While the first mentions of horse racing in the Scottish town of Ayr go back to 1576, the first official meeting only took place in 1771, and the Ayr Racecourse was established as recently as 1907.
As the racecourse offers tracks for both flat and National Hunt racing, Ayr races take place all year around. The summer season lasts between April and October while the winter season starts in November and ends in April.
As Scotland’s only Grade One racecourse, Ayr plays a great role in the horse racing scene. It hosts the Coral Scottish Grand National every April to close the jump season as well as the most prestigious William Hill Ayr Gold Cup in September. In this article you will find a complete list of Ayr races fixtures for 2025 along with highlights for their key races and events of particular interest.
Ayr Racecourse Fixtures 2025
Ayr races will give both flat racing and jump racing fans a lot of opportunities to enjoy a day at the races. With almost equal number of meetings in both racing styles, anyone will surely find an event they would love to attend.
Below you will find a full list of Ayr races 2025 dates.
| Date | Name | Type |
| 2 January (Thursday) | The Golf Inn Prestwick New Year’s Raceday | Jump |
| 6 January (Monday) | Raceday | Jump |
| 21 January (Tuesday) | Raceday | Jump |
| 11 February (Tuesday) | Virgin Bet Raceday | Jump |
| 24 February (Monday) | Virgin Bet Raceday | Jump |
| 7-8 March (Friday – Saturday) | Virgin Bet Racedays | Jump |
| 11-12 April (Friday – Saturday) | Scottish Grand National Festival | Jump |
| 28 April (Monday) | Raceday | Flat |
| 1 May (Thursday) | Raceday | Flat |
| 21 May (Wednesday) | Raceday | Flat |
| 21 June (Saturday) | Summer Saturday Raceday | Flat |
| 6-7 July (Sunday – Monday) | Family Raceday | Flat |
| 14 July (Monday) | Ayr Gold Cup Trial | Flat |
| 21 July (Monday) | Raceday | Flat |
| 28 July (Monday) | Raceday | Flat |
| 9 August (Saturday) | Saturday Racenight | Flat |
| 11 August (Monday) | August Raceday | Flat |
| 18 August (Monday) | August Finale Racenight | Flat |
| 18-20 September (Thursday – Saturday) | Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival 2025 | Flat |
| 30 September (Tuesday) | September Finale Raceday | Flat |
| 9 October (Thursday) | Tennent’s Raceday | Flat |
| 1 November (Saturday) | Sensational Saturday Raceday | Jump |
| 12 November (Wednesday) | November Raceday | Jump |
| 1 December (Monday) | December Raceday | Jump |
| 9 December (Tuesday) | Christmas Raceday | Jump |
For a complete rundown of horse racing events across the UK beyond Ascot, see our full fixtures list.
Key Races and Feature Events
Ayr Racecourse meetings will satisfy the tastes of any horse racing enthusiast. With the vast selection of both flat and jump events, there will be no shortage of interesting discoveries and unforgettable experiences. Some of the key events include:
- The Golf Inn Prestwick New Year’s Raceday (January): the highlight of the jump season and a great way to welcome the New Year in.
- Scottish Grand National Festival (April): a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase open to both male and female horses aged five years and older.
- Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival 2025 (September): the highlight of the flat season, this festival includes the highly prestigious Ayr Gold Cup handicap race.
Tips for Racegoers
Be it the summer or the winter season, Ayr races fixtures 2025 won’t disappoint even the pickiest racegoer. With major horse racing events scheduled for both seasons, Ayr Racecourse firmly places itself on Britain’s horse racing calendar.
When travelling to Ayr, don’t forget to factor in the constantly changing British weather. Consider layers and an umbrella for both seasons, as you will be spending a lot of your time outdoors in unsheltered grounds.
As is the case with many major racecourses, tickets for Ayr racecourse events can be purchased on their official website. They come in a variety of packages, with discounts for groups, students, and visitors over 60. For some events, early bird discounts are also available. But as tickets are in high demand, especially for highlight events of each season, you are very much recommended to purchase them in advance.
Ayr Racecourse provides premium hospitality services to make your day at the races an enjoyable experience. Hospitality packages for all restaurants at the venue come in four categories: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Each offers an increasingly tempting service, from a welcome drink to an exquisite meal and more.
Leaning towards smart, smart casual outfits are permitted with certain restrictions for the hospitality facilities. The more high ranked the event, the more likely you are to see people in their best smart attires, so you are highly encouraged to follow suit. However, football colours are prohibited in all areas of the course.
Being only 37 miles away from Glasgow and 83 miles away from Edinburgh, Ayr Racecourse is easily accessible by road. Parking is free for everyone. If you prefer to travel by train, the railway station is a 5 minutes drive or a 21 minutes walk from the venue.
With minor exceptions, all Ayr races start in the afternoon. But as the gates open in the morning, you are recommended to arrive well before the start of the event. This way you won’t have to miss any of the festivities Ayr Racecourse offers on the grounds and will spend an unforgettable day at the races.
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