Newbury’s Flat Season Starts With Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials

Newbury’s flat season starts soon after another memorable National Hunt season begins to draw to a close. The 2024 flat season gets underway in style at Newbury with the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend on Friday 19 & Saturday 20 April.

The weekend will see the Racecourse’s popular craft beer festival – presented in partnership with Renegade Brewery – return with over 30 real ale and ciders on offer across the two days and a ticket to the racing – priced from just £18 – also includes free admission into the beer festival.

The first flat fixture of the season will see top class action headlined by three Group 3 races on Saturday. Run over 1m4f, The Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (The John Porter Stakes) kicks off proceedings before two seven-furlong Group 3 contests, The Dubai Duty Free Stakes (The Fred Darling Stakes) and The Watership Down Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.

Last year’s Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials was full of drama in 2023 with the Greenham Stakes favourite, Chaldean, trained by Andrew Balding, unseating jockey Frankie Dettori upon leaving the stalls. The son of Frankel went on to win the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas while Remarquee, winner of the 2023 Fred Darling Stakes went on to finish runner up in two Group 1s, the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes. The fixture always promises to deliver high quality action on the track and unveil exciting prospects for the Flat season ahead.

Off the racetrack, there is a host of entertainment on offer for racegoers with the return of the ever-popular craft beer festival. With over 10 local breweries offering more than 30 real ales and ciders, those in attendance will have plenty of choice when picking a tipple to celebrate any race winners.

The craft beer festival is presented in partnership with Renegade Brewery and the Yattendon-based brewery are looking forward to the weekend.

Clare Candy, Marketing Manager of Renegade Brewery, is looking forward to the two-day event:

‘We are thrilled to be partnering with Newbury Racecourse once again for their beer festival. We will be bringing a range of modern craft and traditional beers including our new nitro stout, Blackguard and a limited-edition cask ale. As the local brewery to the racecourse, we are looking forward to a great weekend of racing and activation including beer tastings, spin the wheel and our iconic mobile bar ‘Dave’ will be in attendance.”

The festival will be complemented by a host of behind-the-scenes opportunities including parade ring tours, jockey talks and trips to the starts while racegoers will also have the opportunity to get up close with a retired racehorse, courtesy of Newbury’s charity partner, Greatwood.

The weekend will also see the return of the famous Dubai Duty Free marquee – where racegoers will have the chance to enjoy complimentary Arabic coffee and dates and win fabulous prizes including race day tickets, free gifts and free entry into the Dubai Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draws by spinning the Dubai Duty Free Wheel of Fortune.

Racegoers will also be able to enjoy live acoustic music throughout the two days’ racing as well as an afterparty on the Saturday.

Harry Walklin, Marketing Director at Newbury Racecourse commented on the action-packed meeting: “The Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials weekend always starts our flat season in style and this year’s instalment promises to be no different. There’s lots to enjoy over the weekend and the return of our craft beer festival – which is free for those in attendance – is a particular highlight. With four jumps racedays in the calendar before our Spring Trials weekend arrives there’s lots to look forward to at Newbury over the coming weeks.

Tickets for the racing action – granting free admission to the on-site craft beer festival – are currently available at the discounted Early Bird rate – until Friday 22^nd March – via newburyracecourse.co.uk while all Under 18s go free.

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