As October steps into its reign, the flat racing season is slowly approaching its end. But before jump races replace it on the racecourses, there are still a handful of significant events that as a horse racing enthusiast you don’t want to miss. Dubai Future Champions Festival 2025 is definitely one such event. It is conducted at the famous Newmarket Racecourse, one of Britain’s finest horse racing venues. With a history going as far back as the 16th century, Newmarket Racecourse hosts several important horse racing events throughout the flat season, including the first two Classic Races of the season, the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, and nine out of Britain’s 36 Group 1 flat races. Dubai Future Champions Festival is, in fact, the last racing meeting of the flat season at Newmarket. Lasting for two days, this year it falls on Friday, 10 October and Saturday, 11 October. The Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes will open the event as its first race, while The Modern Games British EBF Boadicea Stakes will be the closing race of the season. Darley Dewhurst Stakes, the main highlight of the Festival, will be held on Saturday, 11 October, the second day of the event. The Dubai Future Champions Festival 2025 will be conducted in the second week of October and last for two days. Each of the two days will include seven races. Day one is called Dubai Future Champions Festival Friday, while day two is known as Dubai Future Champions Day. Day One: Dubai Future Champions Festival Friday Day Two: Dubai Future Champions Day The daily race cards for the Festival are as follows: Friday, 10 October Going: to be updated Saturday, 11 October Going: to be updated The Dubai Future Champions Festival includes 14 races distributed over 2 days of the event, 7 races per day. The variety of conditions, tracks, and runners caters to different interests and preferences of all Newmarket Racecourse visitors. Fillies’ Mile is a Group 1 flat horse race that accepts fillies aged two years. It is run over the distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres). The race traditionally takes place on the Rowley Mile track. The Fillies’ Mile is one of the comparatively modern races in British horse racing. It was established in 1973 and was initially held at Ascot. In 1975 it was classified as Group 3, then later in 1986 upgraded to Group 2, until finally in 1990 it received its Group 1 status. The race was conducted at the Newmarket Racecourse in 2005 while Ascot underwent redevelopment. It was permanently transferred to this racecourse in 2011, and from 2014 became part of the Future Champions Festival. Currently, there are 31 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Jockeys for the race are still awaiting confirmation. The current full list of contenders and their trainers runs as follows: Darley Dewhurst Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race that accepts both colts and fillies aged two years. It is run over the distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres). The race traditionally takes place on the Rowley Mile track. Established in 1875, Dewhurst Stakes is considered the most prestigious race for juvenile horses in Britain. It is not uncommon for its winners to achieve significant results at the British Classics the next season. This race used to be conducted mid-October during the Champions’ Day at the Newmarket Racecourse. Since 2011 it has become part of the Future Champions Day. Currently, there are 26 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Jockeys for the race are still awaiting confirmation. The current full list of contenders and their trainers runs as follows: Betting on the Dubai Future Champions Festival will be possible both online and on the course. As it is the closing flat racing meeting of the season at the Newmarket Racecourse, horse racing enthusiasts, bettors, and bookmakers are all keeping their eyes on the tracks to see how this season’s achievements will be distributed. A lot of bookmaking platforms that include horse racing bets in their offer will add the Festival and its races to their betting markets. At 7bet, we offer a wide range of horse race betting markets both for domestic and international events. Please note that odds for the Dubai Future Champions Festival will be available closer to the event date. Betting at the Dubai Future Champions Festival includes various horse betting markets, with some of the most popular being: Always remember to gamble responsibly and treat betting as a form of entertainment and not means for financial gain.
Key Dates & Timings
Time
Race
Distance
Conditions
1:15 pm
THE NEWMARKET ACADEMY GODOLPHIN BEACON PROJECT CORNWALLIS STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1)
5f
2YO £65,000.00
1:50 pm
THE GODOLPHIN LIFETIME CARE OH SO SHARP STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1)
7f
2YO £65,000.00
2:25 pm
THE THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY EMPLOYEE AWARDS CHALLENGE STAKES (CLASS 1)(Group 2) (CL 1)
7f
3YO+ £125,000.00
2:57 pm
THE bet365 FILLIES’ MILE (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (CL 1)
1m
2YO £500,000.00
3:30 pm
THE bet365 OLD ROWLEY CUP HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2)
1m 4f
3YO £100,000.00
4:10 pm
THE GODOLPHIN UNDER STARTERS ORDERS MAIDEN FILLIES’ STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2)
7f
2YO £22,000.00
4:45 pm
THE NEWMARKET PONY ACADEMY PRIDE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1)
1m 2f
3YO+ £85,000.00
Time
Race
Distance
Conditions
1:15 pm
THE TOO DARN HOT DARLEY STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1)
1m 1f
3YO+ £85,000.00
1:50 pm
THE NIGHT OF THUNDER ZETLAND STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1)
1m 2f
2YO £65,000.00
2:25 pm
THE EMIRATES AUTUMN STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1)
1m
2YO £65,000.00
3:00 pm
THE DARLEY DEWHURST STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (CL 1)
7f
2YO £500,000.00
3:40 pm
THE CLUB GODOLPHIN CESAREWITCH HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2)
2m 2f
3YO+ £175,000.00
4:15 pm
THE GODOLPHIN FLYING START NURSERY HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) (CL 3)
7f
2YO £22,000.00 Rating 0-90
4:50 pm
THE MODERN GAMES BRITISH EBF BOADICEA STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (CL 1)
6f
3YO+ £55,000.00
Headline Races at the Dubai Future Champions Festival
Fillies’ Mile (Friday, 10 October)
Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Saturday, 11 October)
Betting at Dubai Future Champions Festival
How to Buy Tickets
Tickets for the Dubai Future Champions Festival are available for purchase on the official website of the Newmarket Racecourse. Tickets for both days are to be purchased separately. Newmarket Racecourse offers two enclosures for this meeting: Grandstand and Paddock and Premier Enclosure.
Grandstand and Paddock is the more affordable option. Tickets start at £10 per adult on day one and £18 on day two. Discounts are available for groups over 6 people, while children get free admission but must be accompanied by adults.
When purchasing this ticket, you can enjoy the race with great views, see the Parade Ring, get access to food and drink facilities as well as free wi-fi and betting outlets. Unless sold out, you can also gain access to The Garden Enclosure.
Tickets for the Premier Enclosure start at £25 per adult on both days. Here as well, discounts are available for groups over 6 people, and children are admitted for free if accompanied by adults.
You will have access to all facilities available under the Grandstand and Paddock ticket, but will get a larger selection of restaurants and, of course, better viewing options.
No day at the races experience is complete without a special dining experience. During the Dubai Future Champions Festival, the Newmarket Racecourse offers three different packages for different budgets at the Champions Gallery Restaurant: Classic Restaurant Experience (from £150), Premier Restaurant Experience (from £205), and VIP Restaurant Experience (from £245). And of course, there will be a lot of food and drinks outlets open on the grounds.
Travel & Transport Guide
The Dubai Future Champions Festival is conducted at the Newmarket Racecourse located at the following address: Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 0TF. You can reach your destination by various means of transportation from different directions.
If you are travelling by train, you have two options. You can arrive at the Newmarket Railway Station which is located only a few miles away from the Newmarket Racecourse. You can either drive or take a complimentary shuttle bus that runs on racing days.
The other option is to arrive at the Cambridge Railway Station that also has connections to London. The Newmarket Racecourse is 14 miles away. We suggest you take the Outrider bus service to reach the racecourse. This service is also available from Royston Train Station, Bury St. Edmunds, and Ely.
The shuttle bus services are offered on race days. You can find them either outside the railway station or in the Newmarket town centre. The morning transit commences two hours before the first race and stops right before the beginning of the first race. The return transit takes passengers about 45 minutes before the last race and continues running for approximately two hours. The rides don’t require pre-booking and are complimentary for race goers.
The Outrider Coach Service costs £15 for a return ticket and tends to sell out quickly, that is why pre-booking is recommended.
Darley Dewhurst Stakes Past Winners
In its 150 years of history, the Dewhurst Stakes race has seen many a marvellous achievements and spectacular wins. The names of the outstanding horses, skilled jockeys, and great trainers are forever stored in its records. The horses who won the Darley Dewhurst Stakes in the past 25 years since 2000 were the following:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 2000 | Tobougg | Craig Williams | Mick Channon | Ahmed Al Maktoum |
| 2001 | Rock of Gibraltar | Michael Kinane | Aidan O’Brien | Ferguson/Magnier |
| 2002 | Tout Seul | Stephen Carson | Fulke Johnson Houghton | Eden Racing |
| 2003 | Milk It Mick | Darryll Holland | Jamie Osborne | Paul Dixon |
| 2004 | Shamardal | Kevin Darley | Mark Johnston | Gainsborough Stud |
| 2005 | Sir Percy | Martin Dwyer | Marcus Tregoning | Anthony Pakenham |
| 2006 | Teofilo | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Jackie Bolger |
| 2007 | New Approach | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Bolger/Sheikh Moh’d |
| 2008 | Intense Focus | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Jackie Bolger |
| 2009 | Beethoven | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | Tabor/Smith/Magnier |
| 2010 | Frankel | Tom Queally | Henry Cecil | Khalid Abdullah |
| 2011 | Parish Hall | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Jackie Bolger |
| 2012 | Dawn Approach | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Godolphin |
| 2013 | War Command | Joseph O’Brien | Aidan O’Brien | Allen/Tabor/Smith/Magnier |
| 2014 | Belardo | Andrea Atzeni | Roger Varian | Prince A. A. Faisal |
| 2015 | Air Force Blue | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | Tabor/Smith/Magnier |
| 2016 | Churchill | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | Tabor/Smith/Magnier |
| 2017 | U S Navy Flag | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | Tabor / Smith / Magnier |
| 2018 | Too Darn Hot | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| 2019 | Pinatubo | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin |
| 2020 | St Mark’s Basilica | Frankie Dettori | Aidan O’Brien | Tabor / Smith / Magnier |
| 2021 | Native Trail | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin |
| 2022 | Chaldean | Frankie Dettori | Andrew Balding | Juddmonte |
| 2023 | City of Troy | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | Magnier / Tabor / Smith |
| 2024 | Shadow of Light | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin |
Chestnut colt Shadow of Light was running his debut season when he won the Dewhurst Stakes in 2024. He took the horse racing world by storm, having belted three other wins and one second place earlier that year.
For trainer Charlie Appleby this was his third trophy. His other charges who won the Dewhurst Stakes are Pinatubo, who finished the race first in 2019 and Native Trail who became the winner in 2021. All three horses were led by jockey William Buick.
Darley Dewhurst Stakes Records
As the Darley Dewhurst Stakes is open exclusively to two year old colts and fillies, it is only possible for a single horse to win the race once in their lifetime. However, many jockeys, trainers, and even owners managed to achieve this feat several times throughout 150 years of the race’s existence.
- Leading jockey: Lester Piggott with 10 wins (Crepello 1956, Follow Suit 1962, Ribofilio 1968, Nijinsky 1969, Crowned Prince 1971, Cellini 1973, The Minstrel 1976, Try My Best 1977, Monteverdi 1979, Diesis 1982)
- Leading trainer: John Porter (Paradox 1884, Ormonde 1885, Friar’s Balsam 1887, Orme 1891, Matchbox 1893, Vesuvian 1896, Hawfinch 1897, Frontier 1898), Frank Butters (Toboggan 1927, Mrs Rustom 1933, Hairan 1934, Bala Hissar 1935, Sultan Mahomed 1936, Umiddad 1942, Paper Weight 1944, Migoli 1946), Aidan O’Brien (Rock of Gibraltar 2001, Beethoven 2009, War Command 2013, Air Force Blue 2015, Churchill 2016, U S Navy Flag 2017, St Mark’s Basilica 2020, City of Troy 2023); all with 8 wins
- Leading owner: HH Aga Khan III (Salmon-Trout 1923, Zionist 1924, Firdaussi 1931, Mrs Rustom 1933, Hairan 1934, Bala Hissar 1935, Umiddad 1942, Migoli 1946) and Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor (Rock of Gibraltar 2001, Beethoven 2009, War Command 2013, Air Force Blue 2015, Churchill 2016, U S Navy Flag 2017, St Mark’s Basilica 2020, City of Troy 2023); both with 8 wins
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