Great Yarmouth Races

The racecourse features an oblong track of around 1 and ¾ miles and 2 long straights of around 5 furlongs.

The track is left-handed and is used for flat racing only through the summer months and due to its location near to the popular seaside resort of Great Yarmouth, many of the race meetings at the track are focused around bank holidays, school holidays and on weekends.

The makeup of cliental also gives the course an almost festival feel for each event and it is also popular with families.

The most notable race to be held at Great Yarmouth is the John Musker Fillies Stakes which takes place in September and is run of 1 miles 2 furlongs and 21 yards.

With so much action coming from Great Yarmouth race track make sure you miss no races by signing up to our Yarmouth Racing Live Stream live streaming partners and watch every race from every meeting live online.

Great Yarmouth racecourse, more commonly known simply as Yarmouth racecourse, is one of the oldest racecourses in England.

The first recorded race to be held in the popular Norfolk seaside resort was way back in 1715 although it was not until 1810 when a semi-permanent racing calendar was established and it took until 1866 for regular racing to take place in Yarmouth.

After world war one, the course was moved to the outskirts of the resort, where it continues to offer great racing throughout the summer.

The most valuable race to be run at Yarmouth is the John Musker Fillies Stakes, which is run over a mile and a quarter in September.

The proximity of the track to Newmarket allows it to attract some of the best up and coming young horses including the likes of Dubai Millennium, who won on his Yarmouth debut before becoming a worldwide star. Ouija Board also won at Yarmouth and went onto win the English Oaks, the Irish Oaks and raced in the breeders Cup.

Wilko, Raven’s Pass and Donativum are amongst others horse to have raced at the track before going onto international fame but no matter if you want to watch out for stars of the future or to simply watch your backed horse to victory, it has never been easier to watch live racing from Yarmouth.

Whilst there is a minimum wager requirement to watch the action via the online bookmakers featured on this page, we are sure that if you are interesting in watch live racing from Great Yarmouth, the chances are that you will also be wanting to bet on the action.

If you have already bet on races from Yarmouth using a bookie who does not offer the option to watch live, make sure your next bet is one of the bookies featured here and cheer your horse as it races around the turf of Great Yarmouth.

Racing from Yarmouth has never been easier to live online and it has never been a better track for racing to take place at as the course has undergone a number of improvements since been taken over by the now Arena Racing Company with a new grandstand helping to create a great atmosphere to give the horses and jockeys the best possible venue to perform at their very best and to give us all some exiting racing that is simply a must watch.

Horse Racing in Great Yarmouth was likely established in the 1600’s and more than likely held on a stretch of beach in or near to the town but the first recorded racing action took place in 1715 when a lease was granted to the Great Yarmouth Corporation from some land where racing could be held.

At this stage, Yarmouth racing was intermittent and often coincided with the town fair and other events held in the seaside resort.

It wasn’t until 1810 when an official racing calendar in the town was established and thoroughbred racing was quickly to become a big part of the social scene in the town.

Back then, the course was located on the South Denes, where it stayed until just after the break for the first world war. In 1920, racing moved to the North Denes and 2 of the grandstands at the former location were taken down and rebuilt at the new course.

Even to this very day, the course is a friendly course that is a big part of the community in and around Yarmouth and whilst it retains a local feeling, it attracts racegoers from all over, especially during the summer months when the resort welcomes visitors on their summer holidays.

Much of that community feel to the track can be perhaps put down to the fact that it was owned by the resorts local authority in 1904 and for much of its history it was used to attract entertainment events to the town and the profits reinvested to help keep rates down.

The course saw a momentous occasion occur in 1998 but few at the track that day perhaps even realised it. The Godolphin Stable sent a young horse called Dubai Millennium to the course under the control of star jockey Frankie Dettori and on its debut it won before going onto to be a global star.

Another horse to enjoy success at the course and to go onto global stardom was Ouija Board, who of course went on to win the English Oaks, the Irish Oaks and the US Breeder Cup amongst other huge races.

In 2001, the course was sold to Northern Racing as a number of improvements were needed at the course, including upgrades of racing facilities and spectator facilities, especially the need to upgrade or change the aging grandstands.

In 2012, the course merged with the Arena Racing Company who have continued to invest in the track including in the main race to be held at the course which is the John Musker Fillies Stakes which is run every September.

The Eastern Festival and the modern racecourse

The Eastern Festival has developed into the highlight of Great Yarmouth Racecourse’s annual programme. Held over three days in September, the festival combines high-quality racing with themed events and a lively social atmosphere.

The John Musker Fillies’ Stakes is the central sporting attraction, while Gents Day and Ladies Day add a social dimension to the meeting. The festival draws visitors from across the region and helps extend the town’s visitor season into September, when the main summer holiday period has ended.

In addition to the festival, the racecourse hosts themed summer meetings, afternoon fixtures and evening racing. Selected events include music and family entertainment, broadening the venue’s appeal beyond established racing enthusiasts.

Facilities have also developed to support modern racegoers. The course offers grandstands, bars, food outlets, restaurant facilities, hospitality spaces and areas for families. Its role extends beyond racing, with the venue also available for functions and other events outside the main fixture calendar.

Great Yarmouth Racecourse today

Today, Great Yarmouth Racecourse remains an important part of Norfolk’s sporting and tourism landscape. It hosts a summer programme of flat racing and attracts established trainers, leading jockeys and promising young horses. The course’s straight mile, coastal location and connection with the Newmarket training community give it a distinctive position among British racecourses.

The 2026 fixture calendar includes meetings from April to October, with the three-day Eastern Festival scheduled for 15–17 September. The programme also includes themed events such as Ladies Evening, family entertainment and the season finale. Dates and event details can change, so visitors should consult the official racecourse website before making travel arrangements.

From the first recorded meetings in 1715 to the modern racecourse at North Denes, Great Yarmouth has maintained a racing tradition that spans more than 300 years. Its history reflects changes in transport, industry, leisure and the organisation of British flat racing. The move in 1920, the introduction of the John Musker Fillies’ Stakes in 1993 and Dubai Millennium’s memorable debut in 1998 are among the milestones that have shaped its identity.

For today’s visitors, Great Yarmouth Races offer the opportunity to experience this heritage in a relaxed coastal setting. Whether attending the Eastern Festival, enjoying an evening meeting or discovering the sport for the first time, racegoers become part of a tradition that has connected horses, spectators and the Norfolk coast for generations.