A list of notable flat horse races which take place annually in Great Britain, under the authority of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), including all conditions races which currently hold Group 1, 2 or 3 status in the European Pattern.
The distances of the races are expressed in miles, furlongs and yards. In 2017 the BHA concluded a racecourse survey and remeasurement which led to some racecourses changing the exact distance of some races, or moving race start points to fit with advertised race distances. [1] The distances in the table below are exact distances. Race distances are often given to the nearest furlong: e.g. The Derby's exact distance is 1 mile 4 furlongs and 6 yards, but it is called a 1 mile 4 furlong race.
The races in bold are run on an all-weather surface.
Races are run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket unless 'Newmarket (July)' is written, in which the July Course is used.
| Month | Race Name | Racecourse | Distance | Value £K † | Age/Sex | 2026 winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | Lincoln Handicap | Doncaster | 1m | 150 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Betfred Handicap | Newmarket | 6f | 100 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Suffolk Stakes | Newmarket | 1m 1f | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| May | Betfred Handicap | Newmarket | 1m 6f | 100 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Chester Cup | Chester | 2m 2f 140y | 170 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Victoria Cup | Ascot | 7f | 100 | 4yo+ | |
| May | London Gold Cup | Newbury | 1m 2f | 100 | 3yo | |
| May | Silver Bowl | Haydock | 1m 37y | 100 | 3yo | |
| June | Epsom Dash | Epsom | 5f | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| June | Ascot Stakes | Ascot | 2m 3f 210y | 110 | 4yo+ | |
| June | Royal Hunt Cup | Ascot | 1m | 175 | 3yo+ | |
| June | King George V Stakes | Ascot | 1m 3f 211y | 110 | 3yo | |
| June | Britannia Stakes | Ascot | 1m | 120 | 3yo | |
| June | Wokingham Stakes | Ascot | 6f | 175 | 3yo+ | |
| June / July | Northumberland Plate | Newcastle | 2m 56y | 150 | 3yo+ | |
| July | Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap | Newmarket (July) | 6f | 100 | 3yo | |
| July | bet365 Handicap | Newmarket (July) | 1m 2f | 100 | 3yo | |
| July | bet365 Trophy | Newmarket (July) | 1m 6f | 100 | 4yo+ | |
| July | Bunbury Cup | Newmarket (July) | 7f | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| July | John Smith's Cup | York | 1m 2f 56y | 200 | 3yo+ | |
| July | LK Bennett Butterfly Mark Heritage Handicap | Ascot | 5f | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| July | International Stakes | Ascot | 7f | 150 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Golden Mile | Goodwood | 1m | 150 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Stewards' Cup | Goodwood | 6f | 250 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Sky Bet Knavesmire Handicap | York | 5f 89y | 120 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Sky Bet Stayers Handicap | York | 2m 56y | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| August | IRE Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies' Handicap | York | 5f | 100 | 3yo+ f | |
| August | Clipper Handicap | York | 7f 192y | 150 | 3yo+ | |
| August | British EBF Fillies' Handicap | York | 7f | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Sky Bet Handicap | York | 1m 3f 188y | 120 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies' Handicap | York | 1m 2f 56y | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Sky Bet Mile | York | 7f 192y | 100 | 3yo | |
| August | Lanark Silver Bell | Hamilton | 1m 4f 15y | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Melrose Handicap | York | 1m 5f 188y | 170 | 3yo | |
| August | Ebor Handicap | York | 1m 5f 188y | 500 | 4yo+ | |
| August | Constantine Handicap | York | 6f | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Sky Bet Finale Handicap | York | 1m 2f 56y | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Silent Pool Gin Handicap | Ascot | 1m 4f | 100 | 3yo | |
| September | Portland Handicap | Doncaster | 5f 143y | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Watergate Cup | Chester | 1m 7f 196y | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Ayr Gold Cup | Ayr | 6f | 180 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Cambridgeshire Handicap | Newmarket | 1m 1f | 175 | 3yo+ | |
| October | BetMGM Challenge Cup | Ascot | 7f | 180 | 3yo+ | |
| October | Old Rowley Cup | Newmarket | 1m 4f | 100 | 3yo | |
| October | Cesarewitch Handicap | Newmarket | 2m 2f | 175 | 3yo+ | |
| October | Coral Sprint Trophy | York | 6f | 100 | 3yo+ |
Criteria for inclusion;
| Month | Race Name | Racecourse | Distance | Class | Value £K † | Age/Sex | 2026 winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Winter Oaks Fillies' Handicap | Lingfield | 1m 2f | 2 | 110 | 4yo+ f | Morrophore |
| March | Rosebery Handicap | Kempton | 1m 2f 219y | 2 | 100 | 4yo+ | |
| April | Weekly £5 Free Bet With BetUK Handicap | Southwell | 6f 17y | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| April | Newbury Spring Cup | Newbury | 1m | 2 | 70 | 4yo+ | |
| April | All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap | Newcastle | 1m 2f 42y | 2 | 175 | 4yo+ | |
| April | All-Weather Championships Mile | Newcastle | 1m 5y | 2 | 150 | 4yo+ | |
| April | All-Weather Sprint | Newcastle | 6f | 2 | 150 | 4yo+ | |
| April | All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships | Newcastle | 6f | 2 | 150 | 3yo | |
| April | Fillies' And Mares' Championships | Newcastle | 7f 14y | 2 | 150 | 4yo+ | |
| April | All-Weather Championships Marathon | Newcastle | 2m 56y | 2 | 175 | 4yo+ | |
| April | Silver Arrow Handicap Stakes | Musselburgh | 7f 15y | 2 | 50 | 4yo+ | |
| April | Queen's Cup | Musselburgh | 1m 5f 216y | 3 | 50 | 4yo+ | |
| April | Scottish Sprint Cup | Musselburgh | 5f 1y | 2 | 70 | 4yo+ | |
| April | City and Suburban Handicap | Epsom | 1m 2f 17y | 2 | 45 | 4yo+ | |
| April | Great Metropolitan Handicap | Epsom | 1m 4f 6y | 3 | 25 | 4yo+ | |
| April | Esher Cup | Sandown | 1m | 2 | 45 | 4yo+ | |
| April | King Richard III Cup | Leicester | 6f | 2 | 50 | 4yo+ | |
| April | Bloomfields Horseboxes Handicap Stakes | Southwell | 2m 102y | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Thirsk Hunt Cup | Thirsk | 7f 218y | 2 | 50 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Border Minstrel Family Fun Day Handicap | Newcastle | 6f | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Jorvik Handicap | York | 1m 3f 188y | 2 | 65 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Hambleton Handicap | York | 7f 192y | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap | Newbury | 6f | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| May | BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap | Newbury | 1m | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| May | Harroways Handicap | Goodwood | 7f | 2 | 100 | 3yo | |
| May | Zetland Gold Cup | Redcar | 1m 2f 1y | 2 | 40 | 3yo+ | |
| May | Whitsun Cup | Sandown | 1m | 3 | 15 | 4yo+ | |
| June | Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap | Epsom | 1m 2f 17y | 2 | 100 | 4yo+ | |
| June | Trustatrader Handicap | Epsom | 1m 113y | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| June | Debenhams Handicap | Epsom | 7f 3y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| June | 3YO Dash | Epsom | 5f | 3 | 75 | 3yo | |
| June | Northern Dancer Handicap | Epsom | 1m 4f 6y | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| June | Lester Piggott Handicap | Epsom | 1m 2f 17y | 2 | 75 | 3yo | |
| June | JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap | Epsom | 6f 3y | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| June | Macmillan Sprint | York | 6f | 2 | 125 | 3yo | |
| June | Copper Horse Handicap | Ascot | 1m 6f 34y | 2 | 110 | 4yo+ | |
| June | Kensington Palace Stakes | Ascot | 7f 213y | 2 | 110 | 4yo+ f | |
| June | Buckingham Palace Stakes | Ascot | 7f | 2 | 110 | 3yo+ | |
| June | Duke of Edinburgh Stakes | Ascot | 1m 3f 211y | 2 | 110 | 3yo+ | |
| June | Sandringham Stakes | Ascot | 1m | 2 | 110 | 3yo f | |
| June | Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes | Ascot | 5f | 2 | 110 | 3yo | |
| June | Golden Gates Stakes | Ascot | 1m 1f 212y | 2 | 110 | 3yo | |
| June | Carlisle Bell | Carlisle | 7f 173y | 4 | 30 | 3yo+ | |
| June / July | Gosforth Park Cup | Newcastle | 5f | 2 | 60 | 3yo+ | |
| July | Coral Challenge | Sandown | 1m | 2 | 125 | 3yo+ | |
| July | bet365 Handicap Stakes | Haydock | 1m 6f 1y | 2 | 100 | 3yo | |
| July | Old Newton Cup | Haydock | 1m 3f 175y | 2 | 150 | 3yo+ | |
| July | Highbet Wimbledon Sports Welcome Offer Handicap | Southwell | 4f 214y | 2 | 75 | 3yo | |
| July | Back The Super Boost At BetVictor Handicap | Newbury | 2m 110y | 2 | 80 | 3yo+ | |
| July | Racing League Race 7 Handicap | Yarmouth | 1m 2f 23y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| July | Sky Bet Dash | York | 6f | 2 | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| July / Aug | Chesterfield Cup | Goodwood | 1m 1f 197y | 2 | 100 | 4yo+ | |
| July / Aug | Kincsem Handicap | Goodwood | 1m 1f 197y | 2 | 100 | 3yo | |
| July / Aug | Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap | Goodwood | 5f | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| July / Aug | Coral Pipped At The Post Winners Handicap | Goodwood | 1m 3f 218y | 2 | 75 | 3yo | |
| July / Aug | British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Handicap | Goodwood | 1m 1f 197y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ f | |
| August | Racing League Race 11 Handicap | Wolverhampton | 6f 21y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Goodwood Handicap | Goodwood | 2m 4f 97y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Summer Handicap | Goodwood | 1m 6f | 2 | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Whispering Angel Handicap Stakes | Goodwood | 7f | 2 | 75 | 3yo | |
| August | Racing League Race 17 Handicap | Chepstow | 7f 16y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Shergar Cup Dash | Ascot | 5f | 2 | 80 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Shergar Cup Stayers | Ascot | 1m 7f 209y | 2 | 80 | 4yo+ | |
| August | Shergar Cup Challenge | Ascot | 1m 3f 211y | 2 | 80 | 4yo+ | |
| August | Shergar Cup Sprint | Ascot | 6f | 2 | 80 | 3yo | |
| August | Shergar Cup Classic | Ascot | 1m 3f 211y | 3 | 80 | 3yo | |
| August | Shergar Cup Mile | Ascot | 7f 213y | 2 | 100 | 4yo+ | |
| August | Sprint Series Final | Windsor | 6f 12y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Racing League Race 28 Handicap | Windsor | 1m 2f | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Great St. Wilfrid Stakes | Ripon | 6f | 2 | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Grey Horse Handicap | Newmarket (July) | 6f | 4 | 20 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Sky Bet Nursery Handicap | York | 6f | 2 | 100 | 2yo | |
| August | Mews Hotel EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap | York | 7f | 2 | 100 | 2yo | |
| August | Racing League Race 35 Handicap | Newcastle | 7f 14y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap | Goodwood | 7f | 2 | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| August | Racing League Race 42 Handicap | Southwell | 4f 214y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| Aug / Sep | Livescore Bet Handicap | Chester | 7f 127y | 2 | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Betfair Plays In A Different League Handicap | Haydock | 1m 6f 1y | 2 | 100 | 3yo | |
| September | Old Borough Cup | Haydock | 1m 6f 1y | 2 | 100 | 3yo+ | |
| September | London Mile Series Final | Kempton | 1m | 2 | 80 | 3yo+ | |
| September | London Sprint Series Final | Kempton | 6m | 2 | 80 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Schwepps Handicap | Ascot | 7f | 2 | 80 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Mallard Handicap | Doncaster | 1m 6f 115y | 2 | 70 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Autumn Cup | Newbury | 1m 5f 61y | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| September | Dubai Duty Free Handicap | Newbury | 1m 2f | 2 | 75 | 3yo+ | |
| October | Balmoral Handicap | Ascot | 1m | 2 | 200 | 3yo+ | |
| November | London Middle Distance Series Final | Kempton | 1m 2f 219y | 2 | 80 | 3yo+ | |
| November | November Handicap | Doncaster | 1m 3f 197y | 2 | 70 | 3yo+ | |
| December | London Stayers' Series Final | Kempton | 1m 7f 218y | 2 | 80 | 3yo+ |
Criteria for inclusion;
| Month | Race Name | Racecourse | Status | Distance | Class | Value £K† | Age/Sex | 2026 winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | SBK Road to Cheltenham Novice Stakes | Southwell | Novice | 1m 4f 14y | 2 | 40 | 4yo+ | Constitution Hill |
| February | European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes | Kempton | Conditions | 1m | 3 | 60 | 3yo | Hidden Force |
| March | Brocklesby Stakes | Doncaster | Novice | 5f 3y | 2 | 40 | 2yo | |
| March | British EBF Fillies' Conditions Stakes | Kempton | Conditions | 1m | 2 | 30 | 3yo f | |
| March | British EBF Conditions Stakes | Kempton | Conditions | 1m | 2 | 30 | 3yo c&g | |
| April | Cardinal Stakes | Chelmsford | Conditions | 1m | 2 | 100 | 3yo | |
| April | Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes | Newmarket | Maiden | 1m | 2 | 20 | 3yo | |
| April | bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes | Newmarket | Conditions | 7f | 2 | 30 | 3yo | |
| April | bet365 Conditions Stakes | Chelmsford | Conditions | 6f | 2 | 75 | 3yo | |
| May | John Dunlop EBF Conditions Stakes | Goodwood | Conditions | 1m | 2 | 30 | 3yo f | |
| May | Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes | Chester | Conditions | 5f 15y | 2 | 50 | 2yo | |
| May / June | Hilary Needler Trophy | Beverley | Conditions | 5f | 2 | 50 | 2yo f | |
| May / June | Two Year Old Trophy | Beverley | Conditions | 5f | 2 | 50 | 2yo c&g | |
| June | Woodcote Stakes | Epsom | Conditions | 6f 3y | 2 | 75 | 2yo | |
| June | Queen Alexandra Stakes | Ascot | Conditions | 2m 5f 143y | 2 | 110 | 4yo+ | |
| July / Aug | Alice Keppel Fillies' Stakes | Goodwood | Conditions | 5f | 2 | 75 | 2yo f | |
| August | Bentinck Conditions Stakes | Goodwood | Conditions | 1m 1f 11y | 2 | 75 | 4yo+ | |
| August | British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes | Goodwood | Maiden | 7f | 2 | 75 | 2yo | |
| August | Convivial Maiden Stakes | York | Maiden | 7f | 2 | 100 | 2yo | |
| September | Full Of Surprises Fillies' Conditions Stakes | Newbury | Conditions | 7f | 2 | 30 | 2yo f | |
| September | Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes | Newbury | Conditions | 1m | 2 | 30 | 2yo c&g | |
| September | British EBF £100,000 2yo Fillies' Series Final | Goodwood | Conditions | 7f | 2 | 100 | 2yo f | |
| October | British EBF £100,000 Final | York | Conditions | 7f | 2 | 100 | 2yo c&g | |
| October | British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes | Ascot | Conditions | 6f | 2 | 250 | 2yo |
| Month | Race Name | Racecourse | Distance | Age/Sex | 2026 winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | Weatherbys Super Sprint | Newbury | 5f 34y | 2yo | |
| August | Harry's Half Million By Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes | York | 6f | 2yo | |
| August | Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes | Newmarket (July) | 6f | 2yo | |
| September | Weatherbys Scientific 2yo Stakes | Doncaster | 6f 111y | 2yo | |
| October | Tattersalls October Auction Stakes | Newmarket | 6f | 2yo |
| First Run | Race Name | Racecourse | Distance | Age/Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1751 | Great Subscription Purse | York | 4m | 4yo+ |
| 1757 | 1200 Guineas Stakes | Newmarket | 3m 6½f | 5yo |
| 1758 | 1400 Guineas Stakes | Newmarket | 4m 1½f | 4yo |
| 1808 | Claret Stakes | Newmarket | 2m | 4yo |
| 1810 | Epsom Gold Cup | Epsom | 1m 4f | 3yo+ |
| 1815 | Riddlesworth Stakes | Newmarket | 1m | 3yo |
| 1815 | Port Stakes | Newmarket | 1m 7½f | 4yo |
| 1878 | Rous Memorial Stakes | Ascot | 1m | 3yo+ |
| 1888 | Lancashire Plate | Manchester | 7f / 1m | 2yo+ |
† Prize money figures in italics are from last season.