Goodwood Racecourse Guide

Goodwood racecourse is one of the most popular venues with British racegoers. The track was first used for racing around the turn of the 19th century and flat racing has been staged there regularly ever since.

Three Group One races are held at Goodwood racecourse during the flat racing season. All three take place during their famous Glorious Goodwood meeting - a festival that should feature on any horse racing fan's bucket list.

Goodwood stages around 20 meetings during the calendar year. The most important by far is Glorious Goodwood, which takes place at the end of July or the start of August.

Flat racing fans are treated to five stunning days of racing whenever Glorious Goodwood rolls around. The first three cards are highlighted by Group One races - the Goodwood Cup, Sussex Stakes and the Nassau Stakes.

Goodwood is a completely unique track, featuring many twists, turns and undulations. There is a loop in the track, though, meaning that races up to two-and-a-half miles can take place at this venue.

There's a chute leading onto the home straight for races over five and six furlongs. Over longer trips, entrants must climb steeply uphill, before descending down onto one of the quickest home-straights in the country.

Over sprinting distances, it's better to be drawn high than low. Runners tend to converge towards the stands' side rail, the strip of track which is thought to be fastest, so horses drawn low can find themselves a long way behind the early pace.

On the round course, it can also be an advantage to be drawn high. The bend into the home straight is very tight and taken early in seven and eight-furlong races. Front-runners can be favoured by a low draw, but hold-up horses are better to be drawn wide, away from any trouble along the rail.

Mark Johnston has celebrated more winners around Goodwood than any other trainer over the last five years. Andrew Balding follows close behind, having led the trainer standings at Goodwood in 2021.

In terms of strike rate, William Haggas comes out on top, winning with 22% of his runners since 2017. Ralph Beckett and John Gosden also boast impressive win percentages.

Oisin Murphy is the most successful jockey at Goodwood, having ended each of the last three years with more winners than any other rider. 

William Buick boasts the best strike rate, scoring with around 20% of his rides around Goodwood. Other jockeys to follow include Harry Bentley and Jim Crowley, who strike at 19% and 16% respectively.

Military races and hunt meetings have been held at Goodwood since the 1700s. Goodwood racecourse was established in 1801, with the first official race held at the venue later that year.

Racing became so popular at Goodwood, that the press had soon labeled the course "Glorious Goodwood". In 1823, the five-day festival now known as Glorious Goodwood was held for the first time and the meeting has since become an institution on the flat racing calendar. 

The Group One Goodwood Cup, which has been won by many of the sport's finest stayers, was first held in 1812. In 1840, two further Group Ones, the Sussex Stakes and the Nassau Stakes were added to the Glorious Goodwood schedule, along with the thrilling Steward's Cup Handicap Sprint.

Goodwood Racecourse Ltd

Chichester

West Sussex

PO18 0PX

By Road - Goodwood racecourse is situated six miles north of Chichester, and easy to find by following road signs. Attendees can access the racecourse via the A285, A286 and the A3.

By Rail - The closest station to Goodwood is Chichester Station, which is six miles away from the racecourse. Chichester features on the Brighton and Portsmouth line, out of London Victoria.

By Air - Goodwood’s Aerodrome is suitable for rotary and fixed-wing, as is Goodwood Airfield. Shoreham Airport is 25 miles away.