Newbury Racecourse Sees 30% Increase In Flat Season Attendance As 2026 Priority Sale Approaches

Newbury Racecourse has reported a 30% increase in Flat season attendance following what has been its biggest-ever summer of music racedays. More than 100,000 fans flocked to the Berkshire track across the Flat season, which concluded this past weekend at the BetVictor Flat Finale with Oktoberfest, marking a lively and memorable end to the season.

The Racecourse’s biggest ever summer of music was presented in partnership with Hits Radio and Absolute Radio, and saw chart-topping acts fill the stands with big crowds. Meanwhile, a new collaboration with Visit Malta added extra excitement, rewarding one lucky racegoer with a dream holiday to Malta simply for attending Visit Malta Hungerford Day with Clean Bandit in August.

There was no shortage of on-track drama either. Lead Artist, trained by John and Thady Gosden, delivered a thrilling performance in the Group 1 BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes, edging out favourite Dancing Gemini by a neck in a captivating finish and breaking the track record with a time of 1 minute 35.06 seconds.

In July’s Weatherbys Super Sprint, Anthelia stole the spotlight under Lewis Edmunds, narrowly defeating Havana Hurricane to secure a third win in the five-furlong contest for trainer Rod Millman. The following month More Thunder, ridden by Tom Marquand, powered home in the Group 2 VisitMalta Hungerford Stakes, denying Witness Stand a second Group success.

Later in the summer, rising star Into The Sky just missed out on a first Group win for trainer Jim Boyle as Words Of Truth stormed home to claim the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes for Godolphin, the 2025 Champion Owner.

With the Flat season now drawn to a close, attention turns to the Jumps, which returns in just one week’s time. Early demand for tickets to the prestigious Coral Gold Cup Meeting Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November suggests the upward attendance trend is set to continue, with sales already well tracking ahead of 2024.

Harry Walklin, Marketing Director at Newbury Racecourse, said: “It was fantastic to welcome more than 100,000 racing fans to Newbury across the course of the Flat season with those joining us treated to our biggest ever summer of music and a host of standout performances on the track.

“We’re expecting our racedays to continue to prove popular throughout the Jumps season and into 2026 with the upcoming priority sale – which is free to register for – guaranteeing those who book early the very best deal for next year’s action.”

With anticipation building for the 2026 priority sale – which opens at 10am on Wednesday 5th November – fans are encouraged to register now for early access to next year’s racedays.

REGISTER NOW

Registering – which is free – guarantees access to the lowest-priced Super Early Bird tickets for 2026’s action with additional discounts for groups of seven or more while Under 18s go free to 27 racedays each year at Newbury.