Goodwood Races Today – Get Goodwood Tips for Glorious Meeting & More

Five miles north of the cathedral city of Chichester in West Sussex, you’ll find Goodwood races today. The track on the South Downs is a key part of the Goodwood Estate. From high on Trundle Hill, the course sweeps round downhill gradients towards its grandstands.

Home to three Group 1 races during the headline Qatar Goodwood Festival, still best known as Glorious Goodwood every summer season, we take a detailed look at the track’s history and layout here. Our horse racing experts also profile the key fixtures and more races we have Goodwood tips on each year.

History of Goodwood Racecourse

Opening in 1801, the first public race meeting near Goodwood House, the seat of the Duke of Richmond, happened the following year. Its origins lay in the Sussex Militia officers needing to find somewhere else to race their horses after the Earl of Egremont stopped inviting them to Petworth Park.

With the Goodwood Hunt also effected, the Duke of Richmond stepped in. He allowed the Militia to race along The Harroway on his estate. This is a narrow ridge across the top of the South Downs. It proved so successful that in 1802, a three-day meeting that we know today as Glorious Goodwood opened to the public.

As the Nineteenth Century wore on, many of the feature races developed at the track. Starting with the Goodwood Cup in 1808, plenty of the Glorious meeting’s famous contests date back to the end of the Georgian era or beginning of the Victorian period. The Molecomb Stakes (1829), Stewards’ Cup, Nassau Stakes (both 1840) and Sussex Stakes (1841) all became established during this time.

Even this historic horse racing fixture stopped for the two World Wars. Goodwood races today are more popular than ever, though, and the meeting has expanded since the 19th Century from three days to five. Providing both competitive Stakes contests and valuable big field handicaps, there is something for every type of punter to bet on at this venue.

It’s this variety which adds to the appeal. Goodwood tips include juvenile only races including the Richmond Stakes (1877), Classic trials such as the Gordon Stakes (1902) and sprints like the King George Stakes (1911). Even after the Second World War, the track has continued to add and adapt its programme of racing action.

Are Goodwood Races Today Flat or Jumps?

Goodwood Racecourse is a Flat racing events only venue with 19 race days per year. More on the big meetings later. As tracks go, the layout is quite complex. Apart from the Sprint Course, which is straight, uphill for a furlong and downhill the rest of the way, races over seven furlongs or further are all right-handed and use either one of two bends that form a triangular loop entering the home stretch.

Before considering any horse racing tips for Goodwood, punters need to know about the different routes used for the exceptional events happening here. A seven-furlong race at the track uses the top bend, for example, yet mile contests run around the lower turn into the home straight.

Craven, Gratwicke, Bentinck & Cup Courses

The Craven Course at Goodwood races today is for mile-and-a-quarter events. This track also sees runners take the top bend, yet any race over a mile and three furlongs uses the bottom one. As for the Gratwicke Course over a mile-and-a-half, this climbs to the highest part of the track at Oak Tree Corner, takes a sweeping right-handed turn there and then down the top bend.

Mile-and-three-quarter races at Goodwood today use the Bentinck Course. Starting on the Craven Course, horses run up rather then down the track and then turn onto the Gratwicke Course and follow it round to Oak Tree Corner, again turning right and using the higher of the two bends into the home stretch.

Long-distance races including the Goodwood Cup and Goodwood Handicap actually start on the lower bend or even in the home straight, then onto the Bentinck Course in a loop. The best way of knowing which of the two home turns a race uses is in how the horses run after taking the bend at Oak Tree Corner. If running around the top, then they will tack over to the farside of the track under the treeline. For races using the bottom bend, then horses come away from that towards the nearside.

Key Goodwood Events & Fixtures

Starting with a Season Opener meeting over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, there are 19 different days dedicated racegoers or members of Goodwood Racecourse can attend each year. Separate from this is the May Festival fixture.

Also on a Bank Holiday of Whitsun, this meeting is the last in springtime at the track. Apart from some lower key evenings in June, the Qatar Goodwood Festival aka Glorious Goodwood then takes centre stage over the summer at the end of July and beginning of August.

Following those five days of the big Flat racing event, there’s more Bank Holiday action from the course at summer’s end. The Goodwood races August Bank Holiday Meeting is the only fixture at the track which has Group action on it.

Minor days of racing in September and October close out the annual calendar here. While Goodwood House remains open to the public, the course stages no sport in later autumn, over the winter or in early spring.

Glorious Goodwood Tips

One meeting here stands head and shoulders above all others. We’re talking about the Qatar Goodwood Festival to give it its sponsored title. It’s one of the biggest events in the sport in the United Kingdom, attracting runners from Ireland and mainland Europe.

In the tabs below, you can see a day by day breakdown of all Glorious Goodwood races today. We then provide a little more information about the most valuable contests during the fixture. It’s only logical for us to prioritise Goodwood Festival tips on these, because of their status.

We include today’s NAPs from Goodwood, so you can see the best bets on offer from the Glorious meeting. Look out for Next Best selections, recommended doubles, trebles and even more intriguing accumulators.

Sussex Stakes Tips

First up among the notable races at Goodwood today is the track’s most valuable contest. Currently run on the second day of the Glorious meeting, the Sussex Stakes over a mile is the first time during the British Flat season at Group 1 level that three-year-olds of both genders can take on their elders.

Inaugurated in 1841 and starting life as a six-furlong sprint, much of the race’s early history saw it as an age-restricted event. The Sussex Stakes became a mile race in 1878, but stayed closed to all ages but three-year-olds until 1960. Horses aged four then had it opened to them. From 1975 onwards, five-year-olds and up have been able to run in it too.

Goodwood tips for the Wednesday of the course’s marquee fixture focus on this feature race. Frankel is the only horse in Sussex Stakes history since it became a mile contest to win it twice. In 2024, Notable Speech prevailed in a field of five as first place came with £567,100 in prize money.

Nassau Stakes Tips

A fillies and mares only Group 1 race now on the middle day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The Nassau Stakes actually predates the Sussex Stakes by a year. Initially a mile contest only for three-year-olds and briefly upped to a mile-and-a-half in the Edwardian era, this race settled on its current mile-and-a-quarter distance in 1911.

In 1975, the Nassau Stakes opened to older females. Its roll of honour includes famous fillies such as Sceptre, Pretty Polly, Park Express, Ouija Board and Minding, but Midday is the record three-time winner.

Goodwood day 3 tips must consider form lines of different generations, but also remember the weight for age younger fillies receive from their elders just like in the Sussex Stakes. When Opera Singer held off See The Fire in 2024, she picked up a first prize of over £377,000 for Nassau Stakes success.

Goodwood Cup Tips

The oldest of all Glorious Goodwood races and the meeting’s opening day feature. When this long-distance race began in 1808, Britain prepared to land its army in Portugal for the Peninsular War. Initially over three miles, it is not such a gruelling test of equine stamina as that today.

In the Goodwood Cup, horses run over two miles now (since 1991) and it attained Grade 1 status in 2017. That same year, Stradivarius won the first of his record four consecutive victories in the contest.

All of the Flat staying greats have won the Goodwood Cup. This is because the race forms the second leg of the Stayers’ Triple Crown with the Ascot Gold Cup beforehand and Doncaster Cup afterwards.

While Goodwood tips for Tuesday include more than this test of staying power, it is the big race of the first day of the Glorious meeting. Kyprios enjoyed a second success in this in 2024 after missing much of the previous season injured. The champion stayer’s reward for regaining the Goodwood Cup was over £283,500 in prize money.

King George Stakes

Currently run as the King George Qatar Stakes for sponsorship reasons on the penultimate day of the Festival, this Group 2 sprint race over the flying five furlongs honours King George V. He effectively founded the House of Windsor when he changed the surname of the British Royal Family with the goal of making it more anglicised.

It commemorates the coronation of King George V earlier in 1911, the year of this race’s inauguration. Despite it not being the very highest level of competition, many top sprinters run here, because the contest falls about halfway between Royal Ascot and the Nunthorpe Stakes during the York races at the Ebor Festival.

Battaash holds the record in the King George Stakes with four consecutive wins. Goodwood day 4 tips must consider the fastest horses, but also the penalty structure of the race with Group 1 winners carrying most weight. Horses successful at Group 2 level before within a certain timeframe also have more to carry. As it’s open to three-year-olds and up, there is weight for age to factor in as well.

Big Evs took full advantage of this allowance in 2024. He held off late challenges from Australian mare Asfoora and George Boughey filly Believing, scooping nearly £180,000 for first place as a result.

Lillie Langtry Stakes

Not the biggest of Goodwood races today on the concluding card of the Glorious meeting, but a Group 2 long-distance event for fillies and mares over a mile-and-three-quarters. First run in 2003 as the Gladness Stakes, it became the Lillie Langry the following year.

She was a famous mistress of King Edward VII, who patronised Goodwood a lot especially during the Victorian period when he was Prince of Wales. As it’s open to females aged three and up, there can be multiple winners of the Lillie Langtry.

Goodwood tips for Saturday action must bear this in mind. Older fillies and mares carry more weight than the younger generation. Only three three-year-olds have won this since 2008, however, with it favouring more mature females. Term Of Endearment was five when she picked up the £170,130 first prize in 2024.

Stewards’ Cup

A Heritage Handicap over six furlongs dating back to 1840. This is the big betting race of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on its final day, which always attracts a large field with an end-to-end gallop on the sprint course.

The story goes that before establishing a perpetual race, Goodwood Racecourse stewards awarded a cup to the most impressive winner of the Glorious meeting during its early years. Six horses have won the race more than once.

Most Goodwood day 5 tips focus on the Stewards’ Cup with good reason. Successful horses must contend with draw bias with the stands’ rail often the place to be if there’s any rain softening the ground underfoot. Get It pulled off a 40/1 upset in 2024 for the MyRacehorse syndicate with connections receiving £128,850 prize money for first place.

Gordon Stakes

Inaugurated in the early 1900s, this is one of the only Goodwood races today that serves as a trial for the St Leger at Doncaster. Since the discontinuation of the March Stakes, the Gordon Stakes over a mile-and-a-half give three-year-olds the chance to prepare for the final Classic of the season in September.

Run on the third of five days at the Glorious meeting, it’s a Group 3 contest that can also prove informative for races like the Melbourne Cup. This is because geldings can run in the Gordon Stakes, but not the St Leger. Famous modern era winners include Commanche Run, Sixties Icon, Harbinger, Noble Mission, Ulysses and Crystal Ocean.

Jan Brueghel added his name to the roll of honour in 2024 and received almost £113,500 in prize money. Aidan O’Brien had previously won the Gordon Stakes with smart horses like Highland Reel and Mogul, so Goodwood tips for the Thursday undercard will always consider his runners.

Lennox Stakes

A Group 2 race over the specialists’ distance of seven furlongs next. The Lennox Stakes goes back to 2000, so it’s nothing like as old as most events on the Qatar Goodwood Festival programme. Part of the opening day card, it’s open to horses aged three and up.

So-called long sprints like the Lennox Stakes need Goodwood day 1 tips to help punters make sense of the runners lacking sufficient stamina for a mile, but the speed for six furlong. Into this bracket go dual race winners Nayyir, Sir Dancealot and Kinross.

Other notable horses successful in the Lennox Stakes include Paco Boy and Space Blues. Audience added his name to the roll of honour in 2024 and picked up first prize money of over £102,000 with victory.

Richmond Stakes

The first of our big Goodwood races today for two-year-old horses now. Goodwood House and its surrounding Estate belong to the Duke of Richmond, so it’s only natural there’s a raced name after the title. This is one day three of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and over six furlongs for colts and geldings only.

Dating back to 1877, the restriction on male runners in the Richmond Stakes is actually fairly recent. It closed to fillies in 1989, so Goodwood racing tips need not worry about female entries. Instead, looking over Royal Ascot tips and results of juvenile races and the July Stakes at Newmarket can provide clues for punters and tipsters alike.

Harbour Watch and Mehmas won the Richmond Stakes en route to successful careers at stud. Another notable name on its recent roll of honour is Golden Horde. Irish raider Black Forza emerged victorious in 2024 and received nearly £100,000 in prize money.

Vintage Stakes

Added to the Glorious Goodwood programme in 1975, this is another juveniles only race with two-year-olds tackling seven furlongs on the opening day. The Vintage Stakes now has Group 2 status and serves as a summer trial for autumn events like the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster races and Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes.

Goodwood horse tips here must include young horses with a pedigree including some stamina. While the track doesn’t have the stiffest seven furlongs in the world, the Vintage Stakes’ most famous winners like Troy, Shamardal, Sir Percy and Highland Reel ended up excelling at a mile and beyond later in their carers.

Joining such illustrious names in 2024 was Aomori City. His first prize matched the Richmond Stakes. In other words, winning the Vintage Stakes came with almost £100,000 for crossing the line in first place.

Golden Mile

Another of the Heritage Handicaps during the Qatar Goodwood Festival takes place on day four of the meeting. The Golden Mile, open to three-year-olds and up, is one of many such big races over the distance, slightly further or shorter to keep an eye on throughout the season.

Other Goodwood tips for Friday focus on pattern races and the long-distance Goodwood Handicap, but should never ignore this. Clues can be found in the Royal Hunt Cup and Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, as well as the Bunbury Cup during the July Festival at Newmarket races later on over the summer.

The Golden Mile often goes to older horses, despite three-year-olds benefitting from a weight for age allowance. Toimy Son took this race in 2024 and received £77,310 in prize money for Goodwood local trainer David Menuisier.

Glorious Stakes

Now run on the final day of the big meeting, this mile-and-a-half Group 3 only open to older horses was previously a limited handicap. Founded as the Alycidon Stakes in 1979 and renamed the Glorious Stakes in 1989, it closed to three-year-olds in 1993 when switching from a conditions race before reverting back a decade later and attained its current status in 2008.

Many of its notable winners are Goodwood race tips who have been brought along gently and with patience by their trainers. These include Sixties Icon, Pether’s Moon, Poet’s Word and Rebel’s Romance.

William Haggas, who has won three of the last five editions of the Glorious Stakes, saddled Al Aasy to victory in 2024, picking up £56,710 in prize money in the process. It’s the most fitting name among all Goodwood races today at the Festival.

Molecomb Stakes

Back to the races for two-year-old horses at the Qatar Goodwood Festival next. A Group 3 contest over the flying five furlongs dating right back to 1829, for much of its twentieth century history the Molecomb Stakes was a fillies only event.

All that changed in 1981, however, when male youngsters could again compete. You need a fast juvenile to win this and the best Goodwood day 2 tips know that only too well.

Marwell and Havana Grey are perhaps the most famous Molecomb Stakes winners of the modern era. Big Mojo followed in the hoofprints of stable companion Big Evs in landing this race for the Mick Appleby yard in 2024 and taking £56,710 home with him for first prize.

Oak Tree Stakes

A Group 3 race over seven furlongs for fillies and mares aged three and up, which has moved around a lot on the Glorious Goodwood schedule in recent years. The Oak Tree Stakes, as in Oak Tree Corner at the top of the course, currently takes place on the second day of the Festival.

Inaugurated in 1980 as the New Stand Stakes, then the Royal Wedding Day Stakes to commemorate the ill-fated nuptials of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, it settled on its present title in 1982. As with other races over this specialists’ distance, Goodwood tips today must focus on those faster than milers but not so fleet-footed as sprinters.

It took until 1999 for an older female to win the Oak Tree Stakes. This race often favours the younger generation and a stewards enquiry changed the result in 2024. Jabaara was first past the post, but the £56,710 first prize went to Raqiya after officials reviewed race footage.

Thoroughbred Stakes

Even more Group 3 action now, but over a mile this time and for three-year-olds only who haven’t won at the highest level before. Renamed the Thoroughbred Stakes from the Surplice Stakes in 1998, it earned promotion from Listed status in 2012.

Given the conditions of the race on the penultimate day of the Glorious meeting, Goodwood horse racing tips should look at later blooming horses of the age bracket here. Cape Cross and Baaeed stand out some way as the most famous winners of the Thoroughbred Stakes

Lead Artist, who went on to win the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury races the following spring, won this in 2024. It was a fifth victory in the Thoroughbred Stakes for John Gosden and second since son Thady joined him on the licence. Their horse won £56,710 in prize money.

Other Glorious Goodwood Handicaps

There are at least three more Class 2 handicaps worth over £50,000 to the winner during the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The Chesterfield Cup kicks off the Glorious meeting over a mile-and-a-quarter for older horses.

Later in the Festival is the Kincsem Handicap using the same course and distance for three-year-olds. Speaking of horses in that age bracket, their stamina is also tested in the Summer Handicap over a mile-and-three-quarters on the final day of the fixture.

Punters can expect Goodwood betting tips to include these events, as well as the stakes races and Heritage Handicaps during the meeting. This is because of the competitive nature of such action on the track.

Other Major Races We Give Goodwood Tips for

It’s not all about the Qatar Goodwood Festival at this venue, though, and there are other events during other meetings you should be aware of. While the vast majority of pattern races at Goodwood today take place at their premier fixture, here are some more for punters to note.

Celebration Mile

Headlining the August Bank Holiday meeting is this Group 3 mile race for horses aged three and up. The Celebration Mile dates back to 1967 with its present title adopted in 1989 and only two horses ever winning it more than once. They are Chic and Lightning Spear.

Of all Goodwood races today tips from outside the Glorious meeting, this is the most prestigious. Other notable winners include Brigadier Gerard, Selkirk, Mark Of Esteem, Cape Cross, Medicean, Raven’s Pass and Poet’s Voice. Ice Max, successful in 2024, received almost £90,000 in prize money.

Harroways Handicap

One of the notable Goodwood races in May now. A seven-furlong Class 2 handicap for three-year-olds named after the ridge atop the Goodwood Estate, the Harroways Handicap had a first prize in 2025 of £51,540.

Prestige Fillies’ Stakes

Back to the August Bank Holiday meeting for this one. A Group 3 race for juvenile fillies over seven furlongs dating back to 1974 and renamed this in 1989, Goodwood races tips must look at females with stamina here. First prize in 2024 was over £45,350.

Agnes Keyser Fillies’ Stakes

A Listed race over a mile-and-a-quarter for three-year-old fillies transferred from Newbury to Goodwood in 2023. Run in June on the weekend of The Derby at Epsom races, first prize in 2025 was nearly £39,700.

Tapster Stakes

Another Listed event in June, but over a mile-and-a-half and open to older horses. Goodwood racing tips today should see this as a trial for the Glorious Stakes during the Festival. Noble Mission and Hukum are notable winners. When the veteran Hamish landed this in 2025, he picked up almost £39,700 in prize money.

William Hill Handicap

More from the August Bank Holiday meeting, where there’s a seven-furlong handicap open to three-year-olds and up. With a first prize in 2024 of over £38,650, this will attract distance specialists to Goodwood.

Cocked Hat Stakes

An old-fashioned Derby trial that has reinvented itself in recent years as more of a pointer towards Royal Ascot. The Cocked Hat Stakes for three-year-olds colts and geldings is a Listed race taking place in May over the unique distance of a mile and three furlongs.

Originally the Predominate Stakes when established in 1970 at a mile-and-a-half, it picked up its present title in 2007. Troy, Dubai Millennium and Masked Marvel are famous winners of the Cocked Hat.

Any tips for Goodwood today from this race are also worth following in races like the Queen’s Vase, King Edward VII Stakes, Gordon Stakes and even the St Leger long-term. Amiloc, who won in 2025, received prize money of over £34,000 for Ralph Beckett.

Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes

More Listed action now, but from Goodwood’s Season Opener fixture. Inaugurated in 1997, the Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes over a mile is for three-year-old females and up. First prize in 2025 was a little over £34,000.

Daisy Warwick Fillies’ Stakes

And yet another Listed race from the Season Opener. This one has a longer trip of a mile-and-a-half and is only open to older fillies and mares. The Daisy Warwick carries similar prize money to the Conqueror.

Festival Stakes

During the May Festival, this Listed mile-and-a-quarter race for older horses takes place. Formerly the Mike Graham Stakes until 1996, Alderbrook joins Sixties Icon as a famous winner. Prize money in 2025 matched those of the Listed races at the Season Opener.

Foundation Stakes

September’s races at Goodwood today are more low key than what comes before. That is with the exception of the Foundation Stakes. Another Listed race but over a mile-and-a-quarter open to horses aged three and up, it had a first prize of over £34,000 in 2024.

Height Of Fashion Stakes

And finally, a historic trial for The Oaks. A Listed contest for three-year-old fillies only over a mile-and-a-quarter in May, this race began in 1972 as the Lupe Stakes. Queen Elizabeth II’s Height Of Fashion won it in 1982 and enjoyed a stellar post-racing career as a broodmare.

Goodwood decided to rename the race after her in 2007. The Height Of Fashion uses the Nassau Stakes course and distance, so is in theory a trial for fillies coming back here for the Glorious meeting. In 2025, first prize was over £34,000 for winning it.

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