The list of UK racecourses features a wonderful variety of venues that stage this historic sport.
One of the glories of racecourses in the UK is the sheer range of challenges they present across the length and breadth of the land.
Look at a map of UK racecourses and you will find small, tight circuits like Chester and yawning expanses like Newmarket, the biggest racecourse in the UK.
Some, such as Great Yarmouth and Royal Windsor, are virtually flat. Others, including Brighton and Sedgefield, feature tricky undulations.
At many UK racecourses the runners race left-handed, in an anti-clockwise direction. But there are several where the field goes right-handed.
A UK racecourse map includes tracks close to town centres, and places where you have to travel into the depths of the countryside.
When it comes to the range of styles of racecourse, the UK has it all.
How Many Racecourses are in the UK?
As of 2025, there are a total of 61 UK racecourses where horses race under rules on the flat, over jumps, or both.
Five of the racecourses on the UK map are located in Scotland, with three in Wales and two in Northern Ireland, leaving 51 horse racing venues in England.
You may be surprised how close you live to one of the current UK racecourses – or, indeed, to one of the many courses where the sport used to be staged.
There are places where you can see traces of old UK racecourses, such as Hurst Park and Lincoln – and did you know there used to be a course on the land now occupied by Gatwick Airport?
List of UK Racecourses
Let’s look now at the full list of racecourses in the UK, organised by their owners and operators.
Arena Racing Company
ARC runs the following 16 UK racecourses:
- Bath – Located high on a hill to the north of the historic city, and stages Flat racing.
- Brighton – Atmospheric and topsy-turvy Flat racing track on the cliffs above the city.
- Chepstow – Wide, galloping, testing track that hosts the Welsh Grand National.
- Doncaster – The home of the St Leger also stages jump racing and is a short walk from the city centre.
- Ffos Las – Opened as recently as 2009 but already known for staging good quality Flat and jump racing.
- Fontwell Park – Attractive Sussex venue that stages the National Spirit Hurdle and has a figure-of-eight chasing track.
- Great Yarmouth – Flat, seaside course that often attracts holiday crowds – and Newmarket trainers.
- Hereford – Close to the city centre and almost perfectly square in shape, the course stages jump racing.
- Lingfield Park – The leafy Surrey track is home to jumping, Flat racing and regular meetings on an artificial surface.
- Newcastle – Home of the Northumberland Plate, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, and frequent all-weather racing.
- Royal Windsor – Famous for its Monday evening summer meetings, its Flat racing has recently been rejoined by jumping meetings.
- Sedgefield – Undulating course in the north-east countryside that attracts a loyal following to its jump racing meetings in the winter.
- Southwell – Rural Nottinghamshire venue that is home to both jump racing and Flat meetings on the all-weather.
- Uttoxeter – Popular venue in Staffordshire that attracts healthy crowds, particularly to its feature Midlands Grand National fixture.
- Wolverhampton – Tight circuit close to the city centre that stages all-weather racing, specialises in Saturday evening fixtures.
- Worcester – Pretty jump racing course situated right next to – and occasionally under – the River Severn.
The Jockey Club
A total of 14 UK racecourses are administered by the Jockey Club. Their most famous courses are:
- Aintree – Home of the Grand National since the 1830s.
- Cheltenham – Venue for the annual National Hunt Festival.
- Epsom – Historic location where the Derby is run.
- Kempton Park – Boxing Day venue for the King George Chase.
- Newmarket – HQ for British Flat racing and home to two Classics.
- Sandown Park – Stage for the Coral-Eclipse and the Tingle Creek Chase.
Their other courses include: Carlisle, Exeter, Haydock Park, Huntingdon, Market Rasen, Nottingham, Warwick, Wincanton.
Horse Racing Ireland
The only two racecourses in Northern Ireland are run by HRI:
- Down Royal
- Downpatrick
Independents
The remaining 29 tracks are independently owned, or run by companies specifically set up for the purpose. The most famous being:
- Ascot – Historic setting for the annual Royal meeting.
- Goodwood – Picturesque Sussex track, home to Glorious Goodwood.
- York - Welcomes huge crowds each year to the Ebor Festival.
With the other courses being: Ayr, Bangor-on-Dee, Beverley, Cartmel, Catterick, Chelmsford City, Chester, Fakenham, Hamilton Park, Hexham, Kelso, Leicester, Ludlow, Musselburgh, Newbury, Newton Abbot, Perth, Plumpton, Pontefract, Redcar, Ripon, Salisbury, Stratford, Taunton, Thirsk, Wetherby.
