Newcastle Races

Horse racing in the North East has a long history with Killingworth hosting racing as far back as the early 17th century. The iconic Northumberland Plate was first run at Town Moor in 1833 and transfers to Gosforth Park in 1882.

Since the turn of the century the racecourse has been transformed into a leading racecourse, with new facilities, improved standards or races and the transformation of the flat turf course into an all-weather track.

The biggest meeting held at Newcastle in the Northumberland Plate, which takes place every year in June. Other notable races include the Eider Chase (a handicap chase run over 4 miles and 1 furlong in February), the Chipchase Stakes (a Group 3 flat race run over 6 furlongs in June) and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle (a Group 1 hurdle run over 2 miles in November).

Racing in the north east city of Newcastle has a long and storied history with Newcastle racecourse first opening in 1882 in Gosforth Park but racing in the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne goes back even further.

Racing first began in Newcastle in Killingworth in the early 17th century and it was there that the King’s Plate was instigated by George II in 1753 with that race moving to the current site in 1882.

The first ever Northumberland Plate, which is now the biggest race run at Newcastle, was held at Town Moor until 1881 when it transferred to the Gosforth Park and a new grandstand, stabling and a chase course was built to host top class horse racing in the city.

Whilst lots of changers and upgrades were made to the track over the years it was not until avid Williamson joined the course as managing director whew the fortunes of Newcastle racecourse really started to improve.

He helped the track to reach record profits and to be able to attract bigger names in terms of horses, jockeys, trainers and owners to the course.

In 2013 the decision was made to change the flat course at Newcastle to an all-weather track but to keep a turf track for the jump racing course to allow for both flat and national hunt racing to happen throughout the year.

There are a number of notable races to be held at Newcastle but it is the iconic Northumberland Plate which is the standout race on the calendar at Newcastle and it is that race that draws the attention of the racing world to the north east.

The great news for fans is that you can now watch all of the action from Newcastle racecourse live via our Newcastle races live stream partners.

All of the bookies on this page allow you to watch Newcastle racing live via Newcastle horse racing live streams.

Whilst there is a wagering requirement needed to be able to watch racing from Newcastle live, the chances are that if you are wanting to watch Newcastle races live, you are also wanting to bet on the action so why not bet at a bookie who allows you to watch the action live?

If you are wanting to watch Newcastle races today live online, then you can do just that via the great racing stream services found on this page.

The north-east city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is known for its fanatical support of its sporting teams and no matter if you are at St James Park watching the footy or at Kingston Park watching the Newcastle Thunder play Rugby League, the players that take to the field known that their fans will give them complete support- so long as they give their all.

The same can be said for the racing fraternity in the city as the trainers, owners and jockeys based in and around the city, alongside those who head regularly to the track, know that they simply must give their all.

For us fans of the sport of horse racing, that means we can always expect fantastic racing action from the course and if there is a race meeting happening today, make sure that you miss none of the action by registering with one of the fantastic live stream services found on this very page that allow you to watch Newcastle races today live online.

History of Newcastle Racecourse

Early racing in the North East

The history of Newcastle Races stretches back considerably further than the opening of the modern racecourse at High Gosforth Park. Horse racing has been part of the North East’s sporting culture for centuries, with early contests taking place around Killingworth, north of Newcastle, during the seventeenth century. These meetings reflected the popularity of horse racing among local communities and the region’s established connections with horses and country sports.

One of the most important early milestones in the region’s racing history was the development of the Northumberland Plate. The race was first run in 1833 on Newcastle’s Town Moor, an extensive area of open land traditionally used for public recreation and sporting events. Its creation helped establish a major annual racing occasion that would eventually become synonymous with Newcastle.

The Northumberland Plate originally took place on a turf course and attracted horses competing over a long distance. Its handicap format, in which runners carry different weights according to the conditions and their assessed ability, helped create competitive fields and unpredictable finishes. The race quickly became an important part of the regional sporting calendar.

Racing on Town Moor was relatively open compared with the enclosed racecourses that became increasingly common during the nineteenth century. Changes in the organisation of British racing created demand for dedicated venues with controlled entry, improved facilities and the ability to generate revenue for prize money and development. Newcastle would soon follow this wider trend.

1880–1882: The move to High Gosforth Park

The establishment of Newcastle Racecourse at High Gosforth Park was the result of a deliberate effort to create a permanent, purpose-built racing venue. In 1880, racing promoters Charles Perkins and John Scott acquired the 807-acre High Gosforth Park estate from Thomas Eustace Smith. The land was then transferred to the High Gosforth Park Company, which was formed to develop a racecourse and pleasure park.

The new site offered substantially more space than the traditional Town Moor venue. It also allowed organisers to build grandstands, stabling and other facilities required for a modern racecourse. The estate’s existing buildings, including Gosforth House, were incorporated into the development, helping establish the character of the new venue.

Preparatory activities began before the first horse race. In March 1881, the enclosed grounds were opened for hare coursing, an activity that involved greyhounds pursuing hares. The wider estate was also developed for leisure and recreation, reflecting the original ambition to create a destination offering more than racing alone.

The first horse racing meeting at High Gosforth Park took place on 10 April 1882. This date marks the beginning of Newcastle Racecourse at its current location. A new flat and steeplechase course, grandstand facilities and stabling for approximately 100 horses formed part of the original development.

The Northumberland Plate moved from Town Moor to High Gosforth Park in 1882, bringing the region’s best-known race to the new venue. The transfer connected the historic contest with the racecourse that would become its permanent home and helped establish Newcastle’s position in British horse racing.

The Northumberland Plate and the Pitmen’s Derby

The Northumberland Plate has been central to Newcastle Racecourse’s identity for more than a century. First run in 1833, the race predates the present venue by nearly five decades. Its nickname, the Pitmen’s Derby, reflects its historic association with the coal-mining communities of Northumberland and County Durham.

For many years, the race meeting was linked to the miners’ holiday week, and local workers treated the occasion as a major annual celebration. The race was traditionally run on a Wednesday, helping establish its place in the region’s working and social calendar. The meeting was more than a sporting event; it was a shared community occasion that brought together families, friends and racing enthusiasts.

The Northumberland Plate’s connection with local mining culture became an enduring part of its identity. Although the region’s industrial landscape has changed substantially, the historic nickname remains widely recognised and helps distinguish the race from other major British handicaps.

In 1949, the meeting ceased to be a miners’ holiday. The Plate moved to a Saturday in 1952, reflecting changing working patterns and the wider evolution of British racing fixtures. The new scheduling helped make the event more accessible to a broader audience and contributed to its modern role as a major summer racing festival.

The race has continued to evolve in distance, conditions and prize money over its long history. Today, it is a two-mile handicap contested on Newcastle’s Tapeta all-weather surface. It remains one of the most prestigious long-distance handicaps in the British flat racing calendar.

Twentieth-century development and major changes

Newcastle Racecourse underwent several changes during the twentieth century as racing facilities developed and spectator expectations evolved. The original grandstand formed part of the early Gosforth Park complex, with later buildings and improvements expanding the venue’s capacity and facilities.

A fire damaged the grandstand in 1915. A replacement stand, built on a brick base, was constructed around 1921 to the east of Gosforth House. The incident was a significant setback, but the rebuilding work helped the racecourse continue operating and adapting to the needs of its visitors.

Another major fire occurred in 1962. Two new stands opened in April 1965 on either side of the surviving section of the original main stand, providing an updated spectator environment. These developments reflected the continuing need to modernise the course while preserving its long-standing place in the North East’s sporting life.

During this period, Newcastle continued to stage both flat and National Hunt racing. The variety of racing helped the course maintain a broad audience, from spectators following leading stayers and jumpers to those interested in the speed and tactical demands of flat racing.

The Eider Chase became another important part of the venue’s identity. This long-distance steeplechase is traditionally staged in February and tests horses over a demanding course. Its reputation as a race for stayers complements the Northumberland Plate’s emphasis on stamina, while the Fighting Fifth Hurdle provides a high-profile contest for leading hurdlers in the early winter.

2016: The introduction of the Tapeta all-weather track

One of the most significant changes in Newcastle Racecourse’s modern history occurred in 2015 and 2016, when the turf flat track was replaced by a new Tapeta all-weather surface. The redevelopment involved a substantial investment by Arena Racing Company, the operator of Newcastle Racecourse, and was designed to transform the venue’s flat racing facilities.

Tapeta is a synthetic racing surface developed to provide consistent footing across a range of weather conditions. It incorporates materials including silica sand, fibres and wax, creating a surface that differs from natural turf. Its use allows flat racing to take place during colder months and periods when weather might otherwise make turf racing difficult.

The new track opened a fresh chapter for Newcastle. The venue became a major year-round flat racing destination, with floodlit fixtures allowing meetings to take place during the darker months. Its straight-mile configuration is particularly distinctive, and the racecourse describes it as the only floodlit all-weather straight mile in Europe.

The change also helped establish Newcastle as an important venue for the All-Weather Championships. The series brings together leading horses across several racing categories, with Finals Day taking place on Good Friday. Newcastle first hosted the finals in 2022 after the event had previously been held at Lingfield Park.

The all-weather redevelopment did not remove Newcastle’s National Hunt identity. The venue retained its turf jumping course, meaning it could continue to stage its established steeplechases and hurdle races alongside the expanded flat programme. The result was a dual-code racecourse with a wider range of fixtures and a stronger year-round presence.

2019: Newcastle stages a Group 1 flat race

In December 2019, Newcastle played a significant role in British flat racing when it hosted the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. The race had originally been scheduled for Doncaster but was transferred after waterlogging made the course unsuitable for racing.

The contest was staged on Newcastle’s Tapeta surface, marking a major moment for all-weather racing because it brought a Group 1 flat race to a synthetic track in Britain. The winner was Kameko, trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisin Murphy. Kameko subsequently developed into a leading three-year-old, winning the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2020.

The event demonstrated the value of Newcastle’s modern facilities and the potential for an all-weather course to accommodate elite-level racing when circumstances require it. It also reinforced the venue’s position as a significant part of the national racing infrastructure.

Newcastle Racecourse today

Today, Newcastle Racecourse is one of Britain’s busiest racing venues, staging more than 80 fixtures in a typical year. Located within the 812-acre High Gosforth Park estate, it combines a Grade 1 National Hunt course with a floodlit Tapeta flat track.

Its annual programme includes the Northumberland Plate Festival in June, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in late autumn, the Eider Chase in winter and the All-Weather Championships Finals on Good Friday. The calendar also features Ladies Day, evening meetings and other events designed to appeal to different audiences.

Beyond racing, the High Gosforth Park estate includes hospitality and venue-hire facilities, making it a destination for conferences, celebrations and other events throughout the year. The racecourse has continued to develop its visitor experience while maintaining its connection with the North East’s sporting heritage.

From the early races at Killingworth and the Northumberland Plate’s beginnings on Town Moor in 1833 to the opening of Gosforth Park in 1882 and the introduction of Tapeta in 2016, Newcastle Racecourse has continually adapted to changes in British racing. Its history combines Victorian development, industrial traditions, sporting milestones and modern innovation.

For today’s visitors, Newcastle Races offer the chance to experience this history first-hand. The Northumberland Plate remains a link to the region’s mining communities, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle showcases elite jump racing, and the all-weather track keeps the venue active throughout the year. More than 140 years after racing began at High Gosforth Park, Newcastle Racecourse continues to bring together horses, jockeys and spectators for the same essential reason: the excitement of a race and the possibility of witnessing something memorable.