It’s not long now until the amazing QIPCO Guineas Festival returns to Newmarket Racecourses’ Rowley Mile on 5th-6th May 2018 and it promises to be just as exciting as ever! There will not only be some amazing racing on the track, but also a huge amount of brilliant entertainment off the track, too!

The Racing

As ever, the Guineas Festival will feature the 2,000 Guineas and the 1,000 Guineas Group 1 races where some of the world’s most talented jockeys and fastest thoroughbreds will compete to be crowned this year’s winner.

The 2,000 Guineas is open to three-year olds and boasts an impressive role of honour, including the legendary Frankel. This year the unstoppable Aidan O’Brien will once again be vying to win the first Classic of the year with no less than three runners: Saxon Warrior, Gustav Klimt and US Navy Flag. However, with stiff competition from John Gosden’s Roaring Lion and Sir Michael Stoute’s Expert Eye, it is anything but a sure thing!

The 1,000 Guineas is the second British Classic of the season and is open to three-year-old fillies. As always, the race promises to be an exhilarating spectacle. With three of the favourites also racing out of Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle Stables (Clemmie, Happily and  September), it seems the Irish trainer has a good chance of repeating 2017’s winning performance. However, there are always others in the mix that have different things in mind, namely Karl Burke-trained Laurens and the French runner, Polydream.

The Entertainment

One thing The Jockey Club does very well is providing top-class entertainment off the track to match the standard of racing on the track. This year, the Apré Racing official Newmarket afterparty will be hosted by TV Presenter and Radio DJ, Reggie Yates, who will be spinning the tunes on Saturday, while Sunday’s entertainment will be brought to you by top UK beatboxing band, DUKE.

The Hospitality

As ever, there will be some absolutely amazing hospitality experiences on offer so you can make the Guineas Festival completely unforgettable!

The brilliant Winning Post Pavilion will be even better than usual this year with special guests from the world of sport appearing for the day.

On Saturday, guests will be joined by flat racing legend Lester Piggott, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest flat racing jockeys of all time, along with Grand National winning jockey, Bob Champion! The Sunday will feature past England Captain and all-round cricketing legend, Graham Gooch, along with Olympic Gold Medallist, Sam Quek.

In addition to this, the amazing Chez Roux will return to the Champions Gallery offering a premium fine dining experience with Michelin-starred French master, Albert Roux. Enjoy a Champagne reception, four-course lunch menu, Afternoon Tea and panoramic views overlooking the race track.

The Tour

For the ultimate QIPCO Guineas Festival experience, book yourself onto our exclusive Race Day Tour. This fantastic day will give you privileged access to Newmarket’s most famous landmarks and teach you all about the Home of Horseracing.

You will begin your day on the legendary Newmarket Gallops to watch strings of thoroughbreds being put through their paces up the famous Warren Hill. Following this you will be taken to the recently opened National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art where you can learn all about the science of bloodstock and the history behind the sport of horseracing. You can also admire a collection of some of the world’s finest equestrian and sporting art.

Finally, you will be taken to the Rowley Mile Racecourse where you will be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of all the most exclusive areas never usually open to the public. Our expert tour guide will tell you all the stories and history behind the Rowley Mile before leaving you to enjoy an afternoon’s racing wth your complimentary Premier tickets.

For more information on all the fantastic attractions on offer in Newmarket, call us on 0344 748 9200 or click here to browse our website.