Overview
Ayr Racecourse is a dual purpose track racing all year round with the Flat season normally running from May through to October and the Jumps from November until April.
The two highlights of the respective seasons are the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival in April and the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Festival in September.
But with around 30 fixtures every year there are numerous racedays and nights to enjoy and sample the delights of Scotland’s premier racecourse.
It’s always a busy Flat season at Ayr with multiple meetings in May and in June culminating with the Unite Scotland Summer Raceday on June 22nd and then into July which is the busiest month of the year at the track.
The Family Day on Sunday 7th July combines six exciting races with childrens’ entertainment which is all free and under 18s go free if accompanied by an adult.
There is also racing on Mondays July 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st with Glasgow Fair Family Day on the 15th featuring the Ayr Gold Cup Trial over six furlongs which was introduced in 2022 and also including lots of free childrens’ entertainment..
August’s feature raceday is Scottish Sun Ladies Night on Saturday 10th which has always been a popular evening combining great fashion, top class racing and exciting entertainment .
The Ayr Gold Cup Festival runs from Thursday September 19 until Saturday September 21 and is the jewel in the crown of the flat racing season in Scotland with Saturday’s Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup the highlight of the week and one of the richest sprint handicaps in Europe.
Other principal races on Saturday include Scotland’s only Group race the Firth Of Clyde Stakes, The Ayr Silver Cup and The Doonside Cup, Listed Race. The Kilkerran Cup is the Thursday feature with Friday’s action headlined by the Ayr Bronze Cup and also featuring two Listed Races the British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes and the Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes.
The Flat season concludes with racing on Tuesday October 1st and Thursday October 10th.
Then the Jumps season kicks off on Monday October 28th with plenty of further fixtures before the end of the year including the final Saturday meeting of the year on the 2nd November.
Into 2025 and New Year’s Raceday on Thursday January 2nd is traditionally a highlight of the season and a perfect way to end the Festivities.
Other Jumps fixtures will follow in January, February and March with dates to be confirmed before the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival in April which features two days of high quality racing featuring the Coral Scottish Grand National and the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle on Saturday plus the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase on Friday along with top class supporting races both days.
