry around, which is perfect if you want to keep things light and hassle-free. Others, however, pack a bit more power with higher magnification and even image stabilisation to make sure you don’t miss a detail – even if your hands are a little shaky from all the excitement. It all comes down to what kind of experience you’re after.

“A decent pair of binoculars are your best accessory at the races,” explains Horse & Hound’s racing editor Jennifer Donald. “If you’ve a vested interest in a particular horse, whether as a punter, keen spectator or owner, nothing beats zooming in and following all the action.”

Gemma Redrup, Horse & Hound’s point-to-point editor adds: “In the absence of a big screen at most point-to-point fixtures, binoculars really help you keep abreast of the action within a race – and can therefore make you the envy of many as a result!”

Understanding binocular numbers: what do they mean?

When you pick up a pair of binoculars, you’ll often see a set of numbers printed on the body – something like “8×32” or “10×42”. At first glance, these might seem confusing, but they’re actually the key to understanding how your binoculars will perform.

The first number represents the magnification. An 8x magnification means objects will appear eight times closer than they are to the naked eye, while 10x magnification brings them ten times closer. The “x” simply stands for “times magnification”.

The second number refers to the diameter of the objective lens (the lens furthest from your eyes) in millimeters. For example, in 8×32 binoculars, the 32mm objective lens determines how much light enters the binoculars. A larger lens allows more light in, which means a brighter, clearer image, especially in low-light conditions.

What binoculars are best for horse racing?

It might seem like bigger is better when it comes to magnification, but that’s not always the case. While higher magnification provides a closer view, it also has trade-offs. Without a large enough objective lens, the image can appear darker and less clear, especially in low light.

For horse racing, you’ll want a balance between magnification and stability. Anything over 10x can amplify natural hand movements, making the image shaky and difficult to track fast-moving horses. Heavier binoculars can also become tiring to hold for long periods.

For the best race-day experience, 8x or 10x magnification with a 32mm–42mm objective lens is ideal – giving you a clear, steady view without unnecessary weight.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

If you can’t make it to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting (5-6 October) in person, there is no need to miss the action, as we bring you a full TV guide for you to keep up to speed with this year’s winners.

ITV and the ITVX streaming service will be showing the race for free in the UK. If you’re abroad, and trying to watch ITVX like you normally would back in the UK, then you can use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 73% off, plus a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below. We have more details on worldwide 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe TV channels and live streams further down too.

What is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a Group One Flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles). It is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world and the winner of the 2024 race will take home £2,484,348.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on TV: how to watch

The ITV Racing coverage will show live coverage of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting, including the big race itself, between 12.45 and 3.45pm on Sunday 6 October.

Sky Sports Racing will show the entirety of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting.

Outside of the UK, 37 broadcasters will show at least part of the raceday worldwide, including domestic broadcasters M6 and BFM Paris. In addition, the EBU’s D2C streaming platform, Eurovision Sport, will show the meeting in 20 previously untapped European markets.

Other first-time broadcasters include ESPN and Disney+ in 50 territories across Central and South America; AbemaTV, Fuji TV, and The Green Channel in Japan; Sportsnet in Canada; Viaplay in Scandinavia and the Netherlands; NTV in Mongolia; and SportsMax in 26 Caribbean territories.

Returning broadcasters include Virgin Media (Ireland), BBC Radio 5Live, RAI (Italy), WeDoTV (Germany / Switzerland / Austria), Silknet (Georgia), Polsat (Poland), Kanal 75 (Sweden), Setanta (Balkans and Eurasia), Fox Sports (USA), Racing.com and Entain (Australia), TransVision (Indonesia), Sony Pictures Network (Indian subcontinent), Al Kass and beIN and Al Rayyan (Qatar), DMI (MENA), as well as Reuters, SNTV and Sport 24 on cruise lines.

What time does it start?

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe gets underway at 4.20pm French time (3.20pm British time).

How to watch the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe outside the UK

While it is not necessary to use a VPN to access ITV’s live stream, if you would like to protect your online viewing from being monitored by third-parties, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you do this. A VPN creates a private connection between your device and the internet, such that the servers and services you’re accessing aren’t able to track what you’re doing. All the information passing back and forth is entirely encrypted.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get 73% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

How to use a VPN

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access.

3. Then head over to ITV on your browser or device and enjoy the livestream.

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

• Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
• Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing. 

Who are the runners and riders in the 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?

Here are the confirmed runners and riders ordered by draw:

Zarakem – ridden by Cristian Demuro, trained by J Reynier (stall 1)

Fantastic Moon – ridden by Rene Piechulek, trained by Frau S Steinberg (2)

Bluestocking – ridden by Rossa Ryan, trained by Ralph Beckett (3)

Aventure – ridden by Stephane Pasquier, trained by C Ferland (4)

Sosie – ridden by Maxime Guyon, trained by A Fabre (5)

Survie – ridden by Tom Marquand, trained by N Clement (6)

Delius – ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, trained by J-C Rouget (7)

Look De Vega – ridden by Ronan Thomas, trained by C & Y Lerner (8)

Al Riffa – ridden by Yutaka Take, trained by Joseph O’Brien (9)

Los Angeles – ridden by Ryan Moore, trained by Aidan O’Brien (10)

Shin Emperor – ridden by Ryusei Sakai, trained by Yoshito Yahagi (11)

Sevenna’s Knight – ridden by Mickael Barzalona, trained by A Fabre (12)

Haya Zark – ridden by William Buick, trained by Adrien Fouassier (13)

Continuous – ridden by Christophe Soumillon, trained by Aidan O’Brien (14)

Sunway – ridden by Oisin Murphy, trained by David Menuisier (15)

Mqse De Sevigne – ridden by Alexis Pouchin, trained by A Fabre (16)

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Irish trainer Dermot Weld took the Oaks at Epsom this afternoon (31 May), when Ezeliya powered home to take the Betfred-sponsored race under Chris Hayes for owner HH The Aga Khan IV.

It was a second success in the mile and a half fillies’ Classic for Mr Weld, 43 years after Lester Piggott partnered Blue Wind to victory in the 1981 renewal.

“Ezeliya is a queen. She’s a very professional, strong-travelling filly. She did everything right, and didn’t take a step wrong,” said Chris, who is also an Irish 1000 Guineas-winning jockey.

“I just wanted to keep momentum on her and angle her out at the top of the straight and she just leapt onto the bridle again. I knew she’d stay and I knew she had class – it’s brilliant.”

Mr Weld said: “It’s a really special day. We’re very fortunate to have a filly for his Highness [The Aga Khan] as good as this.

“Patience has paid dividends with her. We took our time with her as a two-year-old and gave her just the one run this year when she won nicely at Navan.

“I said to Chris to just ride a similar race on her, ride her with confidence and take your time to get her into a rhythm before you let her go. I never worried about the distance with her – she’s a stayer with speed.”

It was a first British Classic success for Chris.

“You can have all the sprinters you like but give me a Classic any day of the week, that’s what you’ll be remembered for,” said Chris. “Any Classic winner is special and I’ve been very fortunate.”

Mr Weld said: “Chris gave her a beautiful ride. That was the plan, to ride her the same as he rode her at Navan, where he dropped her out last. She loves to come from off the pace.

“She’s a very genuine, brave filly, and her dam was a very good race mare I trained, but this filly probably has a bit more speed and a bit more class, she’s very progressive and I was confident she would stay.

“She got a beautiful ride from Chris Hayes and she had the race won a long way out. She was cantering, and she got a lovely run down the hill. Chris got her balanced and into a rhythm before he let her go.”

Speaking of possible future plans for this filly, Mr Weld said: “We’ll see how she comes out of the race. She’s not a big filly, and Classics always take something out of a horse, we’ll review it.

“She is in the Irish Oaks, but we’ll decide whether we give her time off for an autumn campaign, which may involve the Arc.”

Continuing to reflect on his winning ride, Chris explained: “She moved forward quicker than I thought she was going to. I never had a moment’s doubt, once I was approaching the furlong pole, I knew nothing was going to be able to come as quickly as she was going to finish. It took me right to the end to pull her up – it’s probably because I was celebrating as well, but I had a good bit of petrol left. It was brilliant.”

The horses in behind

Ezeliya went off as second favourite in the Epsom Oaks at odds of 13/2, while the favourite Ylang Ylang (11/8) finished nine-and-a-half lengths down in sixth under Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Dance Sequence finished second under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby and owner Godolphin, three lengths behind the winner. This classy filly looked unbalanced on the notorious Epsom camber in the latter stages of the race, but is definitely one to watch for the future.

Mr Appleby said: “She did find the track tricky, yes. I think William was just glad to get her across the line in the end. He said we were probably outstayed, realistically, but he had to make his move when he did – the race was coming back to him and she was going forward, and I totally agree with him on all aspects there. It was a very pleasing run and we’ll have some fun with her in the summer, and more in the autumn when we know she appreciates cut in the ground.”

The 50/1 shot War Chimes finished a creditable third in the Epsom Oaks result, four-and-a-half lengths behind the winner, under Tom Marquand for trainer David Menuisier and owner Tars Farm Equestrian Stud.

Mr Menusier said of his filly’s Epsom Oaks result: “It was like winning. She’s an unbelievable filly. The last time she ran in France, there was no pace, she was pulling too hard and she had no cover, and she couldn’t relax. I just draw a line through that and I always felt that she’d be better at 1m4f.”

2024 Epsom Oaks result: Ezeliya’s breeding

Ezeliya, a home-bred by the Aga Khan, is bred in the purple; by the formidable Dubawi, out of a Teofilo mare named Eziyra. Remarkably, this is the first Oaks winner Dubawi has sired from 15 previous attempts.

Dubawi is the most successful stallion ever to stand in Britain. He has sired 266 Stakes winners, 175 Group winners, 57 Group One winners. He stands at his owner’s Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £350,000 for the 2024 season.

Ezeliya’s dam is also a home-bred belonging to theAga Khan, and she was also trained by Dermot Weld. She clocked £541,876 during her career on the Flat, with her most notable victory coming in the Group Two Blandford Stakes at the Curragh in 2018. Ezeliya is from the family of Estimate, who won the Ascot Gold Cup.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 6 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The favourite for this year’s Derby at Epsom, City Of Troy, is one of the most talked about racehorses right now.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained megastar colt was unbeaten as a two-year-old, being crowned champion juvenile and drawing comparisons with the mighty Frankel. However his highly anticipated seasonal return in the recent 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, resulted in an unexpected defeat.

Had the colt not trained on into his three-year-old year, as sometimes happens? Had the atrocious winter weather affected his pre-season preparations? Or would he follow in his stablemate Auguste Rodin’s footsteps and bounce back from a below par Guineas run and win the Derby?

In the aftermath of Newmarket, the Ballydoyle team went into overdrive behind the scenes, analysing and assessing. They have since come out extremely bullish about his chances at Epsom on Saturday 1 June and he has returned to the top of the betting market as favourite for this historic race.

“I’m not sure we’ve ever sent a horse to the Derby with as much ability as City Of Troy,” said Aidan when H&H spent the day with the team at Ballydoyle recently.

“He’s very good natured – unusually good for a colt. He has lots of scope underneath him, he’s very balanced and nimble, and he has an unbelievable mind – there’s a lot of [damsire] Galileo in him – and he gallops with his head very low and out, with a very long stride for not a very big horse,” says Aidan illustrating his “chinning” technique to measure his horses (pictured, below).

“I know that my chin represents 15.3hh and if I put mine against City Of Troy, he’s nearly 16.1hh. That’s my measuring stick.

“When you stand in to City Of Troy he’s big, but he’s not a big bulky sprinter, and he’s very balanced, he has a long stride and he’s a very nimble horse, whereas a lot of the those big strong bulky milers get lost round Epsom.”

City Of Troy: “He’s so chilled out – very friendly and kind”

The colt is ridden out every day by Ballydoyle work rider Dean Gallagher, while David Hickey looks after him. In 27 years working at Ballydoyle, David has looked after a star-studded cast including Camelot, Australia, Starspangledbanner and St Nicholas Abbey. David describes Troy as “such a gentleman”.

“He’s so chilled out – very friendly and kind, and he’s always looking out his door,” he says. “Things didn’t go right for him in the Guineas, but I think you’ll see the real City Of Troy the next time.”

Reflecting on the 2000 Guineas in which City Of Troy and Ryan Moore finished ninth behind victor Notable Speech, Aidan says a host of circumstances went against them.

“He went into the stalls last, but the way it worked we might have been better going in earlier because he was revved up and the minute he went in, he spooked, he reared and as soon as he hit the ground again they were off and running,” says Aidan.

“Usually when something like that happens, the heart rate goes up to between 120 and 150 beats per minute, so he started the race very high when it should have been way lower. Horses go into the red zone when they go over 200 beats per minute and City Of Troy probably got there before halfway in the race, so it was impossible for him to keep going.

“We just accepted that sometimes things don’t work but really it’s my responsibility to try to make sure it does. We did our homework but we hadn’t done it properly – that’s where we’re looking at the Guineas.”

“The Derby is the race I look forward to most each year”

“I felt a huge weight of expectancy in the Guineas – I felt everybody was there to see City Of Troy,” says Aidan. “I probably expected too much of him and hadn’t done my preparation properly.

“It’s our job to prepare him to go to the races for Ryan Moore to sit on, and when Ryan sits on him he has to be in the right frame of mind, he has to have all the things done and ready. I felt we let him down. Now Ryan would never say it, he never blames anybody but himself, but that’s what I would have felt. It was just a complete let down for everybody because we were all expecting it. But it all went against us and we have to accept that and try to get back to where we want to go.

“The plan was always to start with the Guineas and go to the Derby, then go wherever after that, and we decided to stay with that plan – he’s done nothing since to make us change the plan.

“The lads here are unbelievable and they take disappointment like that on the chin,” he adds. “We’ve been doing this for 30 years now. You have to believe and everyone has to know what we’re really thinking and what we’re dreaming.

“So right now, we’re back dreaming again, we’re making a new start on City Of Troy’s programme. It will make the next race very interesting anyway. The Guineas wasn’t meant to be. What we would have learnt in the Guineas will help us to prepare properly for the Derby, hopefully.”

Starting with Galileo in 2001, Aidan has landed the Epsom Classic a record nine times.

“The Derby is the race I look forward to most each year,” he says. “It’s everyone’s dream, whether their horse costs €2m or €20,000, anything is possible, and we’re certainly back dreaming again.”

You can read all about H&H’s visit to Ballydoyle, with insight on everything from a horse’s will to win to the importance of sleep in Horse & Hound magazine (30 May issue). 

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Saffie Osborne enjoyed history-making success at Meydan in Dubai on Friday (16 February) as the first woman to ride a winner at the racecourse. She quickly followed this up with a win in Doha, Qatar, less than 24 hours later.

Saffie, 21, gave Ouzo, who is trained by her father Jamie Osborne and owned by The Other Club, a cool ride to land the 1m1f Lord Glitters Handicap in Dubai, having returned from a spell on the sidelines last month after tearing knee ligaments in a fall at the beginning of October.

“I’ve only been back riding three weeks, but I would’ve taken all the injuries for what’s happened in the past 24 hours, because it’s been pretty magical, and I’m on cloud nine,” explained Saffie, who, among plenty of other eventing achievements, won double gold at the Pony European Championships in 2018 before turning to racing full-time in 2020.

“These are the days you do the hard slog for every day. It was a fairly gruelling three months on the sidelines, but these days remind you why you do it.”

Speaking of the fact she is the first female to ride a winner at Meydan, Saffie said: “I didn’t really think about the historic part of it. It’s always somewhere I’ve wanted to ride winners because I’ve grown up watching Dad train plenty of good horses who have won there.”

Saffie was quick to thank her father’s team, who are based in Lambourn, for her success aboard Ouzo.

“All credit to Jimmy McCarthy, who has been out in Dubai with this horse for the past couple of months, and Dad’s team – he’s a tricky horse to get right and I’m the lucky one to do the steering today.”

Saffie became emotional when recalling her memories of watching her father’s horses succeed in Dubai while she was growing up.

“Ten years ago I was 11 years old, sat on the sofa watching Toast Of New York win the UAE Derby, so to be here riding winners is really special. It’s a dream come true and to get on board one and especially in the manner that he won it was really special,” she said.

Saffie, who has ridden more than 165 winners since 2020, added victory in Qatar with Emaraaty Ana, who is also trained by her father and is owned by Barratt Racing, in the Dukhan Sprint.

“This horse has got so much ability,” said Saffie. “He’s a really classy horse and I’m lucky to be on board him. It’s my first time riding here, so I’ve tried to do as much research as possible and talk to people about the track. He’s a horse who’s nearly won two Breeders’ Cup Sprints, he has plenty of pace and I was able to use that to our advantage.”

Saffie’s mother Katie O’Sullivan was out in the Far East to witness her daughter’s success.

“We have had an unbelievable 24 hours and we have just been floating through life, it is incredible and so exciting,” she said. “Saffie is doing what she loves and it is a pleasure to watch her.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

As teenager Billy “the Kid” Loughnane caps his incredible first year racing with the champion apprentice title, H&H caught up with the 17-year-old to find out more about this high flyer who deserves to be on your radar…

1. Horses have been part of Billy’s life for as long as he can remember. “I started on rocking horses, then ponies pretty much as soon as I could walk and speak,” says Billy, who was speaking at a Great British Racing event ahead of Qipco British Champions Day (21 October) at Ascot, where he will receive the champion apprentice trophy. “I started showjumping when I was about nine or 10, and did that until I was 13.”

2. He has always wanted to be a jockey. “The first time I sat on a racehorse I was probably about two years old, I used to sit on them on the way back from the gallops while someone held on to them. But the first time I cantered a racehorse I was about 10,” says Billy.

3. Billy, whose father Mark trains from his Worcestershire base, caught the race-riding bug through pony racing. “I’ve always been very competitive in everything I’ve done – I’ve always wanted to be the best,” he says. “I won my first pony race, so straight away I had the feeling for a winner. From there on, I just wanted more and more winners. ”

4. His first racing hero was Sir AP McCoy, and as Billy became more invested in Flat racing, Tom Marquand became another hero. As a tall jockey, he also tries to emulate the riding styles of James Doyle and Richard Hughes.

5. He rode his first winner less than a year ago – Swiss Rowe, trained by his father, at Wolverhampton on 28 November 2022. Since then, he has notched up more than 100 victories.

6. Billy was too young to drive when his career first kicked off. He’s since passed his test and remembers Aidan Keeley as giving him plenty of lifts before he got his own set of wheels.

7. The teenage wonder rode out his claim in September at Kempton – less than 11 months from his first ride – and would likely have got there sooner had he not spent three weeks on the sidelines after breaking his thumb in the starting stalls.

8. One of his major first season highlights was riding his first winner for Godolphin, when the Charlie Appleby-trained Sapphire Seas won by a nose at Wolverhampton in January.

9. He already has his sights set on his next big goals. “I’m staying around for the winter, so I’d love to have a crack at the all-weather title. Next year, I’d love to get 100 winners again, in the season and first year without a claim. And if I can, maybe a listed winner on the board as well.”

10. Billy credits his dad and former jockey Stephen Davies, who is Mark’s assistant trainer, for his education in the saddle. “Dad taught me how to ride most of the way – obviously I had lessons with showjumping as well – and Stephen helped me a lot when I switched to racehorses.”

11. His favourite horse is the six-year-old Daheer, trained by Mark for The Likely Lads. “I used to ride him every day when I was there, from when I was about 13, so he’d be right up there as one of my favourites.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Three-time champion jockey Frankie Dettori has reversed his decision to retire and he will continue race-riding in 2024.

The 52-year-old had previously said that he would hang up his silks at the end of this year, but the celebrated Flat jockey announced today (12 October), that he would instead be heading to the US to take up race-riding opportunities there and elsewhere on the international circuit.

“I’ve decided to prolong my career,” he said. “I am simply not ready to retire completely. I’m still enjoying riding and I want to carry on for a while on the international circuit.”

Frankie said the decision had been playing on his mind for several weeks after he rode so many big winners during the summer – his most successful season for several years.

“My family were part of my decision,” explained Frankie. “When I announced I was going to retire last December, I expected things to slow down but it went the other way. I just kept on winning. In the summer I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’ve only got two months to go and I’m not ready to stop’. I did not expect the success I had this year.

“But of course, by this time I’d told the whole world I was stopping, I’d said my farewells. So I talked to my parents, my wife and children, then we started the process of organising it all, getting a US visa, renting a house… So it was in my mind for a while, but I wanted to make sure everything was organised.

“First and foremost I’m doing it because of all the success I’ve had this year, that’s what’s making me carry on,” said Frankie, who spent four months in the US last year and will be based in Los Angeles, near Santa Anita racecourse. “It would have been much easier to retire if I didn’t ride a winner or couldn’t get a ride! But fortunately it’s snowballed out of my control and I’m enjoying winning.

“If you’re happy in your head, the body keeps with it. I’m enjoying what I’m doing. It’s been a crazy and emotional year, with the devil and the angel on my shoulder saying retire, don’t retire. So I’m going on for a bit longer.”

Frankie Dettori’s retirement: a return to Ascot next year?

Although the celebrated jockey still intends to ride for the last time in Britain at next week’s Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot (21 October), he cannot rule out returning to the UK or Europe to race-ride in future.

“Emotionally, Champions Day is going to be difficult because I have to separate all the emotion with the riding, but it is my favourite track and I will have everyone I know there, so there’s extra pressure but it’s my last goodbye really,” said Frankie Dettori. “I will shed tears of sadness and happiness, it will be the last time I walk into the jockeys’ room and I’ll be walking out with amazing memories.

“At the moment, I can’t think that far ahead,” he added, about next year’s Royal Ascot. “I’m going to America, where I’ll ride for a bit – it could be three months or three years, it depends how successful I am and it depends on my body. If things go bad, I’ll be straight back! The weather’s nice and you don’t have to travel. But getting a ride in the Kentucky Derby would be my main ambition.

“What happens in the future, I don’t know. Everyone keeps asking me about coming back for Royal Ascot and it depends how it falls in the American calendar. I’m not going to go back and forwards every weekend. So at the moment I’m committed to staying in America – it’s a new challenge to get out of my system.

“I have had the most amazing career and I head to British Champions Day with some brilliant rides,” said Frankie, whose most celebrated achievement was riding all seven winners at Ascot in 1996. “This will mark my final day riding in Britain, after which I will head to America for the Breeders’ Cup and then Melbourne for the Carnival.

“The current plan is to return to ride at Santa Anita in the States at the end of the year. How long I continue race-riding overseas, and where my American journey takes me, no one can predict.

“I’m going to enjoy Saturday and move on to the next chapter.”

Frankie Dettori: ‘I’ll miss hearing the charm of Go on, Frankie!’

When asked what he would miss the most about riding in the UK, Frankie said, “The public.

“It took me 30 years to create this amazing fanbase and it’s selfish but every time I ride, all I hear is my name! That might annoy my colleagues a bit! But I’ll miss the charm of ‘Go on, Frankie!’”

At a Flying Frankie pop-up on London’s South Bank, organised by Great British Racing and Qipco British Champions Series to mark the end of his British career, Frankie met his fans and demonstrated his signature flying dismount – from a trampoline.

Frankie has been one of the most popular and successful jockeys of all time in a career spanning more than three decades. He burst on to the British racing scene in 1985 aged just 15, going on to win the five British Classics multiple times and recorded 3.365 winners in Great Britain alone, putting him in the top five British-based Flat jockeys of all time.

He has enjoyed a remarkably successful farewell season. He recently achieved his 500th winner at his home track, Newmarket.

There have been rumours circulating that Frankie might be entering the jungle this year as part of “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here…”, but “I’m still waiting for the phone call!” he said. “It’s still a rumour at the moment!”

As always, Frankie Dettori is full of surprises, so watch this space.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The new racing whip rules that came into force in Britain this year have been amended following a six-month review – as the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said it is continuing to see a reduction in the rate of offences.

The review formed part of the “ongoing dialogue” between the BHA, the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and jockeys, which started before the introduction of the new rules and has resulted in a number of alterations.

The changes focus around the penalties for using the whip above the permitted levels. Under the rules, which were introduced in jump racing on 6 February, and on the Flat on 27 March – both following soft launches prior to these dates – the number of times a whip may be used in a race was reduced to a maximum of seven times in a jump race and six times in a Flat race.

Under the amendments as of 31 July, if a rider has been found to have used the whip once above the permitted level, the minimum penalty may be reduced dependent on the race type and rider’s previous record.

Other changes include the races in which a double penalty for use of the whip above the permitted level will apply. Previously this applied to all class one or two races, but under the new framework it will apply to all class one and some class twos.

Riders will now be referred to the BHA judicial panel for “totting up” of whip offences after four, instead of three, in a six-month period.

If a jockey has exceeded the maximum threshold for whip use by just one use, now they may elect to have the potential breach dealt with on the day by raceday stewards, instead of waiting for the whip review committee (WRC) to meet and assess the ride. In these cases the jockey will waive the right to appeal any decision.

The WRC will now only be able to retrospectively review a ride within a maximum of seven days, except where it involved a potential horse disqualification, which may be considered at any time. When considering whether a rider has breached the rules, the WRC may in “exceptional circumstances” exercise discretion and discount individual uses before the starting line, providing the use was “reasonable, proportionate, and clearly and equivocally for a corrective purpose only”.

Read the amendments in full

WRC chair Sam Angell said the changes reflect an ongoing process to “improve the new whip rules and penalties, while retaining the original objectives, to ensure more judicious use of the whip for encouragement, improve the perceptions of the whip and ensure the outcomes of the races are fair”.

“The BHA remains extremely grateful to the PJA and the senior riders who have engaged so constructively with this process. This dialogue will remain ongoing,” he said.

“We continue to see a reduction in the rate of offences, which is a testament to the measures being taken by the jockeys as they continue to adapt to the new rules, for which they deserve great credit.”

Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare chief executive, told H&H it is “sensible” to keep rules under review to “best ensure they are fit for purpose, especially ones that have been recently implemented”.

“However, the real test for the whip rules is whether they are having an overall impact in significantly reducing the number of rule breaches and it is still too early to assess this,” he said.

“World Horse Welfare still believes that the whip in racing should not be permitted for encouragement, but ultimately it is for racing to justify why this use is in the interest of the horse, and having an effective system to minimise transgression must be at the heart of this.”

The BHA has released six-month data of referrals to the judicial panel and offences since the introduction of the new rules. Out of 37,428 rides there were 425 referrals, of which 360 were found to be breaches. The offence types included 219 above the permitted level, 79 without giving the horse time to respond, 15 above shoulder height and one excessive force. 55% of the offences in the review period were committed by professional jockeys.

“We continue to see a reduction in the rate of offences, which is a testament to the measures being taken by jockeys as they continue to adapt to the new rules, for which they deserve great credit,” said Sam.

A PJA spokesman said the organisation is “pleased” that “extensive negotiations” with the BHA over the past six months have resulted in the penalty reductions and other amendments, “that mean sanctions are now less onerous for jockeys”.

Dale Gibson, PJA interim chief executive, told H&H a “highly respected, talented and knowledgeable group of riders” took part in the review; Flat jockeys Ryan Moore, William Buick, Luke Morris and Richard Kingscote, and National Hunt jockeys Bryan Hughes and Harry Skelton.

“We will continue to work with the BHA to review all aspects of the rules and sanctions, with the plan to meet again in the autumn to discuss any further potential amendments,” he said.

“The process has been time-consuming, however we believe the alterations to be a step in the right direction.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A jockey who started racing 37 years ago is the current leader of the 2023 Flat Jockeys’ Championship at the age of 52. This season, Yorkshire-based Joe Fanning has been in great form, winning on 35 of his 157 rides and operating at a strike rate of 22%.

“I am really pleased with how the season has started – it feels fantastic to still be riding regular winners,” said Joe, whose career started in 1986 when riding for Irish trainer Kevin Connolly. “The horses are running well – it is still early days, but hopefully I can get a few big wins along the way too.”

Joe moved from his native Ireland in 1988 and began working for Tommy Fairhurst in Middleham, Yorkshire. Since 1996, he has been primarily associated with trainer Mark Johnston, for whom he has been a retained rider for and who is also based in Middleham. Joe has remained retained rider for the Johnston yard since Mark’s son Charlie took over his father’s licence in 2022, and during the past two weeks alone they have enjoyed six wins together.

“There is a long way in the championship to go yet, but I am pleased with how it is going, and it has been good to be a contender in the competitive title race,” said Joe. “I try not to think about the championship too much – I am just enjoying it.”

Joe is up against some incredibly strong talent in the race to the Flat Jockeys’ Championship, which runs from 6 May to 21 October this year.

Oisin Murphy, who at 27 is 25 years Joe’s junior, is currently in second, just one winner behind Joe on 34, while Hollie Doyle is equal third with 31 winners. The current British champion Flat jockey, William Buick, shares Hollie’s third place on the same number of winners.

Joe has ridden more than 2,780 winners during his career and has celebrated success at Group One level three times including victories in the Middle Park Stakes in 2016 aboard The Last Lion and the Prix Royal-Oak and the Ascot Gold Cup, both on star stayer, Subjectivist.

Joe has been successful in the All-Weather Championships too, winning the competition twice in 2009/10 and 2011/12. He is also one of only a handful of jockeys to have won a race at every racecourse in Great Britain.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Some of our favourite horse books are of the racing variety. The best horse racing books include chronicles of great days, autobiographies from racing legends, racing novels, as well as guides on horses to watch and how to bet.

If you’re interested in racing or shopping for someone who is, check out this great selection of popular racing books. We’ve picked out something for all racing fans – from those who are completely new to the world of horse racing, to those who have been avidly following the sport for years.

We’ve grouped the best horse racing books into groups to help you find something for you:

• books about horse racing
• horse racing autobiographies
• horse racing novels
• horse racing betting books

Best horse racing books

Best horse racing autobiographies

Horse racing fiction

Best horse racing betting books

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Stradivarius, a multiple champion stayer on the Flat, has been retired to stud after a glittering career.

Owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen and trained by John and Thady Gosden, the chestnut, who won fans from all over the world, was victorious in three Royal Ascot Gold Cups, as well as landing four Goodwood Cups, three Yorkshire Cups and two Doncaster Cups. The eight-year-old scooped £3,458,968 in prize money during his 35-race career, notching 20 wins in the process, seven of which were Group Ones.

Stradivarius was a late absentee in the Lonsdale Cup at York last month owing to a bruised foot, from which he took longer than expected to recover.

Bjorn told the Racing Post Stradivarius had been “trotting and cantering”, but that “his connections felt it would not be fair to ask him to come back as a nine-year-old after his time off”.

“It has been a fairytale from start to finish. Until this setback he had never been medicated and had never missed an engagement through injury.

“He is a tribute to John Gosden, who has trained him so brilliantly for so long.”

By Sea The Stars, Stradivarius won plaudits for how he kept returning to the racecourse year in, year out – his career began in October 2016 and concluded with a second place, where he was beaten only a neck, in the Group One Goodwood Cup in July 2022.

“The music has stopped for Stradivarius,” said Bjorn.

John Gosden added: “Stradivarius has been the most extraordinary and unique racehorse throughout his career. He exhibited joy in his training and has given enormous pleasure to everyone, both on and off the track.

“His constitution has been a marvel to behold and his exciting style of travelling easily in a race, and then quickening to pounce, reflected his character. He goes to stud with an amazing race record and enormous affection. To train he has been a complete joy to all of us here. He will remain close to home and is already looking forward to his new career.”

Stradivarius will now stand at stud at the National Stud in Newmarket.

National Stud chief executive Anna Kerr added: “We are delighted to have a racehorse of the calibre of Stradivarius joining the roster at the National Stud. He has consistently demonstrated many of the attributes that his sire Sea The Stars had, including consistency, soundness and a phenomenal temperament.

“The whole team are looking forward to him arriving here in the coming weeks and he will be available for breeders to view at the stud during the December sales.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The final day of Royal Ascot has almost arrived (18 June). The Group One race on the card on the final day is the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, which is run over six furlongs. Here’s the Royal Ascot betting day five Platinum Jubilee Stakes runners and riders. Who is your pick to win on the soft ground?

Royal Ascot betting day five: Platinum Jubilee Stakes

Horse: Home Affairs | Jockey: James McDonald

Trainer: Chris Waller

Artorius | Jockey: Jamie Spencer

Anthony & Sam Freedman

Creative Force | Jockey: William Buick

Charlie Appleby

Sacred | Jockey: Tom Marquand

William Haggas

Campanelle | Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr

Wesley Ward

A Case Of You | Jockey: Ronan Whelan

Adrian McGuinness

Highfield Princess | Jockey: Jason Hart

John Quinn

Minzaal | Jockey: Jim Crowley

Owen Burrows

Alcohol Free | Jockey: Rob Hornby

Andrew Balding

Happy Romance | Jockey: Sean Levey

Richard Hannon

Emaraaty Anna | Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

Kevin Ryan

Grenadier Guards | Jockey: Cristian Demuro

Mitsumasa Nakauchida

Glen Shiel | Jockey: Hollie Doyle

Archie Watson

Great Ambassador | Jockey: Richard Kingscote

Ed Walker

Naval Crown | Jockey: James Doyle

Charlie Appleby

Dragon Symbol | Jockey: David Egan

Roger Varian

King’s Lynn | Jockey: David Probert

Andrew Balding

Kinross | Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Ralph Beckett

Diligent Harry | Jockey: Adam Kirby

Clive Cox

Garrus | Jockey: Ryan Moore

Charlie Hills

Umm Kulthum | Jockey: Colin Keane

Richard Fahey

Vadream | Jockey: Daniel Tudhope

Charlie Fellowes

Double Or Bubble | Jockey: Jack Mitchell

Chris Wall

Happy Power | Jockey: P J McDonald

Andrew Balding

Gustavus Weston | Jockey: Gary Carroll

Jospeh G Murphy

Run To Freedom | Jockey: Dane O’Neill

Henry Candy

Ventura Diamond | Jockey: Joe Fanning

Richard Fahey

How can I watch the Platinum Jubilee Stakes?

ITV Racing is showing the entire Royal Ascot meeting live. The Platinum Jubilee Stakes gets underway at 4.20pm (18 June).

What is the prize money for winning?

The winner of the 2022 Platinum Jubilee Stakes will take home £567,100.

Fancy a flutter?

If you would like to place a bet on the outcome of this race, you can do so right here. 

18+, T&Cs Apply, BeGambleAware, Commercial Content.

Don’t miss the full report from Royal Ascot 2022 in the 23 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine, plus we will be bringing you all of the top stories from the meeting as and when they happen on horseandhound.co.uk

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Day three of Royal Ascot (Thursday 16 June) is Gold Cup day, and it’s set to be a good one. The Group One race is run over 2m4f and Stradivarius (pictured winning this race in 2020) will be looking to equal Yeats’ record four wins in the race under Frankie Dettori. Here’s the Royal Ascot betting day three Gold Cup runners and riders.

Royal Ascot betting day three: Gold Cup

Horse: Kyprios | Jockey: Ryan Moore

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

Stradivarius | Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Trainer: John and Thady Gosden

Trueshan | Jockey: Hollie Doyle

Alan King

Princess Zoe | Jockey: J M Sheridan

Anthony Mullins

Mojo Star | Jockey: Rossa Ryan

Richard Hannon

Burning Victory | Jockey: William Buick

Willie Mullins

Tashkhan | Jockey: Ben Robinson

Brian Ellison

Bubble Smart | Jockey: Gerald Mosse

M Delzangles

Earlofthecotswolds | Jockey: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Liam Keniry

Alignak | Jockey: Saffie Osborne

Jamie Osborne

How can I watch the Gold Cup?

ITV Racing is showing the entire Royal Ascot meeting live. The Gold Cup gets underway at 4.20pm today (16 June).

What is the prize money for winning?

The winner of the 2022 Gold Cup will take home £283,550.

Fancy a flutter?

If you would like to place a bet on the outcome of the Gold Cup, you can do so right here. 

18+, T&Cs Apply, BeGambleAware, Commercial Content.

Don’t miss the full report from Royal Ascot 2022 in the 23 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine, plus we will be bringing you all of the top stories from the meeting as and when they happen on horseandhound.co.uk

You might also be interested in:

A beginner’s guide to betting

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 live from anywhere in the world

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

It’s day two of Royal Ascot (Wednesday 16 June), and after some great action yesterday, we are very ready for some more. The sole Group One race on today’s card is the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, run over 1m2f. Here’s the Royal Ascot betting day two Prince Of Wales’s Stakes runners and riders. Who is your pick to win?

Royal Ascot betting day two: Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

Horse: Bay Bridge | Jockey: Ryan Moore

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute

Shahryar | Jockey: Christian Demuro

Hideaki Fujiwara

State Of Rest | Jockey: Shane Cross

Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Lord North | Jockey: Frankie Dettori

John & Thady Gosden

Grand Glory | Jockey: Mickael Barzalona

Gianluca Bietolini

How can I watch the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes?

ITV Racing is showing the entire Royal Ascot meeting live. The King’s Stand Stakes gets underway at 3.40pm today (15 June).

What is the prize money for winning?

The winner of the 2022 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes will take home £599,708.

Fancy a flutter?

If you would like to place a bet on the outcome of the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes, you can do so right here. 

18+, T&Cs Apply, BeGambleAware, Commercial Content.

Don’t miss the full report from Royal Ascot 2021 in the 23 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine, plus we will be bringing you all of the top stories from the meeting as and when they happen on horseandhound.co.uk

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If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A Day at the Races: The Horses, People and Races that shaped the Sport of Kings

Author: Peter May

Published: 2022

Available as hardcover

View now at amazon.co.uk

About A Day at the Races

From King Henry VIII to Queen Elizabeth II, via the introduction of the Classics, a duel at Ascot, the first steeplechase, a Derby Day fraud, a huge Cambridgeshire gamble, the desolation of Fred Archer, a thousand-mile walk around Newmarket Heath, the greatness of Ormonde and Sceptre, Man o’ War’s record-breaking runs, National Velvet and Emily Davison, to the brilliance of Lester Piggott, Tony McCoy and Frankel, Peter May has selected over 100 days that encapsulate 500 years of the Sport of Kings.

His short, informative, easy-to-read essays bring to life racing’s milestone events that set the nation on a different path, such as the 1913 Derby, and the sacrifices horseracing made to support the British military campaigns overseas. A host of anecdotes tell of the exploits of the racing fraternity and cast light on the psyche of those who were prepared to take on bets which, at today’s rates, would stretch into millions. Sure to rekindle fond, and maybe distant, memories of the races and horses that once dominated the sporting section of the daily newspapers.

Review

This book is an astonishing achievement in encapsulating half a millennium of the sport of horseracing in 128 vignettes. I am no historian, but Peter May tells these long-ago stories of the events and horses that form the roots of the modern sport in such a captivating way that I was engrossed. As Henrietta Knight says on the cover, “Peter May’s enthusiasm is infectious; his research is phenomenal.”

The level of research is indeed staggering. While Arkle’s monumental career is condensed into little over a page, it loses nothing of its magic – it’s there in a perfect little nutshell with all the pertinent points. To compact an entire horse’s career or a life-changing achievement into so few words often requires as much research as telling the whole story, in deciding the salient details, and what to leave out. But May does this with both a lightness of touch and the gravitas that these significant horses and events deserve. He has a knack of writing in a non-judgemental way, deftly bombarding the reader with facts without them realising it.

The one time the author really digs in his heels and tells us what he thinks is the final chapter, where he talks about the “concerning decline” of the sport as it shifts away from an emphasis on quality and sport to serving the bookmakers. As he so rightly points out, “Horseracing is not just about the betting, about winning and losing money, it’s about the jockeys, the trainers, the owners, the grooms, the races and, perhaps most of all, the four-legged legends that have decorated so many races with their fabulous talent and tenacity.” Perhaps this is why he writes with such verve – he understands racing’s beating heart.

I came away with a sense of each vignette’s purpose within the canon of horseracing as a whole. For example there is a section on National Velvet which mentions how female jockeys were still not permitted in 1945, when the film came out. But it refers to the success of Rachael Blackmore today, and therefore the reader can understand the journey of female jockeys over the past 80 years.

Although the historical facts are engaging and light to read, this isn’t a book to devour in one sitting. This is simply because there is so much content within every page, you’ll want to digest each story and remember it, rather than skipping through. Each vignette could be a whole book in itself, and May’s skill has been to distill each one to its essence and leave you wanting more.

Naturally, not every horse, race, jockey and trainer could be included. But the overall effect is of a complete and significant work summing up the history of racing in an incredibly well-researched and written nutshell.

Verdict

A treasure trove for racing fans, this book illuminates racing’s journey over the past 500 years, as the author picks out the highlights of the sport – races, historical events, horses – and tells their stories. One to dip in and out of and cherish, to chew over each vignette and the part it has played in the sport we see today.

View now at amazon.co.uk

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

The equestrian world is mourning the loss of one of the greatest Flat jockeys of all time, Lester Piggott, who died on 29 May aged 86.

Lester’s family confirmed he died “peacefully” in Switzerland on Sunday morning. He had been receiving treatment in hospital that week.

Known for his unique and distinctive style, the “Long Fellow”, who was almost 5ft 8in tall, had a background steeped in racing. Lester’s grandfather Ernie was a champion jump jockey, his father Keith a successful jockey turned trainer, and his mother Iris was of the great Rickaby racing family.

Lester rode his first winner aged 12, and his first Derby winner six years later, when he rode Never Say Die to victory at Epsom in 1954. He was champion jockey 11 times, and won a record 30 British Classics.

Tributes have poured in from across the equestrian and racing community. Three-time champion jockey Frankie Dettori said Lester was “the greatest of all time” and described him as his “hero”. Champion trainer Jonjo O’Neill said Lester was a “legend of the sport” and a “true gentleman”.

Presenter Clare Balding described Lester as an “iconic figure” in world sport and British culture.

“He always said the most important attribute for a Derby winner was balance. Having him on board always helped – we will remember him fondly,” she said.

Lester rode 4,493 winners between 1948 and 1995. He often spoke fondly of Crepello, winner of the 2000 Guineas and the Derby in 1957 – the same year he won the Oaks with The Queen’s Carrozza. His other many achievements included winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot a record 11 times, and taking the 1970 Triple Crown on Nijinsky. Following a difficult period in his life when he spent a year in prison, in 1987 to 1988 for tax fraud, he made a victorious comeback in 1990, winning the Breeders Cup Mile at Belmont Park on Royal Academy, aged 54. In 1992 he won his 30th British Classic, the 2,000 Guineas on Rodrigo De Triano, and in 1995 he officially retired, aged 59.

In 2018 nine life-size bronze statues were commissioned in honour of Lester’s achievements, 65 years after his first Derby win. They were unveiled at various racecourses around the UK including Epsom.

“Everyone at Epsom Downs is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Lester Piggott. To win nine Derbys and six renewals of the Oaks as a jockey over the course of almost three decades is an extraordinary achievement, which may never be surpassed,” said Phil White, regional director of The Jockey Club’s London region.

“As we build up to this year’s race we will ensure that his passing is recognised in an appropriate way over the duration of the two days. The Lester Piggott gates at the entrance to Epsom Downs and his statue which overlooks the winning line will always honour one of our sport’s great champions.”

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Racing legend honoured with nine life-size bronze statues

The champion jockey has won the Derby nine times

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

This afternoon (7 April), racehorse trainer Milton Harris celebrated his first Grade One winner when Knight Salute won the four-year-old juvenile hurdle at the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse. Here, we find out a little bit more about him…

1. Milton Harris has a license to train both Flat and National Hunt (jump) racehorses.

2. He first started training in 2001, when based in the Cotswolds. He now trains out of a yard near Warminster in Wiltshire, which he moved to in 2018.

3. Milton didn’t have a traditional route into racing – he grew up in a council flat in Bromsgrove and it was only while working as a barman that he first got into racing when he saw pub-goers putting on bets.

4. He then went to Miami to work as a bartender on cruise ships – he acted as the ship’s bookmaker while there too.

5. He had a seven-year break from racing between 2011 and 2018 after declaring bankruptcy.

6. Milton sent out his first winner as a trainer in 2001.

7. Since regaining his trainer’s licence in 2018, Milton has trained 82 National Hunt winners. This season he is enjoying his most successful period as a trainer, with 52 winners so far – his previous best period was during the 2010/11 season, when he sent out 32 winners.

Keep up to date with all of Horse & Hound’s Grand National coverage this week via horseandhound.co.uk, where you will be able to read all of the latest news and features on the three-day meeting at Aintree.

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

An increase to minimum jockey weights in racing will go ahead as planned – with the addition of an increase in the body protector allowance.

H&H has reported that the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) had announced an increase of 2lb for most race categories at the start of the Flat and jumps seasons (news, 10 February). This was to replace the 3lb Covid allowance, brought in when racing resumed after the first lockdown to support jockeys when saunas were closed.

The move was met with concerns from jockeys that the change could be detrimental to their mental health and wellbeing, with fears some jockeys would struggle to make the weight – and could take extreme measures to do so. Following this, the BHA entered into discussions with a number of jockeys, the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and the National Trainers Federation (NTF) on the matter.

On 7 March, the BHA confirmed the Covid allowance would be replaced with an across-the-board 2lb rise, but in addition, the 3lb back protector allowance would increase to 4lb – meaning horses will continue to carry the same weights since the Covid allowance was introduced.

The BHA said the weights published in racecards will increase by 2lb, “providing the public with more accurate information about the weights being carried by the horses”.

BHA chief operating officer Richard Wayman said the discussions had allowed the BHA to consider the concerns raised, which had not featured as part of the initial consultation.

“During these discussions, riders have stressed the psychological benefits that the Covid allowance provided in terms of allowing them to manage the natural fluctuations in their body weight day to day. Many have stated retaining at least some of this flexibility is as important for their wellbeing as any rise in the weights,” he said.

“The welfare of our riders is very much a key priority, and we will continue to work with the PJA and its members to support the wellbeing of jockeys. Upgrades to weighing rooms as part of a long-term programme of improvement to modernise facilities across British racecourses have already been announced and the issue of race weights will remain under regular review.”

Flat jockey Ross Coakley told H&H the additional 1lb for the safety allowance felt like a “compromise”.

“From a rider’s point of view when you’re working on such fine margins, every pound makes a substantial difference,” he said, but added it was a complicated topic.

PJA national hunt president and jump jockey David Bass said he would have preferred to keep the full [Covid] allowance, owing to the “positive impact” on jockeys’ wellbeing, but said he was pleased that part of the allowance would remain.

An NTF spokesman said any discussion about the replacement of the Covid allowance was going to be “difficult”.

“While we are of the view that some reflection is needed on the issues that caused the consultation process to fail in the first instance, despite seemingly being fully adhered to, we are accepting of the outcome reached,” he said.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Johnston Racing is one of Britain’s leading training establishments, based at Kingsley Park in Yorkshire. Mark Johnston was the first Flat racing trainer to send out more than 200 winners in a season, and in 2018 became the winning-most trainer in British racing history, with 4,194 winners.

At the start of 2022, Mark was joined in a training partnership by his son Charlie, who – like his dad – is a qualified vet.

The 300-acre yard is based in the northern racing hub of Middleham. H&H spent a morning looking around the high-tech facilities set against the scenic backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales. Mark’s wife Deirdre – co-owner of the Yorkshire-based European eventing champion JL Dublin – was on hand to show us around on a typical winter’s morning at the 220-horse outfit.

There are 90 yearlings learning the ropes, which are backed at the yard. They spend “a good month” in long-reins, walking all round the farm, and being lunged, so that by the time it comes to backing them, they’re quite worldly-wise.

“They have to complete certain tasks to move on to the next stage, and all their progress is documented, so that any handler can take on the horse and know of any issues,” Deirdre explains.

These yearlings are in around their seventh week in training and working on the 10-furlong gallop near the stables. At this stage they’ll do two furlongs in trot and two furlongs in canter, stepping up to three furlongs after three weeks. While it’s exciting watching this young talent, Deirdre says, “it’s too early to say which ones will be good”.

The pool is in action all morning – the levels of the water can be changed so that it is either a swimming pool or a water treadmill. It can be used for therapy as well as fitness, and some horses will both swim and be ridden. For the treadmill, the water level is 2ft in winter, 3ft in summer, as it takes longer to dry off and warm up in winter.

“It loosens up the stiffer horses and is brilliant for any young ones that have sore shins or heat in a leg,” Deirdre says.

The Johnstons put in all the facilities themselves – when they moved to the yard over two decades ago it was a dairy farm with stone walls and pasture. In the summer the horses are turned out in separate paddocks, but always next door to others.

Deirdre rides out most mornings. She initially met Mark as a child in Scotland when she kept her pony in his field, and they married in 1985.

The stables are mucked out while the horses are being ridden, rather than the same lad riding and doing the stable. The horses are fed several feeds a day, including one by the night man at around 3–4am, so they don’t head up the gallops on a full stomach. All of the 125 employees wear jumpers with their names on.

There are two resident vets, Becky Dinsdale and John Martin, as well as joint-trainers Mark and Charlie, both qualified vets themselves.

“The indoor school is my thing – I use it for lessons but we also use it for the racehorses and for Yogi Breisner RoR clinics or staff training; it’s handy when it’s frozen outside,” says Deirdre. “It took me 21 years to get an outdoor school and 36 to get an indoor! The surface is our old gallop recycled. I spent hours last year getting rid of all the stones.”

The school also has a viewing gallery and owners’ lounge, where they can seat 50 for lunch, plus showers and loos.

Deirdre took up eventing at the age of 36, and has since been placed at the Badminton grassroots championships twice, and competed at the the riding club championships in all disciplines on her 21-year-old gelding Country Hot Shot.

“He is the one who got me started, and he taught me everything,” she says fondly. Deirdre’s horses are kept in Mark’s former aeroplane hangar, nicknamed “Terminal One”.

“This is the best bit of kit ever – a Cessna Caravan with turboprop engine, and Mark also has a Piper Cherokee 6,” says Deirdre. “Mark flies himself to the races a lot – it only takes an hour to fly from Yorkshire to Newmarket, which means he can see all the horses working and still get to the races. It sounds grand, but it’s a fantastic mode of transport and is a way of being able to do everything.”

The 900m landing strip of plastic tiles under the grass is situated next to the grass gallops.

“He’s been doing British Dressage and qualified for the winter regionals at novice,” says Deirdre of the grey seven-year-old. “He’s by an Indoctro stallion and everywhere I go people stop me and say what a gorgeous horse he is.”

The small Yorkshire town of Middleham is a giant in the world of horseracing, with some 15 training yards. Racehorses have been trained in the town for over two centuries.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Hollie Doyle, Will Buick and Harry Skelton are among the names to be celebrated at the annual Professional Jockeys Associations’s (PJA) Lesters awards.

The awards, which recognise the achievements of jockeys over the previous 12 months, took place on 25 February, with nine accolades being presented.

Hollie successfully defended her female jockey of the year title after another outstanding year. By July she had reached 100 wins, in a personal record time – and in October she broke her own record for the most wins achieved by a woman during a calendar year in Great Britain, with her 152nd victory.

William Buick, who won the apprentice Lester in 2007 and 2008, was crowned Flat jockey of the year. In 2021 he rode nine Group One winners and was the leading jockey at the Goodwood Festival, with seven wins.

Champion jockey Harry Skelton took the jumps jockey of the year award, Danny McMenamin took the conditional title and Marco Ghiani was crowned apprentice of the year. The Flat ride of the year, voted by Racing TV viewers, went to Ray Dawson for his performance with Marshall Dan at Sandown on 10 September and Sean Quinlan and Jim took the jump ride of the year honours, voted for by Sky Sports Racing viewers, for Hexham on 9 October.

Four-time Champion jockey Richard Johnson, who retired in April 2021 aged 43, took the jump jockey special recognition award – and his seventh Lester. Richard rode 3,819 winners during his career, which spanned almost 30 years.

“The annual Lesters awards are always entertaining and a reminder to viewers of the special talent that jockeys possess. Receiving an accolade remains a highlight for any jockey, especially when the award is voted for by your colleagues,” said PJA interim chief executive Dale Gibson.

“We congratulate all the winners, especially those in receipt of their first trophy. Once again, many thanks, as ever to Sky Sports Racing for their continued support in hosting the event.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

THERE are fears changes to minimum weights in racing could harm jockeys’ mental and physical health, as discussions on the matter continue.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced a general weight increase of 2lb for most race categories at the start of the Flat and jumps season. This replaces the 3lb Covid allowance, brought in when racing resumed after the first lockdown to support jockeys when racecourse saunas were closed.

In a Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) survey last year, 88% of 190 respondents voted for saunas to remain closed. A 3lb allowance for safety equipment remains, as does a 1lb allowance for Flat jockeys during winter for warmer clothing.

Under the Covid allowance, a jockey weighing 9st 3lb could ride a horse allocated 9st. This means the horse would actually be carrying 9st 6lb, including the equipment allowance. But when the Flat season starts, a jockey weighing 9st 3lb would have to lose 1lb to ride the same horse, which would now be allocated 9st 2lb.

BHA chief medical advisor Jerry Hill said the closure of saunas was a “significant step forward” for jockey wellbeing and that a permanent raising of the minimum weight, while protecting competition by raising the maximum weight, was the “correct response”.

But the weight increase sparked backlash, with concerns it will make it even harder for jockeys to make the weight, and although many jockeys voted in favour of closing saunas, this was on the basis the Covid allowance would remain.

The BHA issued a response “in light of comments made”. It said the Covid allowance was a “temporary, emergency measure”, which had not been removed – it has been replaced by the 2lb increase “in all races other than pattern races and Flat amateur races”. The BHA added that the issue affected more than one part of the sport, so consultation took in views from “other sectors”. Concerns had been expressed by the National Trainers Federation (NTF) about the “potential impact” on some horses of routinely setting higher weights.

Flat jockey Ross Coakley raced in Ireland pre-Covid and moved to the UK in June 2021. He told H&H that before Covid, Irish racing had a similar rise, so he had “lived both lives”. He believes the decision was made with the “best intentions”, but he felt it would have a negative impact on jockeys’ mental health.

“When Covid happened, even though we were getting the allowance, no jockey suddenly saw this as an opportunity to say they could do lighter. Most maintained the weight they were, but they went through a stage where they didn’t have to sweat out three pounds on a daily basis – they could go to the races hydrated,” he said.

“The last thing you want is to be driving to a race worried about weight, thinking you can’t afford to have a drink [of water]. I think that’s why there was such a negative reaction from jockeys because we are going to be pushed back into that lifestyle, which we all lived until Covid, but we’ve realised the benefit of the current system and the improvement it’s brought to our daily lives.Ross said the allowance is more beneficial and healthier for jockeys than the weight rise.

“There will always be the argument that no matter what they bring the weight up to, there will always be jockeys trying to do less. But if you give us the allowance at the scales, mentally jockeys will be more inclined to set their weight and use the allowance as their safety net, rather than having to take extreme measures,” he said, adding that a “big concern” is jockeys “flipping”, or making themselves vomit.

“Jockeys are always going to be working at their minimum [weight] – it’s their income. If you’re constantly in a position where you have to be two pounds lighter than when you wake up, you’re trying to function on very little food, sweating daily – there’s mental strain. I think that’s where the mentality of flipping comes in – if someone feels they can’t afford to eat but knows they have to, then they think I’ll just regurgitate it, and they’ve still had the pleasure from eating but not put on the weight. It’s a sick mindset, but unfortunately that was a big issue pre-Covid and that’s a position some people will be pushed back into.”

Jumps trainer Kim Bailey’s stable jockey David Bass also discussed the matter.

“This looks like the difference is only 1lb, but the weight going up 2lb in the racecard is irrelevant in a handicap,” said David. “Yes, the minimum weight in the racecard is 10st 2lb, but I could get asked to ride a horse with 10st 5lb in the card and I still have to get down 2lb below that. So if I am trying to get down to 10st 3lb, I will have to use short-term weight loss methods when with the current system I’m getting down to 10st 6lb – which is comfortable – without changing my routine.”

A spokesman for the NTF said the organisation was invited to take part in a consultation on the weight increase, and the need to provide full transparency of weight carried, to the public.

“We were of the view that the outcome reached was reasonable, although understand the sensitivity of this subject for jockeys,” he said. We are now engaged in further discussions with the BHA and PJA, which we hope will enable us to reach an outcome acceptable to all involved.”

As H&H went to press, the BHA told H&H that a “constructive” meeting was held with the PJA, NTF and a “handful” of jockeys on 2 February to discuss the matter.

“We are grateful to those who attended for giving their time and for their input. The discussions will continue and a further update will be provided,” said a BHA spokesman.

The PJA told H&H the organisation welcomed the opportunity to meet the BHA and NTF, and this included testimony from senior jockeys.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Superstar Flat racehorse Snowfall has been put down after she sustained an injury in her stable at home in Ballydoyle, Ireland.

The four-year-old filly clocked up a remarkable three Oaks victories during her career, earning her connections £885,696 in prize money. She was owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor and most memorably won the 2021 Epsom Oaks by 16 lengths under Frankie Dettori, which was a record-breaking winning margin.

Her trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We are very sorry to report that our wonderful filly Snowfall sustained a serious injury a few weeks ago. Despite the best care and attention from our veterinary team and from our team in here in Ballydoyle her condition seriously deteriorated a couple of days ago and we were left with no choice but to take the heartbreaking decision to have her put to sleep.

“She damaged her pelvis. She was fed at lunchtime by one of the lads and when he went back to her an hour later she was lame in the box. Our vet John Halley thinks that she did the splits in the box and injured her pelvis, but obviously we don’t know exactly how it happened.

“We did everything we could for her but it wasn’t to be. She is a massive loss to everyone here, from a racing and breeding perspective – she was such a high-class mare.”

Snowfall went on to win the Curragh and York Oaks equivalents and she finished sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before running her final race when third in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in October.

Racehorse Snowfall was bred in the purple; by Deep Impact, out of a Galileo mare called Best In The World, who is a sister of Found. Found clocked over £5m in prize money for the same connections as Snowball, including winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2016, plus the 2015 Breeders’ Cup.

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Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper Ben Maher and three-time champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy are both obviously experts in their respective fields, but they recently discovered what it was like to swap saddles when they sampled each other’s trade for a Great British Racing video.

First up was Ben Maher, who won individual Olympic gold on Explosion W at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Ben made the short trip from his own yard to the British Racing School in Newmarket to sample riding in a racing saddle.

Oisin joked “I like the way you’re still trying to put your heels down” once Ben was on-board.

Ben commented “that felt so fast to me” once he and Oisin had enjoyed a spin up the gallops, but admitted that it was “slow” compared to how fast horses usually travel within a race.

Oisin, who is currently enjoying a spot of showjumping on the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Spain, but who hasn’t done a great deal of competitive jumping due to his busy career on the Flat, then got on board a sport horse at the Peter O’Sullevan Arena in the centre of Newmarket.

After jumping around a course of fences, Ben jokingly asked Oisin “when do you retire from racing?”.

Reflecting at the end of both sessions, Ben says: “This morning’s been great – it’s been an experience. I’ve never really ridden racehorse on the tracks and I don’t live so far from Newmarket, so it was always something that I wanted to do. It was great to meet Oisin and see him riding a jumper.”

Watch the video to see how they both got on below…

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Flat-racing supremo, Frankie Dettori, features in this week’s H&H interview (17 November issue), where he provides fascinating insight into his life and 35-year career so far. Here we pick out just three highlights from the interview, as told to Kate Johnson.

Frankie on his proudest moment

It happened at his local Pony Club with his daughter Ella. She was competing in a pairs jumping competition but her partner hadn’t turned up.

“I’ll do it for you,” he told her before checking, “What do I have to do?”

Ella explained: “If we jump properly we get points.”

“Whatever,” he remembers thinking vaguely.

He followed his daughter’s instructions, and – surprise – they won the competition. When both of their names were announced over the loudspeaker, the other mothers “went berserk”, he says, “as though I’d taken a meal out of their mouths! It was just a rosette!”

Frankie on social media

“I completely hate it, I just learnt how to text a couple of months ago,” he says. “Whoever invented the mobile phone should be shot instantly.”

He doesn’t even have Instagram on his phone, but passes on photographs to his secretary to upload instead. As he says, “That way if I get abuse, I won’t hear it.”

Frankie on Enable

The great, and now retired, Enable was partnered by Frankie her in nearly all her races, including 14 of her 15 wins, 11 of which were Grade Ones. The bond between them was deep. She created specialness all around her. Her groom Imran Shahwani arrived from Pakistan with no English and having never sat on a horse. Trainer John Gosden took him out for an hour every day after third lot, teaching him to ride on ponies. Imran has described Enable as “a once in a lifetime horse”. Frankie snipped her tail (and mane) and cried for two days when she retired, and describes her as the love of his life. He was never happier than communing quietly in her stable and feeding her Polos.

“She had everything,” he says with unmistakable pride. “She could take you on and fight, she could do anything, she had brilliance.”

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£20

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Newmarket-based Flat trainer, William Haggas, has credited the efforts of British Olympic gold-medal winning venter, Laura Collett, with the transformation of one of his horses, who heads to do battle in the Group One Champion Stakes at the Qipco Champions Day later today (16 October).

Dubai Honour (pictured nearside), a three-year-old colt by Pride Of Dubai and owned by Mohamed Obaida, has won four of his career starts so far, clocking up over £356,000 in prize money in the process, but his trainer has said that this horse’s improvement in form came after spending six weeks with Laura earlier this year.

“In the winter we lost him, he got very free and didn’t want to do anything,” Haggas said to the Racing Post. “We sent him off to Laura and she sent a video of him six weeks later and he looked absolutely magnificent. He was a completely different horse and he’s done nothing but thrive since, he’s transformed.”

Dubai Honour has now won all three of his previous starts, and has improved a total of 25lbs in the weights this year. His last two starts have been in Group Two contests; the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville and the the Prix Dollar at Lonchamp on the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe weekend earlier this month. This culminated in the decision being made between Mr Haggas and Mohamed Obaida to pay the £75,000 supplementary fee (the equivalent to a late entry fee) to line up in the Champion Stakes at Ascot racecourse tomorrow.

“We ran him in the Dollar and James [Doyle, jockey] said he showed a very smart turn of foot,” explained Haggas. “He was well on top at the finish. I put the suggestion to the owner to supplement and he nearly bit my hand off for it. He’s an intriguing runner.”

Laura Collett is delighted with the colt’s progress posting on Instagram: “I can’t quite believe the very naughty little three-year-old that came to me in March to ‘sort out’, is now running in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. I’m so excited that I will be there and look forward to cheering him on having played a very small part in getting him there.”

The Champion Stakes gets underway at 3.50pm and, at the time of writing, Dubai Honour was third favourite at 7/1 in a 10-strong runner field.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Galileo, one of the most influential thoroughbred sires of all time, has been put down aged 23.

A statement from Coolmore said the world-renowned champion sire’s life ended today (Saturday, 10 July) on humane grounds owing to a “chronic, non-responsive, debilitating injury to the left fore foot”.

“It is a very sad day, but we all feel incredibly fortunate to have had Galileo here at Coolmore,” said John Magnier.

“I would like to thank the dedicated people who looked after him so well all along the way. He was always a very special horse to us and he was the first Derby winner we had in Ballydoyle in the post MV [Michael Vincent] O’Brien era.

“I would also like to thank Aidan and his team for the brilliant job they did with him. The effect he is having on the breed through his sons and daughters will be a lasting legacy and his phenomenal success really is unprecedented.”

Galileo, by Sadler’s Wells out of 1993 Arc winner Urban Sea, was unbeaten in his first six starts, under the guidance of trainer Aidan O’Brien. His top racing achievements included the 2001 Derby, Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He was named European Champion three-year-old colt in 2001.

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But it is his legacy as a sire for which Galileo is best known. He broke Danehill’s world record in June 2020, when he sired his 85th Group One winner, Peaceful, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Fittingly, this was the same race won by one of his first crop of foals, Nightime.

That tally now stands at 91, while 20 of his sons – including Frankel and Australia – have also sired Group One victors.

“Following Galileo’s strikingly impressive Epsom Derby success the front-page headline in the Racing Post was the single word ‘PERFECTION.’ It could not have been more apt,” added the Coolmore statement.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Crowds, including The Queen, make a welcome return to the Berkshire amphitheatre where some terrific horses show their flair

AT some stage in the future, Royal Ascot 2021 will be remembered for the terrific horses which bestrode its stage; the milers Palace Pier (pictured winning, left), Poetic Flare and Alcohol Free; the middle-distance mares Love and, my favourite, Wonderful Tonight; the new kid on the staying block Subjectivist; and the sprinters Campanelle, Dragon Symbol, Oxted and Dream Of Dreams.

But in the immediate aftermath, while we are still drying out from Friday’s deluge which meant the last two days were run in very testing conditions – heavy is for Cheltenham – it was the return of crowds to racing in some numbers for the first time in 15 months that was one of the main themes of the week.

The limited window for ticket sales and the hoops of Covid protocols and tests racegoers had to go through once the meeting had been nominated for one of the Government’s “event research programmes” meant it was something of a half-way house between last year’s zero crowd behind-closed-doors and, hopefully, the return of 70,000 for the Gold Cup next year in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.

For some three-year-olds it was the first time they had seen any sort of crowd, and both Mohaafeth, winner of the Hampton Court, and Dragon Symbol, who had the Commonwealth Cup taken off him in favour of the narrowly defeated Campanelle after leaning all over the American filly, drifted away from the noise.

For the first two days it was a bit like tea at the Ritz on a quiet day as maybe two-thirds of the possible 12,000 turned up. But the atmosphere built through the week and Ascot was rocking on Saturday, and I am pretty sure the arrival of The Queen – much missed for the first four days – for her first day at the meeting helped put a spring in everyone’s step.

It was, however, the biggest player of the week, Stradivarius, who did not pay much attention to the script that he was to win a fourth Gold Cup, undone perhaps by his advancing age, getting too far behind, then enjoying little luck in running.

There is also a suggestion that Stradivarius, who has always been a bit colty – he is old-school and no one has told him it is not the done thing these days to wolf whistle at the ladies – fell for the oldest trick in the book, a honey trap. For almost two miles Joey Sheridan parked the filly Princess Zoe alongside Stradivarius and, whether it had any effect or not, it was certainly a clever ride.

That is conjecture but ultimately, however, Stradivarius was undone by Mark Johnston’s Subjectivist, who came into the race slightly ignored despite having won his last two, a Group One on heavy at Longchamp and a Group Two on quick ground in Meydan, where he broke the track record.

Trying two-and-a-half miles for the first time, the four-year-old by Teofilo, ridden by the unflappably loyal Joe Fanning, looked extra special quickening five lengths clear of the field.

Fanning was one of the human heroes of this year’s Royal meeting – there is no greater sign of respect for a colleague than the weighing room emptying of his colleagues to lead the cheering. That was touching – or, as Fanning in his typically understated way described it – “very nice”.

Looking forward from Ascot there are two things I would like to see; a match-up between Palace Pier, the Queen Anne winner, and Poetic Flare, the impressive St James’s Palace winner, in a race like the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood; and also Wonderful Tonight in a soft ground Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.

Tuesday

THERE is nothing like a Frankie Dettori winner to get the action off to a flyer, and Palace Pier was a comfortable length-and-a-half winner of the Queen Anne Stakes to cement his position as the best older miler in Europe.

“I needed Valium this morning I was so excited,” explained Dettori, who last year said he needed an espresso to get motivated without a crowd. “He was a pressure horse in a pressure race and I wanted everything to go right. I can breathe now. It’s 31 years ago since my first Ascot winner; there’s been so much water under the bridge but I am still getting the same kick.”

Dettori’s description of him as the best miler in the world went just under two hours without challenge after Jim Bolger’s 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare showed an explosive turn of foot to win the St James’s Palace Stakes by 4½ lengths. It was Poetic Flare’s fourth Group One in 45 days (one every 11 days six hours) so his middle name is “tough”.

Jim Bolger, his owner-breeder and trainer, said: “I would have accepted any margin but was genuinely expecting a performance like that. He’s extremely hardy.”

The King’s Stand Stakes was a masterpiece of planning by Lambourn trainer Roger Teal, who felt a fast-run stiff five furlongs would be ideal for Oxted. The field set off like a drag race and the key players were walking at the furlong marker. Cieren Fallon gets on so well with Oxted and swept through from the back to record his first Royal Ascot winner.

Wednesday

SOME years Aidan O’Brien could legitimately claim squatters rights to Ascot’s horseshoe-shaped winners’ enclosure. Although he only paid it a couple of visits this year, his win and place prize-money came to over £800,000, more than anyone else.

Love, who carried all before her in her Classic year winning the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks, managed to win on her seasonal reappearance, though James Fanshawe’s Breeders’ Cup winner Audarya pushed her all the way up the straight.

The two juvenile races on Wednesday threw up good results. Gavin Cromwell was originally best known for being Tiger Roll’s farrier, then a jumps trainer which has seen him win a Welsh National, Champion Hurdle and, in March, a Stayers Hurdle and Albert Bartlett. On Wednesday Quick Suzy won him the Queen Mary over five furlongs.

Chipotle, a bargain basement 10,000gns yearling purchase owned by the Woodway 20 syndicate, gave Eve Johnson-Houghton her first Royal Ascot two-year-old winner when he and Charlie Bishop took the Windsor Castle by 2½ lengths.

Thursday

IF the defeat of Stradivarius, who finished fourth behind Subjectivist when going for a fourth Gold Cup, did anything, it underlined the achievement of Yeats, the only horse to have won four. Subjectivist, however, looked very special. It took Joe Fanning, whose third Group One it was despite being in the top 10 all-time winning Flat jockeys, an age to pull him up.

“He won in France last season on heavy ground and people were thinking he needed heavy ground to excel,” said trainer Mark Johnston, who was winning his fourth Gold Cup. “But then he went onto Dubai and that was the big question mark, could he go on fast ground? That was the performance of his life.”

It was a good meeting for the North on the whole, but with Richard Fahey winning the Norfolk Stakes, John Quinn taking the Buckingham Palace Stakes with Highfield Princess book-ending a Middleham winner in the Gold Cup, this was a particularly fine day.

William Haggas’s decision to pull Mohaafeth out of the Derby on the day because of the soft ground was fully vindicated when Sheikh Hamdan’s colt won the Hampton Court looking like a mile and a quarter was the limit of his stamina. He also resisted the temptation to supplement trial winner Alenquer for the Derby when he beat the Sir Mark Todd-trained Tasman Bay in the King Edward VII Stakes on Friday.

Friday

THE Commonwealth Cup provided one of the best finishes of the meeting when Dragon Symbol (Oisin Murphy) and the big American filly Campanelle (Frankie Dettori) went hammer and tongs with each through the final furlong and drew five lengths clear of the third.

However, first across the line Dragon Symbol drifted across the course taking Dettori’s mount with him, and the stewards decided to reverse the placings – the first time a Group One winner had been “chucked out” at Royal Ascot since 1988.

“It’s never nice winning a race in the stewards’ room, it leaves a bitter taste,” said Dettori.

Sandrine, who had given Andrew Balding a second juvenile winner of the week to go with Berkshire Shadow’s first-day win in the Coventry, was followed into the winners’ enclosure by stable companion Alcohol Free, who took the Coronation Stakes. It was quite a comeback for Oisin Murphy to lose one Group One and then win another all in the space of 35 minutes.

I am beginning to love Murphy for his wit and wisdom.

“I said to my valet when he put his arm round me,” he said after Alcohol Free’s win, “‘There’s no place for tears in here. There are far worse things going on in the world, we’re in the entertainment industry, and I’m steering these marvellous animals and keep looking forward to the next one.’”

Saturday

DAVID MENUISIER, the Sussex-based Frenchman who trains on the Pulborough gallops where Dancing Brave once strutted his stuff, has a superstar filly in Wonderful Tonight. When it came up soft he let her take her chance in the Hardwicke despite being what he described as “85% fit” and she showed a definite turn of foot when William Buick sent her on turning in.

“Wonderful Tonight is an absolute champion,” said Menuisier. “She was running against tough opposition with the benefit of at least one run, so you always have to be on the side of caution, but she is amazing.”

It was a first Royal Ascot winner for owner Chris Wright. He has had horses for 40 years including Classic winners Culture Vulture, Dark Angel, Nicer and Chrisellium but this was his first Royal Ascot winner.

“There are winners and winners, but a Royal Ascot winner…” he said. “To win at Royal Ascot is like I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

This report can also be read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale date 24 June 2021

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Day four of Royal Ascot (Friday 17 June) is Coronation Stakes day. The Group One race is run over a mile and Inspiral is the current favourite. Here’s the Royal Ascot betting day four Coronation Stakes runners and riders. Who is your pick to win?

Royal Ascot betting day four: Coronation Stakes

Horse: Inspiral | Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden

Cachet | Jockey: James Doyle

George Boughey

Mangoustine | Jockey: Gerald Mosse

M Delzangles

Discoveries | Jockey: Shane Foley

Jessica Harrington

Prosperous Voyage | Jockey: Rob Hornby

Ralph Beckett

Spendarella | Jockey: William Buick

H Graham Motion

Sandrine | Jockey: David Probert

Andrew Balding

Tenebrism | Jockey: Ryan Moore

Aidan O’Brien

Grande Dame | Jockey: Jamie Spencer

John & Thady Gosden

Pizza Bianca | Jockey: Jose L Ortiz

Christophe Clement

Honey Girl | Jockey: Colin Keane

Henry De Bromhead

Rolling The Dice | Jockey: Marco Ghiani

Hilal Kobeissi

How can I watch the Coronation Stakes?

ITV Racing is showing the entire Royal Ascot meeting live. The Coronation Stakes gets underway at 4.20pm today (17 June).

What is the prize money for winning?

The winner of the 2022 Coronation Stakes will take home £283,550.

Fancy a flutter?

If you would like to place a bet on the outcome of the Coronation Stakes, you can do so right here. 

18+, T&C Apply, BeGambleAware, Commercial Content.

Don’t miss the full report from Royal Ascot 2021 in the 23 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine, plus we will be bringing you all of the top stories from the meeting as and when they happen on horseandhound.co.uk

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

There was a fairytale result for connections of one horse running at Royal Ascot today (15 June).

Oxted, who is known as Fenton at home, named after the famous runaway dog in Richmond Park who was captured on video and went viral 10 years ago, trounced his rivals to win the Group One King’s Stand Stakes by one and three quarter lengths under 23-year-old jockey Cieren Fallon. The win was a first at Royal Ascot for both jockey and trainer, Roger Teal.

“It’s a dream come true to win a Group One at Royal Ascot,” Cieren, son of former top Flat jockey Kieren Fallon, told ITV after the race. “All credit goes to Roger, his son Harry and all of the team at home. I’m very lucky to be able to sit on a horse like this – Harry does all of the hard work on him behind the scenes.

“We got a lovely trip through the race – they went a solid gallop, so I let Oxted relax and got him into a rhythm and then we were able to pick them off. It means a lot to show everyone what I can do, but I’m blessed to have all the people around me who are so supportive.”

Oxted, who won the July Cup in Newmarket last summer, was led up by Harry Teal, who was understandably delighted with the result.

“It means the world to win this – I didn’t think days could get any better than the one we had when he won the July Cup,” he said after the race. “It’s a real family affair at home – we all work hard and we all deserve this result.”

The result is even more impressive given that Oxted, owned by S Piper, T Hirschfeld, D Fish and J Collins, underwent surgery to remove an ulcer on his epiglottis last year.

“This is unbelievable, I’m speechless,” Roger said afterwards. “We’ve dreamt about these days for so long – to land a Royal Ascot Group One for a yard of our size is just amazing. I have amazing staff at home, who put in so much hard work and I’d like to thank Oxted’s owners, for supporting me too.

“We call Oxted Fenton at home as when I saw the funny video of the dog in Richmond Park, I said ‘the next horse that comes into the yard will be called Fenton, and that’s exactly what happened.”

“This horse means the world to us – he’s a star,” said Sue Teal, wife of Roger and mother of Harry. “I look after Oxted and Harry rides him every day – it’s a real team effort.”

In winning this race, Oxted overturned the mighty sprinter Battaash, who finished in fourth, behind Arecibo in second and American raider Extravagant Kid in third. Battaash, trained by Charles Hills and ridden by Jim Crowley, was returning to the racetrack for the first time since winning the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last August as he sustained a fetlock injury, which needed surgery, while wintering at Shadwell Stud.

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“He wasn’t as sharp as he has been in the past and he probably wanted the run after such a long lay off,” Jim said afterwards.

Visit Horseandhound.co.uk on Wednesday for betting tips ahead of the second day of Royal Ascot, plus read the full Royal Ascot report in the 24 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The highly anticipated Royal Ascot kicks off today (Tuesday 14 June), and quite frankly, we can’t wait. One of the biggest races on today’s card is the Group One King’s Stand Stakes, which is run over the shortest distance of five furlongs – blink, and you’ll miss it. Here’s the Royal Ascot betting day one King’s Stand Stakes runners and riders. Will Battaash bounce back from injury, or could The Queen have a winner on the first day in the form of King’s Lynn – who is your pick to win?

Royal Ascot betting day one: King’s Stand Stakes

Horse: Nature Strip | Jockey: James McDonald

Trainer: Chris Waller

Golden Pal | Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr

Wesley A Ward

Twilight Calls | Jockey: Ryan Moore

Henry Candy

King’s Lynn | Jockey: David Probert

Andrew Balding

Man Of Promise | Jockey: William Buick

Charlie Appleby

Mooneista | Jockey: Colin Keane

Jack W Davison

Winter Power | Jockey: David Allan

David Easterby

Khaadem | Jockey: Jamie Spencer

Charles Hills

Lazuli | Jockey: James Doyle

Charlie Appleby

Ponntos | Jockey: Tomas Lukasek

Miroslav Nieslanik

Arecibo | Jockey: Rossa Ryan

Robert Cowell

Tis Marvellous | Jockey: Adam Kirby

Clive Cox

Equilateral | Jockey: Kieran Shoemark

Charles Hills

Existent | Jockey: Marco Ghiani

Stuart Williams

Lago Hunter | Jockey: Seamie Heffernan

Michael J Browne

Saint Lawrence | Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

Roger Varian

Acclaim Express | Jockey: Rowan Scott

Nigel Tinkler

Mondammej | Jockey: Cam Hardie

Antony Brittain

How can I watch the King’s Stand Stakes?

ITV Racing will be showing the entire Royal Ascot meeting live. The King’s Stand Stakes gets underway at 3.40pm on 14 June.

What is the prize money for winning?

The winner of the 2021 King’s Stand Stakes will take home £283,550.

Fancy a flutter?

If you would like to place a bet on the outcome of the King’s Stand Stakes, you can do so right here. 

18+, T&Cs Apply, BeGambleAware, Commercial Content.

Don’t miss the full report from Royal Ascot 2021 in the 23 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine, plus we will be bringing you all of the top stories from the meeting as and when they happen on horseandhound.co.uk

You might also be interested in:

A beginner’s guide to betting

If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.

How to watch Royal Ascot 2026 live from anywhere in the world

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Adayar provided hard-working, experienced British jockey Adam Kirby with his first British Classic success when claiming the 2021 Cazoo Derby today (5 June) at Epsom.

It was a landmark win for the legendary Frankel, the sire of this horse, as Adayar quickened up to the line to claim victory by four-and-a-half lengths for trainer Charlie Appleby and owner, Godolphin.

“I went a bit weak half a furlong out. My mother will be watching — she’ll be happy and that made me a bit sad for a second,” said Adam of his 16/1 shot after the race. “Racing is swings and roundabouts, but Charlie Appleby is a top man — I can’t thank him enough. He is a true gent and a great trainer. Thanks to them for putting me on this lad — it’s the Derby and it’s incredible.”

Epsom Derby 2021 winner

Adayar, who is out of a Dubawi mare and was bred by Godolphin, was drawn in stall one and to win the Epsom Derby from there is a rare achievement. The field went a strong gallop, but Adam had his horse on the rail, going the shortest route throughout the race. The colt was brave to take a gap up the inner on the home straight and quickened up well to power home ahead of 50/1 shot Mojo Star.

Adayar was the second string for Godolphin, with Hurricane Lane, who finished eventual third under William Buick, going off strongest in the betting for connections.

“Thank you to team Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed — I couldn’t be happier,” said a delighted Charlie Appleby post-race. “I thought this horse was more of a St Leger type, but Sheikh Mohammed said ‘run him — he’s a horse for the Derby’ and he was right. Adam gave him a fantastic ride and days like this are magical days. He’s a scopey horse and only time will benefit him even more — he’s a lovely horse to have around.”

Bolshoi Ballet, who went off favourite at 11/8 under Ryan Moore for Oaks’ winning trainer, Aidan O’Brien, finished seventh.

Continued below…

‘Like a knife through butter’: Frankie Dettori collects 21st Classic in the Oaks at Epsom

Find out how this Classic race unfolded this afternoon (4 June)

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Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 10 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

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The legendary champion jockey Lester Piggott and the unbeaten Frankel have become the first two members of a new hall of fame celebrating Flat racing.

The QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame has been launched to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the series, and will “immortalise the modern greats of the sport”, who have achieved “remarkable things” since 1970.

“On the basis of their undisputed status and achievements within the sport, Lester Piggott and Frankel are the first two champions to become hall of famers,” said a spokesman for the series.

Lester, an 11-time champion jockey, enjoyed a career of almost 50 years and rode 4,493 winners including 30 British Classics. The 85-year-old lives in Switzerland and received a specially commissioned medal marking his induction.

“It is an honour to become the first jockey – and the first person – to be inducted and I am truly delighted to receive this special medal,” said Lester.

“I feel fortunate to have spent many brilliant years riding such incredible horses and I’m touched to see my story so well preserved through this initiative. The hall of fame is a terrific concept and something that racing has deserved for so many years. Our sport has such an incredible history and I hope that this provides an opportunity for many others to learn about it.”

Lester added it was “only right” that Frankel is the first horse to be inducted.

“He did everything so easily and was the best by far during his time. He is the one horse I wish I could have ridden,” he said.

Frankel is the “highest-rated” racehorse in history; unbeaten in 14 starts and winner of 10 Group One races.

“Frankel, trained by the late, great Sir Henry Cecil, was simply on a different level and seemed to revel in blitzing his rivals with speed, stamina and an abnormally huge stride pattern,” said the spokesman.

“His emotional farewell at QIPCO British Champions Day 2012 came in front of The Queen and a sell-out Ascot crowd, with Frankel fending off previous winner Cirrus Des Aigles to win the QIPCO Champion Stakes, securing an official rating of 141 (which is still unbeaten) and signing off a remarkable, unbeaten career.”

Continued below…

Frankel wins 14 out of 14 and retires to stud

Frankel lives up to all the hype and retires unbeaten after victory on QIPCO British Champions Day

Legends of the sport: All-time great Flat jockey Lester Piggott

The Flat jockey’s killer instinct, unique style and tremendous race record secured him a place with the all-time greats –

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Tom Queally, Frankel’s jockey, said he was pleased that Frankel’s “unblemished” career had been acknowledged in the hall of fame.

“I’m especially delighted that he is the first racehorse to be given the accolade. I will always fondly remember the moments I spent with him,” he said.

The next inductions will take place ahead of the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on 15 October, where Lester and connections of Frankel will attend as guests of honour.

• Do you support this new hall of fame? Who would you think deserves to join Lester and Frankel? Let us know your views on this, and any other burning topics you’d like to share with us, by writing to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name and nearest town, for the chance for your comments to feature on the letters page in a future issue of H&H magazine

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now