Younger crowd at HQ for record-breaking Guineas weekend

Newmarket's 18-24 customer base increased year-on-year by 28% as younger racegoers enjoyed a record-breaking weekend of racing at HQ.

The Rowley Mile welcomed more than 33,000 racegoers over the three days of the Betfred Guineas Festival this weekend.

A total of 33,385 racing fans were treated to some thrilling action on the track, including the first two Classics of the season, and some fantastic entertainment and hospitality off of it.

On Saturday, more than 18,000 racegoers watched Bow Echo win the Betfred 2000 Guineas for Newmarket trainer George Boughey and jockey Billy Loughnane, who at 34 and 20 years old respectively combined to become the youngest combination to land the race in the post-war era.

And on Sunday, trainer Aidan O’Brien landed the eighth Betfred 1000 Guineas of his career as True Love and jockey Wayne Lordan defeated 18 rivals in the second Classic of 2026.

Sophie Able, Newmarket Racecourses and International Director, said: "It’s been a fantastic three days on the Rowley Mile, with brilliant renewals of the Betfred 2000 and 1000 Guineas and highly competitive racing across the board.

“The team here have worked hard throughout the winter to put in place some new offerings and really focus on our customer experience, so it’s been especially rewarding to receive such great feedback from those visiting our new on-course pub, the Gallop Inn, and our walk-in restaurant, Little Italy.

“We are also delighted that so many young people have joined us over the three days, with figures showing that our 18-24 customer base increased year-on-year by 28%, demonstrating that racing at Newmarket continues to thrive and attract the next generation of racegoers.

“Our community offer on Friday was also really successful, with 18% more customers coming from within a 25-mile radius of the racecourse, and we were delighted to sell out our Premier Enclosure, Hospitality areas and Century Stand on Saturday, showing how popular these spaces continue to be.”

Able also thanked her grounds team and the festival’s sponsors, Betfred, adding: “We are hugely grateful to Fred Done and everyone at Betfred who continue to show such passion and commitment to British Racing and work tirelessly with us to help promote the event. Their support and that of all of our sponsors over the three days is vitally important and very much appreciated.

“I would also like to thank all of our hard-working and dedicated grounds team, led by Clerk of the Course, Andrew Morris, and Head Groundsman, Alan Hatherley. They have a huge task every year in delivering fantastic racing surfaces on both the Rowley Mile and the July Course and their jobs had been made even more difficult in the run-up to this weekend, with only one millimetre of rain falling between March 16th and the start of racing on Friday.”