Newbury
Flat Turf
Berkshire · home of the Lockinge Stakes and one of Britain’s longest run-ins
Left-Handed
Long Run-in
Newbury also stages National Hunt racing. Read the National Hunt racecourse guide →
How does Newbury ride?
Track Character
Newbury is a left-handed oval of roughly 1m7f, joined by a separate straight-mile course that creates one of the longest home straights in Britain: 4½ furlongs, nearly a third of the entire circuit. The track is notably wide — around 80 feet on the round course, 90 feet on the straight — and mostly flat, with only gentle undulations below the seven-furlong start and inside the final furlong. It’s a fair, galloping test suited to a horse that travels well and finishes strongly, rather than a sharp, nippy type.
The course was conceived by John Porter, a leading Kingsclere trainer who identified flat meadowland beside the railway and the River Kennet as an ideal site. The Jockey Club initially rejected the plan in 1903; racing folklore holds that a dejected Porter later met King Edward VII on Newmarket High Street, who backed the idea and prompted the Jockey Club’s reversal — a charming story repeated widely, though we treat it as folklore rather than confirmed fact. The Newbury Racecourse Company was founded in 1904, and the course opened on 26-27 September 1905; the first-ever race, the Whatcombe Handicap over 5f, was won by Copper King.
The going. Newbury is fair in normal conditions but it is not an all-weather surface in disguise: after sustained rain it can ride genuinely testing, and that is when the wide, galloping shape starts to reward stamina over speed. Weaver’s point above is the one worth carrying to the track — the woodland on the far side means the back straight can ride a good deal softer than the home straight, so the ground a horse meets early is not necessarily the ground it finishes on. Two practical consequences: read the day’s going description and watering rather than projecting a horse’s summer form onto an autumn card, and on a wet day watch the first straight-course race to see which strip the winners are using — an early clue to read the rest of the card by, not proof of a bias on its own.
Course Facts
- Founded 1905 (Newbury Racecourse Company founded 1904)
- Ownership Newbury Racecourse Plc — an independently-owned company listed on the Aquis Stock Exchange, NOT Arena Racing Company or Jockey Club Racecourses
- Wartime history A German POW camp in WWI; occupied by American forces in WWII, with 22 miles of railway sidings laid across the turf
The Round Course
- Shape Left-handed oval, approximately 1m7f
- Home straight 4½ furlongs — one of the longest run-ins in Britain
- Character Galloping and fair, with only gentle undulations
The Straight Course
- Sprints A separate straight course, on the wider 90-foot strip, stages the sprints, seven furlongs and the straight mile — there is also a round-mile start feeding into the main circuit, which is the configuration Jason Weaver flags for the draw
- Super Sprint Its 5f Weatherbys Super Sprint routinely draws 20-plus two-year-olds — among the biggest fields of the season
- Draw Broadly fair, with a slight high-draw lean on the straight mile and a more conspicuous one in the largest sprint fields
Calendar & Notable Races
- Lockinge Stakes Newbury’s only Group 1 — 1 mile, May; Frankel won it in 2012
- Frankel’s 2011 Greenham His Greenham Stakes win preceded a 2000 Guineas victory — he remains the last horse to complete that specific double
- Depth over headline grades Only one Group 1, but real quality across Group 2/3 races (Hungerford, Mill Reef) and marquee valuable races like the sales-race Super Sprint
When are the big meetings at Newbury?
Newbury’s Flat calendar has several major focal points. April’s two-day Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials meeting opens the Flat season and stages the Greenham and Fred Darling Stakes — the long-established 2000 and 1000 Guineas trials for colts and fillies — alongside the John Porter Stakes. Lockinge day in mid-May then carries the course’s only Group 1, the one-mile Lockinge Stakes, the race Frankel won by five lengths on his 2012 reappearance. Summer brings Weatherbys Super Sprint day in July, headlined by a valuable 5f dash for cheaply-bought two-year-olds, a race devised in 1991 by Lord Carnarvon and Richard Hannon Sr. The Group 3 Hackwood (6f), World Trophy (5f) and Horris Hill (7f) fill out the Pattern programme. Across the season the card also stages the Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2, 6f), the Hungerford Stakes (Group 2, 7f) and middle-distance pattern events in the St Simon, Geoffrey Freer and John Porter Stakes.
The course owes its existence to John Porter, the leading Kingsclere trainer who identified the flat meadowland beside the Kennet and, after an initial Jockey Club rejection, saw it open on 26–27 September 1905 — Copper King winning the very first race. It served as a German prisoner-of-war camp in the First World War and a United States Army supply depot in the Second, when 22 miles of railway sidings were laid across the turf; racing did not resume until 1949. In the modern era a large-scale redevelopment, part-funded by housing on surplus land, has reshaped the enclosures and paid for track and facility upgrades.
Does the draw matter at Newbury?
Strong bias — material handicapping factor
Moderate lean — worth noting
Broadly fair — not a primary factor
Do front-runners win at Newbury?
Run Style Bias — Qualitative Only
Room here for a range of styles
The 4½f run-in gives them room
No penalty either way
No course-wide penalty on the straight
These bars are a reading of how the track rides, not a statistical ranking. The one published straight-mile sample shows no significant run-style bias; pace effects at Newbury vary with distance, field size and where the speed is drawn, so treat race shape as the live question on the day.
Which trainers and jockeys win most at Newbury?
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Hannon (Jnr), Richard | 1224 | 136 | 11.11% | 345 | 28.19% | 0.91 | -95.36 |
| 2 Haggas, W J | 578 | 119 | 20.59% | 256 | 44.29% | 0.97 | -18.77 |
| 3 Gosden, J H M | 575 | 117 | 20.35% | 279 | 48.52% | 0.92 | -17.99 |
| 4 Balding, A M | 694 | 84 | 12.10% | 237 | 34.15% | 0.89 | -5.51 |
| 5 Beckett, R M | 495 | 66 | 13.33% | 165 | 33.33% | 0.96 | -39.21 |
| 6 Charlton, Roger/Harry | 452 | 66 | 14.60% | 149 | 32.96% | 1.06 | +48.31 |
| 7 Appleby, Charlie | 184 | 46 | 25.00% | 86 | 46.74% | 0.93 | -12.88 |
| 8 Walker, Ed | 359 | 45 | 12.53% | 129 | 35.93% | 0.92 | -91.62 |
| 9 Varian, Roger | 357 | 44 | 12.32% | 137 | 38.38% | 0.70 | -49.82 |
| 10 Cox, C G | 539 | 41 | 7.61% | 167 | 30.98% | 0.63 | -213.19 |
| 11 Hills, Charles | 490 | 41 | 8.37% | 116 | 23.67% | 0.81 | -152.37 |
| 12 Houghton, Eve Johnson | 417 | 34 | 8.15% | 107 | 25.66% | 0.83 | -7.66 |
| 13 Suroor, Saeed Bin | 177 | 33 | 18.64% | 81 | 45.76% | 1.03 | -18.87 |
| 14 Meehan, B J | 474 | 32 | 6.75% | 108 | 22.78% | 0.74 | -65.41 |
| 15 Morrison, H | 356 | 29 | 8.15% | 82 | 23.03% | 0.83 | -123.95 |
| 16 Portman, J G | 315 | 27 | 8.57% | 67 | 21.27% | 1.06 | -103.47 |
| 17 Millman, B R | 239 | 21 | 8.79% | 52 | 21.76% | 0.88 | +16.53 |
| 18 Simcock, D M | 165 | 20 | 12.12% | 51 | 30.91% | 1.00 | -18.50 |
| 19 Burrows, Owen | 98 | 20 | 20.41% | 45 | 45.92% | 1.09 | +12.32 |
Newbury Flat · Current trainers, since 2010
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Buick, William | 597 | 104 | 17.42% | 219 | 36.68% | 0.93 | -60.02 |
| 2 Doyle, James | 564 | 90 | 15.96% | 202 | 35.82% | 0.94 | -87.21 |
| 3 Moore, Ryan | 537 | 85 | 15.83% | 195 | 36.31% | 0.77 | -147.07 |
| 4 Murphy, Oisin | 553 | 84 | 15.19% | 211 | 38.16% | 0.90 | -82.50 |
| 5 Marquand, Tom | 510 | 76 | 14.90% | 170 | 33.33% | 1.05 | -19.14 |
| 6 Sousa, Silvestre De | 389 | 52 | 13.37% | 117 | 30.08% | 0.92 | -17.86 |
| 7 Dobbs, Pat | 459 | 49 | 10.68% | 129 | 28.10% | 0.99 | -42.28 |
| 8 Levey, S M | 458 | 45 | 9.83% | 122 | 26.64% | 0.84 | -61.60 |
| 9 Probert, David | 527 | 44 | 8.35% | 120 | 22.77% | 0.86 | -57.54 |
| 10 Spencer, Jamie | 341 | 37 | 10.85% | 112 | 32.84% | 0.91 | -77.99 |
| 11 Atzeni, Andrea | 322 | 37 | 11.49% | 116 | 36.02% | 0.79 | -45.79 |
| 12 Bishop, Charles | 409 | 29 | 7.09% | 97 | 23.72% | 0.81 | -87.79 |
| 13 Ryan, Rossa | 291 | 29 | 9.97% | 95 | 32.65% | 0.76 | -40.01 |
| 14 Watson, Jason | 244 | 29 | 11.89% | 76 | 31.15% | 1.04 | -26.38 |
| 15 Egan, David | 255 | 28 | 10.98% | 65 | 25.49% | 0.94 | -21.80 |
| 16 Shoemark, Kieran | 314 | 27 | 8.60% | 83 | 26.43% | 0.74 | -26.94 |
| 17 Doyle, Hollie | 270 | 26 | 9.63% | 74 | 27.41% | 0.80 | -89.23 |
| 18 Queally, T P | 231 | 25 | 10.82% | 59 | 25.54% | 0.97 | +93.95 |
| 19 Hornby, Rob | 306 | 24 | 7.84% | 64 | 20.92% | 0.91 | -112.22 |
| 20 Kingscote, Richard | 350 | 22 | 6.29% | 99 | 28.29% | 0.60 | -170.25 |
Newbury Flat · Current riders, since 2010
Which sires do best at Newbury?
| Sire | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dubawi (IRE) | 391 | 59 | 15.09% | 147 | 37.60% | 0.80 | +2.72 |
| 2 Dark Angel (IRE) | 474 | 54 | 11.39% | 151 | 31.86% | 0.93 | -100.61 |
| 3 Sea The Stars (IRE) | 282 | 42 | 14.89% | 102 | 36.17% | 0.81 | -120.72 |
| 4 Kodiac | 375 | 35 | 9.33% | 106 | 28.27% | 0.84 | -95.83 |
| 5 Invincible Spirit (IRE) | 349 | 35 | 10.03% | 108 | 30.95% | 0.72 | -159.43 |
| 6 Acclamation | 341 | 33 | 9.68% | 96 | 28.15% | 0.82 | -124.69 |
| 7 Lope De Vega (IRE) | 276 | 32 | 11.59% | 87 | 31.52% | 0.81 | -39.54 |
| 8 Frankel | 231 | 32 | 13.85% | 85 | 36.80% | 0.66 | -117.05 |
| 9 Shamardal (USA) | 183 | 32 | 17.49% | 67 | 36.61% | 1.06 | +63.44 |
| 10 Oasis Dream | 306 | 28 | 9.15% | 85 | 27.78% | 0.71 | -100.42 |
| 11 Exceed And Excel (AUS) | 263 | 28 | 10.65% | 74 | 28.14% | 0.84 | -127.25 |
| 12 Galileo (IRE) | 230 | 28 | 12.17% | 72 | 31.30% | 0.76 | -122.88 |
| 13 Showcasing | 217 | 25 | 11.52% | 62 | 28.57% | 1.01 | +28.63 |
| 14 Teofilo (IRE) | 161 | 25 | 15.53% | 56 | 34.78% | 1.23 | +47.39 |
| 15 Kingman | 185 | 23 | 12.43% | 63 | 34.05% | 0.67 | -68.29 |
| 16 Mastercraftsman (IRE) | 201 | 21 | 10.45% | 49 | 24.38% | 0.98 | -38.88 |
| 17 Cape Cross (IRE) | 197 | 21 | 10.66% | 59 | 29.95% | 0.80 | -17.49 |
| 18 Nathaniel (IRE) | 169 | 21 | 12.43% | 57 | 33.73% | 1.02 | -34.49 |
| 19 Night Of Thunder (IRE) | 93 | 21 | 22.58% | 45 | 48.39% | 1.19 | +23.24 |
| 20 Pivotal | 198 | 20 | 10.10% | 56 | 28.28% | 0.74 | -101.09 |
Newbury Flat · Since 2010
Betting Tips for Newbury Flat Turf
The Best Historical A/E Figures Sit Below Hannon
Richard Hannon (Jnr) leads on volume at close to his market odds (A/E 0.91); Ian Williams (A/E 1.14), Owen Burrows (20.41% from 98, A/E 1.09) and the Beckhampton yard (A/E 1.06, +£48.31) have run ahead of theirs, while Clive Cox (A/E 0.63) and Roger Varian (A/E 0.70) have run furthest behind.
Look Past the Big-Name Sires
Many of the biggest-name sires sit below fair value here; Zoustar (A/E 1.23, +£139.25), Teofilo (A/E 1.23, +£47.39) and Starspangledbanner (A/E 1.16, +£76.83) have run furthest ahead of their market odds, with Frankel (A/E 0.66) and Invincible Spirit (A/E 0.72, £159.43 down) furthest behind theirs on this historical sample.
The Run-in Gives Closers Room
A 4½f home straight means a horse held up has time to organise a challenge — but that is room, not a bias. Judge the likely tempo rather than assuming the leader is beaten.
Charlie Appleby’s Strike Rate Stands Out
25.00% (46 from 184) is the best conversion rate among Newbury’s leading trainers, though at A/E 0.93 the market prices it in.
Tom Queally Is the One Rider in Profit Here
25 winners from 231 rides for a level-stakes profit of +£93.95 — the only rider in the top 20 here in the black, on a book a fraction the size of the big names’. His A/E of 0.97 is the caveat: the profit came without him beating the market overall, so read it as a record rather than an edge.
Tom Marquand Has Beaten His Market Odds
Marquand (A/E 1.05) is the only rider with real volume here to beat fair price, from 510 rides, and Pat Dobbs is close behind at A/E 0.99 from 459. Richard Kingscote (A/E 0.60 from 350 rides, £170.25 down), Kieran Shoemark (A/E 0.74) and Rob Hornby (A/E 0.91) have all under-delivered on 300-plus rides.
The Super Sprint Is Its Own Puzzle
Newbury’s Weatherbys Super Sprint — a 5f dash for cheaply-bought two-year-olds, devised by Lord Carnarvon and Richard Hannon Sr — routinely fields 20-plus runners. In those maximum fields respect early speed and a high draw, and don’t be put off by a bigger price.
Spring Form Points to the Classics
The Greenham and Fred Darling are genuine 2000 and 1000 Guineas trials — Frankel won the 2011 Greenham before Newmarket — so strong Newbury seven-furlong form in April is worth following straight to the first Classics.
It Rewards a Proper Galloper
The wide, fair circuit and long run-in suit horses that travel and stay on rather than sharp, speed-reliant types; a class horse stepping up in trip who finishes strongly is the Newbury profile.
The Big-Name Riders Have Been Expensive Here
Oisin Murphy wins at 15.19% from 553 rides but returns A/E 0.90 for an £82.50 loss, and Ryan Moore is worse — 85 winners at A/E 0.77 and £147.07 down. Both are reputations the market charges you for. Tom Marquand (A/E 1.05) is the one with volume who beats a fair price.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a single clean draw bias at 5f. The sources genuinely conflict, and they are built differently — a large-field sprint sample shows mid-draws outperforming at IV 1.32, while a 5f-only handicap study finds no real bias at the trip.
- Assuming the long straight automatically favours hold-up horses. It gives closers room, but the published straight-mile figures show no significant run-style bias — an uncontested leader or a strong prominent racer is not disadvantaged just because the run-in is 4½f.
- Backing Richard Hannon (Jnr) here on winner count alone. He tops the table on both runs and wins, but at A/E 0.91 he’s been priced about right by the market — Ian Williams (A/E 1.14), Owen Burrows (A/E 1.09) and the Charlton yard (A/E 1.06, +£48.31) have historically run furthest ahead of their market odds here, with Clive Cox (A/E 0.63, £213.19 down) and Roger Varian (A/E 0.70) furthest behind theirs.
Newbury Racecourse FAQs
Is there a draw bias at Newbury?
Who owns Newbury Racecourse?
What is Newbury’s only Group 1 race?
What is the Weatherbys Super Sprint?
Nearby Tracks
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