The flat racing season 2026 is officially here, and it comes in strong right off the bat with one of the largest horse racing fixtures at the Newmarket Racecourse. The Guineas Festival will take place between Friday, 1 May and Sunday, 3 May 2026 and will include the first two of the British Classics on the flat racing calendar.
Often referred to as the headquarters of British horseracing, the Newmarket Racecourse comprises two separate courses, namely the Rowley Mile and the July Course. It also houses the biggest cluster of training yards in the country. The official history of the Newmarket Racecourse goes back to the 17th century, when it was established in 1636.
This year, The Darley EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes will open the Newmarket Festival as its first race, while The Burwell Handicap Stakes will close the event.
The Betfred 2,000 Guineas Stakes will be held on Saturday, 2 May, while Trhe Betfred 1,000 Guineas Stakes will be conducted on Sunday, 3 May.
Key Dates & Timings
The Guineas Festival Newmarket 2026 will be conducted in the first week of May and last for three days. This horse racing fixture will include seven races on the first, nine races on the second, and seven races on the third day, for a total of 23 races.
Day One: Betfred Guineas Friday
- When: Friday, 1 May 2026
- Gate opening: 11:45 am
- First race: 1:45 pm
- Headline race: 3:30 pm
- Last race: 5:15 pm
The daily race card for the Betfred Guineas Friday 2026 is as follows:
Friday, 1 May
Going: good (good to firm in places)
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:45 pm | THE DARLEY EBF MAIDEN FILLIES’ STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBB/GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2) | 1m 2f | 3YO+ £40,000.00 |
| 2:20 pm | THE NEWMARKET STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (CL 1) | 1m 2f | 3YO £60,000.00 |
| 2:55 pm | THE BETFRED ‘THE CLASSIC BOOKMAKER’ HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) (CL 3) | 1m | 3YO £35,000.00 Rating 0-90 |
| 3:30 pm | THE BETFRED JOCKEY CLUB STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2) (CL 1) | 1m 4f | 4YO+ £165,000.00 |
| 4:05 pm | THE BETFRED ‘NIFTY 50’ HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2) | 7f | 4YO+ £50,000.00 Rating 0-105 |
| 4:40 pm | THE KING CHARLES II STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (CL 1) | 7f | 3YO £60,000.00 |
| 5:15 pm | THE RACING TV FILLIES’ HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) (CL 3) | 6f | 3YO+ £30,000.00 Rating 71-90 |
Day Two: Betfred 2,000 Guineas Day
- When: Saturday, 2 May
- Gate opening: 11:10 am
- First race: 1:10 pm
- Headline race: 3:35 pm
- Last race: 5:55 pm
The daily race card for the Betfred 2,000 Guineas Day 2026 is as follows:
Saturday, 2 May
Going: good (good to firm in places)
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:10 pm | THE ODDSCHECKER ELLEN CHALONER STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (Formerly the Kilvington Stakes) (CL 1) | 6f | 3YO+ £60,000.00 |
| 1:45 pm | THE BETFRED HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (Heritage Handicap) (CL 2) | 6f | 4YO+ £100,000.00 |
| 2:20 pm | THE BETFRED SUFFOLK STAKES (CLASS 2 HERITAGE HANDICAP) (CL 2) | 1m 1f | 3YO+ £100,000.00 |
| 2:55 pm | THE HKJC WORLD POOL PALACE HOUSE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1) | 5f | 3YO+ £95,000.00 |
| 3:35 pm | THE BETFRED 2000 GUINEAS STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (CL 1) | 1m | 3YO £525,000.00 |
| 4:10 pm | THE MOULTON HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2) | 6f | 3YO £50,000.00 Rating 0-100 |
| 4:45 pm | THE NATIONAL STUD HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2) | 1m 4f | 4YO+ £50,000.00 Rating 0-105 |
| 5:20 pm | THE NEWMARKET “CONFINED” HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) (for horses which have won no more than one race) (CL 4) | 7f | 3YO £30,000.00 Rating 0-80 |
| 5:55 pm | THE SOHAM HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) (CL 3) | 1m | 4YO+ £40,000.00 Rating 0-90 |
Day Three: Betfred 1,000 Guineas Day
- When: Sunday, 3 May 2026
- Gate opening: 11:50 am
- First race: 1:45 pm
- Headline race: 3:35 pm
- Last race: 5:20 pm
The daily race card for the Betfred 1,000 Guineas Day 2026 is as follows:
Sunday, 3 May 2026
Going: good (good to firm in places)
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:45 pm | THE OLIVER BROWN PRETTY POLLY STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (CL 1) | 1m 2f | 3YO £60,000.00 |
| 2:20 pm | THE BETFRED DAHLIA STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2) (CL 1) | 1m 1f | 4YO+ £165,000.00 |
| 2:55 pm | THE BETFRED HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2) | 1m 6f | 4YO+ £100,000.00 |
| 3:35 pm | THE BETFRED 1000 GUINEAS STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (CL 1) | 1m | 3YO £525,000.00 |
| 4:10 pm | THE TATTERSALLS £40,000 EBF FILLIES’ NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | 5f | 2YO £40,000.00 |
| 4:45 pm | THE TATTERSALLS ONLINE £40,000 EBF NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | 5f | 2YO £40,000.00 |
| 5:20 pm | THE BURWELL HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 3) | 1m 2f | 3YO £30,000.00 Rating 0-95 |
Headline Races at the Guineas Festival Newmarket 2026
The Guineas Festival 2026 meeting includes 23 races, with seven races conducted on the first day, nine races conducted on the second day, and seven races conducted on the third day. Horse racing enthusiasts and bettors visiting the Newmarket Racecourse between 1 and 3 May will find a variety of races, tracks, conditions, and runners, including something to their own taste.
Jockey Club Stakes (Friday, 1 May)
The Jockey Club Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race that accepts both male and female horses aged four years or older. It is run over the distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres) on the Rowley Mile.
This race was first introduced in 1894 by the Jockey Club, one of the largest commercial horse racing organisations in the UK, hence its name. Initially, it was open to horses who had reached the age of three. In its course, the race changed its distance twice and at some point was closed to three year olds.
The only horse who managed to win the Jockey Club Stakes more than once is Phardante with 2 wins (1986, 1987). One jockey and one trainer have left all their competitors behind by showing outstanding results. Jockey Lester Piggott has had 7 wins (Holmbush 1950, Nucleus 1955, Court Prince 1959, St. Paddy 1961, Knockroe 1972, Relay Race 1974, Ardross 1982). Trainer Alec Taylor, Jr. has trained as many as 9 winning runners (Love Wisely 1897, Sceptre 1903, Sancy 1907, Lemberg 1910, Trois Temps 1914, Prince Chimay 1918, Lady Juror 1922, Inkerman 1923, Book Law 1927).
The latest winner in 2025 was a bay gelding Bellum Justum, who turned 4 less than two weeks before the race. This was his third racing season and the best performance of 2025. Previously, he had also won the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes in 2023, Betfred Blue Riband Trial and DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes in 2024. Bellum Justum was trained by Andrew Balding and led on the track by jockey Oisin Murphy.
Currently, there are 9 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.
The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:
- Bay City Roller (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer George Scott)
- Eydon (age 7, jockey Oisin Murphy, trainer Andrew Balding)
- French Master (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Lion’s Pride (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Paradias (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Alan King)
- Santorini Star (age 5, jockey Tom Marquand, trainer William Haggas)
- Sons And Lovers (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
- Sunway (age 5, jockey Silvestre De Sousa, trainer David Menuisier)
- Yashin (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Michael Bell)
Betfred 2,000 Guineas Stakes (Saturday, 2 May)
The 2,000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race that accepts both male and female horses aged three years. It is run over the distance of 1 mile (1.6 km) on the Rowley Mile.
Inaugurated in 1809, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes is the first British Classic race of the flat season. The British Classics represent the five long standing Group 1 horse races in Great Britain. It was also established by the Jockey Club.
As the rules of the race only allow horses three years of age, it is impossible for a single horse to enter and potentially win the 2,000 Guineas Stakes more than once in their career. Jockeys and trainers, on the other hand, have all the chances to take multiple wins.
Currently, jockey Jem Robinson leads the records with 9 wins (Enamel 1825, Cadland 1828, Riddlesworth 1831, Clearwell 1833, Glencoe 1834, Ibrahim 1835, Bay Middleton 1836, Conyngham 1847, Flatcatcher 1848).
The most successful trainer of the race is Aidan O’Brien with 9 wins (King of Kings 1998, Rock of Gibraltar 2002, Footstepsinthesand 2005, George Washington 2006, Henrythenavigator 2008, Camelot 2012, Gleneagles 2015, Churchill 2017, Saxon Warrior 2018, Magna Grecia 2019).
The latest winner in 2025 was a bay colt Ruling Court. This was his second win of the season. He had previously won the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas Sponsored By Emirates Holidays in March. In his debut season of 2024, he participated in two races and won one of them, the Martin Densham & Peter Deal Memorial British EBF Maiden Stakes. Ruling Court was trained by Charlie Appleby and led on the track by jockey William Buick.
Currently, there are 20 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.
The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:
- Alparslan (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Avicenna (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Roger Varian)
- Billecart (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Bow Echo (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer George Boughey)
- Causeway (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Distant Storm (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)
- Flushing Meadows (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Hankelow (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Into The Sky (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jim Boyle)
- King’s Trail (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)
- Lord Britain (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ismail Mohammed)
- Mumhan (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jim Bolger)
- Needle Match (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William Haggas)
- Oxagon (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Power Blue (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Robson Aguiar)
- Puerto Rico (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Samangan (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard)
- Thesecretadversary (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer James Stack)
- Venetian Prince (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
- Zavateri (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Eve Johnson Houghton)
Betfred 1,000 Guineas Stakes (Sunday, 3 May)
The 1,000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race that accepts fillies aged three years. It is run over the distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) on the Rowley Mile.
The second British Classic race in the season, it was established in 1814 by the Jockey Club. Within about half a century, it became one of the most prestigious races in Britain conducted for three year olds.
Similarly to 2,000 Guineas Stakes, horses only get one shot at victory in this race throughout their career because of the age restriction. This means there are no horses holding multiple wins.
The most successful jockey in 1,000 Guineas Stakes is George Fordham with 7 wins (Mayonaise 1859, Nemesis 1861, Siberia 1865, Formosa 1868, Scottish Queen 1869, Thebais 1881, Hauteur 1883).
Among the trainers whose charges became the winners of this race, Robert Robson stands out with 9 wins (Corinne 1818, Catgut 1819, Rowena 1820, Zeal 1821, Whizgig 1822, Zinc 1823, Tontine 1825, Problem 1826, Arab 1827).
The latest winner in 2025 was a chestnut filly Desert Flower, who turned 3 two months prior to the race. While this was her only win out of the two races she participated in in 2025, her debut season of 2024 was marked with outstanding performance, where she won all four races she participated in. Desert Flower was trained by Charlie Appleby and led on the track by jockey William Buick.
Currently, there are 24 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.
The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:
- Abashiri (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)
- Azleet (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Stuart Williams)
- Darn Hot Gallop (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer James Tate)
- Diamond Necklace (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Aidan O’Brien)
- Domina Ignis (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy)
- Esna (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Brian Meehan)
- Evolutionist (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Inis Mor (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer David Menuisier)
- Moments Of Joy (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Mubasimah (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
- My Highness (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer André Fabre)
- Precise (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Rose Ghaiyyath (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Richard Hughes)
- Silenciosa (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Tom Clover)
- Slaney View (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jim Bolger)
- Spicy Marg (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Michael Bell)
- The Prettiest Star (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ed Walker)
- Timeforshowcasing (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Johnston)
- Touleen (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Owen Burrows)
- True Love (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- True Test (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William Knight)
- Venetian Lace (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Johnston)
- Venetian Sun (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Venosa (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
Betting at Guineas Festival Newmarket 2026
Hosting the first two out of the five British Classics, the Guineas Festival brings together horse racing enthusiasts, sports bettors, and bookmaking establishments. Odds on all the 23 races of the event will be available on major bookmaking platforms that offer horse racing markets.
The Newmarket Racecourse continues the tradition of British horse racing betting and offers specialised facilities for anyone interested in placing a bet at the venue. If you are not planning on attending the meeting, you can place your bet online.
In any case, always remember to practice responsible gambling when betting on the Guineas Festival Newmarket 2026 races. Among other things, this includes making an informed decision regarding your bet rather than placing it randomly. Study the physical form and recent performances of both the runners and the jockeys, analyse the market and the current trends, compare various odds on the same market that you are interested in. If you are attending the meeting, try to take a look at the horses in the Parade Ring before the race starts.
At 7bet, we offer a wide range of horse race betting markets both for domestic and international events.
Please note that odds for the Guineas Festival Newmarket 2026 will be available closer to the event date.
Betting at the Guineas Festival Newmarket 2026 includes various horse betting markets, with some of the most popular ones being:
- Win: This is the most straightforward betting market that is aimed at the outcome of the race. Similar to other types of sports betting, it is recommended to newbie punters as a way to build their horse racing betting experience. Here your objective is to predict the horse who will win the race. Place your wager on the runner who seems to be the most likely one to come to the finish line first. If you do predict the correct outcome, your wager will be eligible for a payout proportional to the offered odds and your stake size. While its mechanism is simple, the fact that this race is directly focused on the race outcome attracts experienced bettors as well.
- Place: This betting market works under a similar mechanism but offers lower risks if you prefer to take it slow or the horse you want to back has strong rivals in the race. The wager you place on that horse will win if the horse reaches the finish line within the winning top. In horse racing terms, such a result is called placement. The number of winning places typically ranges between two and four and depends on the number of runners competing in the race. It will be announced before the start of the race. As it is easier for a strong runner to be placed than to win, you have a higher chance of winning too. Moreover, you don’t have to predict the exact place your horse takes, which also increases the possibility of winning.
- First Two (or First Three): This betting market involves higher risks. Here you are betting on two (or three) horses to reach the finish line within the winning top. However, instead of placing a separate stake on each of them, you do it as a single bet. Besides naming the horses, you also have to define the exact order in which they will come to the finish line, and this is where the main risk of this bet lies. The runners don’t just have to end up in the winning top but they must do it in the order you specified in your bet. So if your bet says that horse A will be the winner, while horse B will take the second place, this is exactly what must happen on the track for your bet to win. A different order will result in you losing your wager, same as if one of the horses isn’t placed at all.
- Two From Three: This betting market follows a similar structure but involves lower risks. Here again, you are predicting two horses to finish the race in the top three. As a punter, you name two horses that in your opinion will take one of the first three places each. What works in your favour, reducing the risk, is that you don’t have to predict the exact place they take. As long as they both come to the finish line among the first three runners, you will be eligible for a payout. The only time you will lose your wager is if either or both of them completely miss the top three.
Always remember to gamble responsibly and treat betting as a form of entertainment and not means for financial gain.
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org