It hasn’t been the best of seasons for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur, but they could yet salvage their campaign with Europa League final success against Manchester United.
For many Spurs fans, they will be looking to take their attention away from soccer once the season comes to an end, and there are few better sporting events to attend outside of the sport than horse racing.
Fortunately, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is situated within striking distance of major railway links, meaning that there is excellent selection of racecourses that can be visited.
So, what are the best racecourses that are located near to the North London stadium?
Ascot
You don’t need to know how to bet on horse racing to love Ascot.
The track is located 25 miles west of London, but it easily accessible via train. This course has been open since 1711, and it is most famous for hosting the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting.
It is a major hub for flat racing throughout the summer, with 13 of the annual 36 Group 1s being staged at the track. Around 600,000 people visit Ascot annually, accounting for a staggering 10% of UK Racegoers. There are a total of 26 race days annually at Ascot, with jumps racing being staged between October and March.
Aside from Royal Ascot, the biggest race on the schedule comes in the form of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which is held annually in July. The King George has been won by some of the superstars in the equine world, including Galileo, Enable, and Adayar.
Windsor
Racing fans can also find Windsor Racecourse within striking distance of Ascot. Windsor is one of the most scenic courses in the United Kingdom, and it has direct links to the M3 and M4.
As well as that, it is accessible via two railway stations. The track is revered for being one of just two courses in the United Kingdom that have a figure-of-eight layout. Windsor Racecourse is located on the banks of the River Thames, and there was the welcome reintroduction of jumps racing at the track in December 2024. However, there are few high-quality races on the annual schedule.
The only Group race comes in the form of the Winter Hill Stakes, which is staged in August. This race is run over a mile and two furlongs, and recent winners of the Group Three include My Prospero and Passenger.
Kempton Park
There is something for every racing fan at Kempton Park, with jumps, as well as flat action on the turf and all-weather staged throughout the season. Kempton Park is located 13 miles west of Charing Cross in London, and it is easily reachable via train lines from London Waterloo station.
Kempton was opened to the public back in July 1878, making it one of the oldest racecourses in the United Kingdom. For many years, the Easter meeting was its most popular, with the 2,000 Guineas Trial being a prominent date in the diary. However, Kempton’s most iconic races in this modern day are staged on Boxing Day, as a key date in the National Hunt diary comes in the form of the King George VI Chase.
This race was first run in 1937, and it is the second most prestigious jumps race in the United Kingdom, following the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Some of the most legendary stars in jumps racing have won the King George, including Desert Orchid and Kauto Star. The most recent edition saw Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge get the better of French raider Il Est Francais in a thrilling finish.
Sandown Park
Located in Esher, Surrey, racing fans can also take in a day of action at Sandown Park. The racecourse is located in the outer suburbs of London, and it hosts major events on both the flat and jumps calendar. The racecourse has been open since 1875, and it has deep roots in British history after being built by Henry II.
As well as hosting major racing events, Sandown has also played host to some of the biggest musical acts in Europe, with Simply Red, UB40, and Madness among the artists that have played at the racecourse. On track, Sandown hosts five Grade Ones over jumps, and the notable Eclipse Stakes on the flat. The latter is one of the most important dates on the flat calendar, with a talented field typically competing over a mile and a furlong in the Grade One.
It is usually the first major event when Classic winners take on older horses, and the most recent to achieve the Eclipse-Epsom Derby double was City Of Troy in 2024. Over jumps, one of the most lucrative races comes in the form of the bet365 Gold Cup, which is run on the final day of the National Hunt season.