One of the feature meetings in England during the summer is the July Festival. This three-day meeting is one of several staged at Newmarket throughout the year. The July Festival, however, takes place on the July Course, while Newmarket's other meetings are all run on the Rowley Mile.
Two important Group One races take place during the July Festival. The Falmouth Stakes headlines the card on day two, while the July Cup acts as the feature on the third and final card.
2024 July Festival Dates
The 2024 July Festival kicks off at Newmarket on Thursday 11th July. The final day takes place on Saturday 13th July.
July Festival Day 1 Card
Time
Title
Status
1:10pm
Maiden Fillies Stakes
Class 2
1:40pm
Bahrain Trophy
Group 3
2:25pm
July Stakes
Group 2
3:00pm
bet365 Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
Class 2
3:35pm
Princess Of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes
Group 2
4:10pm
Sir Henry Cecil Stakes
Listed
4:45pm
John Deere Handicap
Class 3
July Festival Day 2 Card
Time
Title
Status
1:15pm
Maiden Stakes
Class 3
1:50pm
bet365 Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
Class 2
2:25pm
Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes
Group 2
3:00pm
bet365 Trophy (Heritage Handicap)
Class 2
3:35pm
Falmouth Stakes
Group 1
4:10pm
Racing TV Handicap
Class 3
4:45pm
Moet & Chandon Handicap
Class 3
July Festival Day 3 Card
Time
Title
Status
1:30pm
Maiden Fillies' Stakes
Class 3
2:05pm
Fillies Handicap
Class 2
2:40pm
bet365 Mile Handicap
Class 2
3:15pm
bet365 Superlative Stakes
Group 2
3:50pm
Bunbury Cup (Hertiage Handicap)
Class 2
4:25pm
Darley July Cup
Group 1
5:00pm
Racing TV Handicap
Class 3
July Festival Preview
The opening day of racing at the July Festival kicks off with the Bahrain Trophy, where John Gosden's exciting prospect Stowell faces Gear Up and Yibir. Two-year-olds will then battle it out in the July Stakes. Eldrickjones heads the current betting, while Dig Two, Ebor River and Project Dante are not without support.
Following another thrilling renewal of the six-furlong bet365 Handicap, Al Aasy leads the runners out in this year's Princess Of Wales's Stakes. William Haggas' star will face just four rivals on Thursday, with Sir Ron Priestley, Highest Ground, Bangkok and Star Safari entered against the hot-favourite.
Viewers also have a fantastic renewal of the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes to take in on day one. One Ruler will likely head the betting, but Derab, Maximal and Baaeed will provide stiff competition.
Another bet365 Heritage Handicap, this time run over ten furlongs, kicks off the televised action on day two of the July Festival. Juvenile fillies will then have their chance to shine in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, where Hello You looks the likely market leader.
Some of the hardiest stayers in the sport will lock horns in the bet365 Trophy, leading us perfectly into the feature race on Friday's card, the Falmouth Stakes.
This Group One for fillies and mares always delivers on the excitement front, and this year's renewal of the Falmouth will be no different. Alcohol Free, Snow Lantern and Mother Earth could renewal their rivalry from Royal Ascot, while Primo Bacio, Lady Bowthorpe and Indie Angel are also pencilled in to run.
The third and final day of the July Festival revolves around the July Cup, one of the most historic sprint contests in all of horse racing. Starman and defending champion, Oxted sit prominently in the current betting, while Dragon Symbol looks set to fly the flag for this year's crop of three-year-olds.
Before we reach the July Cup, viewers have two excellent handicaps to enjoy in the bet365 Handicap and the popular Bunbury Cup. Juveniles will then try to prove their stamina over seven furlongs in the Superlative Stakes, where Dhabab, Great Max and Native Trail currently head the market.
Her majesty, The Queen could have a runner in the final race of the meeting, the Racing TV Handicap, with John Gosden's Pied Piper set to run in those famous Royal silks.
