Flat Season
April to October 2025

As the calendar turns and the turf awakens, the Flat Racing season bursts into life, bringing with it speed, strategy, and the sheer thrill of top-class thoroughbred action. From seasoned campaigners to emerging two-year-olds, the Flat season is where legacies are built and dreams are realized.

What is Flat Racing?
Flat racing is the purest form of horse racing — a test of speed, stamina, and timing, with no jumps to clear. Races are run on level ground, typically on turf or all-weather surfaces, across a variety of distances, from sharp 5-furlong sprints to stamina-sapping 2-mile marathons.

Season Highlights
The Flat season is studded with iconic fixtures and Group 1 showdowns. Early spring often kicks off with Guineas Trials, leading into prestigious Classics like the 2000 Guineas, 1000 Guineas, The Derby, and The Oaks. Summer hosts major festivals like Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood, and the Ebor Festival at York, while autumn brings the season to a dramatic close with races like the St Leger and international spectacles such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders’ Cup.

Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th May – Guineas Festival, Newmarket

Friday 6th & Saturday 7th June – Derby Festival, Epsom

Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st June – Royal Ascot

Tuesday 29th July to Saturday 2nd August – Glorious Goodwood Festival

Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd August – Ebor Festival, York

Thursday 11th to Sunday 15th September – St Leger Festival, Doncaster

Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th October – Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Meeting, Longchamp

Friday 31st October & Saturday 1st November – Breeders Cup, Del Mar

Stars of the Turf
Every season brings a new cast of equine heroes and human talents. The top trainers and jockeys battle for championship titles, while stallions and mares aim to add black-type credentials to their pedigrees. It’s also a proving ground for the next generation, with two-year-old maidens often turning into Classic contenders come the next spring.

The Beauty of Variety
From the thunder of hooves down Newmarket’s Rowley Mile to the glamour of Ascot and the raw edge of all-weather nights, Flat racing delivers a spectrum of styles and stories. Tactics play a vital role — front-runners versus hold-up horses, the draw bias, ground conditions, and the clock all come into play.

Why it Matters
Flat racing isn’t just about the finish line — it’s about breeding, history, and global prestige. The outcomes shape future bloodlines, with champions often retiring to stud, influencing the next generation of runners. The season also brings together a global audience, uniting fans, punters, and horsemen in a celebration of equine excellence.