Horse racing is the second-most attended sport in the United Kingdom, with racing only out-performed by football in terms of regular visitors passing through the turnstiles.
London has a rich horse racing history, and some of the most notable events on the calendar are held within a stone’s throw of the capital.
These create huge tourism opportunities, with some attracting visitors from across the globe to London for the first time.
You can find out more on how to wage on the races on these tracks here: https://www.twinspires.com/edge/racing/wagering/best-bets/
But, what are some of the closest horse racing tracks to the capital?
Kempton Park
Kempton Park is located just 13 miles west of Central London, and is one of the most important tracks over jumps in the country. The track is made up by 210 acres, with an all-weather track located on the inside of the turf course. Kempton is one of the most historically significant tracks in the UK, opening its doors for the first time in July 1978.
It was previously synonymous for hosting an Easter Meeting, before key trials for the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas were later added. However, nowadays, Kempton’s big meeting of the year is the Christmas fixture, held on December 26 and December 27. The feature of the two-day meet is the prestigious G1 King George VI Chase, which is a key trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The King George has been held annually since 1937, and it is has been by some of the legends of the National Hunt game. Among those include Kauto Star on five occasions, as well as Desert Orchid and Clan Des Obeaux. Last year’s winner was Hewick, who won a thrilling finish from Bravemansgame and Allaho.
Sandown
Sandown is another hugely significant track on the out-skirts of London and features top level prices on the flat and over jumps. It was opened to the public in 1875 after being built originally as a priory by Henry II.
It is also famous for hosting iconic music events, with UB40, Simply Red, and Girls Aloud all hosting shows at the racecourse. Sandown hosts the season-ending meet of the National Hunt campaign, with the Celebration Chase and Bet365 Gold Cup being the features. However, it is most famous for its flat racing throughout the season, with one of the most important Group Ones staged at Sandown.
The Eclipse Stakes has been run at Sandown since 1886, as horses aged three and older compete over a mile and a furlongs. It has seen some famous winners, with Classic winners typically lining up to make their first start in open company. That was evident earlier this year, as Derby winner City Of Troy won the race for Aidan O’Brien.
Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs is a location on the outskirts of London that is synonymous with horse racing action. The track is located near Epsom in Surrey, and is typically referred to as the ‘Downs. It boasts one of the biggest attendances annually, with over 130,000 visitors able to pass through the gates.
Epsom Downs is owned by the Jockey Club and Brian Finch has been the Chairman since 2022. It is a course that is no strangers to royals, with Queen Elizabeth II attending the Derby throughout her reign. Despite many graded races taking place throughout the season, few garner the excitement as the Derby. The Group One is the featured race of the flat season, and has been staged since 1780.
Horses aged three will compete over a mile and four furlongs, and it forms the middle leg of the Triple Crown. Such has been its historical significance, the term of the race has been borrowed by other races across the world- notable the Kentucky Derby. Superstars tend to win the Derby, and that was no different in 2024, as City Of Troy finished clear of Ambiente Friendly to give Aidan O’Brien a record extending tenth win in the race.
Royal Windsor
One of the most scenic racecourses around London comes in the form of Royal Windsor, which has hosted racing action since 1866. The track is located near the M3 and M4, and is one of just two figure-of-eight courses found within the United Kingdom.
This year is a significant one at the course, as Windsor celebrates the return of jumps racing in December for the first time since 1998. The featured races on the calendar at Windsor are the August Stakes and the Winter Hill Stakes, with the latter being the only Group 3 on the calendar at the course.
This flat race is contested over a mile and two furlongs, with runners aged three and older able to enter. The race has been won by some fine runners throughout history, including most recently, My Prospero, in 2024. Windsor has also achieved further newsworthy mentions after being used as a filming location for Last Orders, and also featuring in an episode of Midsomer Murders.