Brighton Racing Tips, Racecourse Info and News

Brighton Racecourse stages meetings throughout the summer (April until October) on a flat track. It’s one of the most exciting and vibrant racecourses in the South of England and the history of the track dates all the way back to 1783, when the first official race was held in the area.

Racing here takes place on the downs on Whitehawk Hill, 400 feet above sea level. As a result, the racecourse offers punters great views over both the sea and the city.

Runners over 12 furlongs here have a lot to contend with. This is because the course asks them to negotiate left and right turns as well as a sharp downhill descent into the straight before a stiff climb to the line. For that reason, comparisons are drawn between Brighton and Epsom.

The highlight of Brighton’s racing calendar is the three-day festival in August, which includes the most valuable race of the year: the John Smith’s Brighton Mile Challenge Trophy. The handicap is open to three-year-olds and older horses and regularly attracts sizable fields.

Sheikh Mohammed, the founder of Godolphin, had his first winner in 1977 when his filly Hatta – trained by John Dunlop – won her maiden at the track.

Many now consider betting at the races to be a time-honoured tradition. Thankfully, if you want to have a wager at Brighton races, you’ll find plenty of ways to get involved. No matter whether you’d like to dive straight into the action and place a bet in the betting ring by the track, place bets with hospitality staff tableside, or use pool betting with the Tote, there’s an option to suit your needs.

It’s also worth knowing that bookmakers at Brighton races will still accept cash and some will also accept debit cards. But, there are no cash machines on the racecourse, so if cash is your preferred method, then please ensure you bring this with you.

Before you bet, you should also remember to consider all the latest Brighton tips. Then, before you hand over your money, make sure you’ve looked out for the best possible odds. This way, you can maximise any potential winnings.

Betting is always popular at Brighton Racecourse. Looking for the best Brighton racing tips? We’ve listed them all on this page.

Brighton is a specialist’s racecourse due to its eccentricities. So, it’s always a good idea to look at horses and jockeys with previous form at the track. With this in mind, here are the most successful trainers and jockeys at Brighton races in the last five years (2019-2023):

Each year, a growing number of Brighton racing tips are becoming available. So, make sure you check this page regularly. We’ll cover all the latest and greatest Brighton tips as soon as they come available.

Flat Racing at Brighton Racecourse

Brighton race fixtures are held on a flat racing track that is left handed and sharp. It’s U shaped and around 12 furlongs in length. It’s actually one of the few courses in the country that doesn’t form a full circuit.

The course features a left-hand turn, which is said to include one of the steepest descents in the world of racing. The descent, combined with testing undulating turf, guarantees one of the trickiest rides in the UK for jockeys.

Added to this, as the track features left-hand and right-hand turns, an uphill section and a sharp decline, horses need to be able to handle all sorts when they’re running at Brighton. As a result, the course is known for being well suited to clever and experienced jockeys.

Overall, the track featured pronounced gradients that make it well suited to handy types rather than big, long-striding horses. Generally speaking, Brighton racing results show that the course favours small, agile types; especially front runners.

This is a course where bunching can occur on the rail due to the camber towards the inside of the track. This particularly occurs in races that are contested by inexperienced sorts, with many tending to hang. When the ground gets testing, it often pays for jockeys to switch towards the stand side inside the last three furlongs.

Brighton Racecourse does not operate with a specified dress code. Instead, the racecourse encourages all racegoers to make sure they are comfortable. Their only stipulation is that attendees cannot wear sporting team shirts or offensive fancy dress.

But, although there is no strict dress code in place, many visitors choose to dress for the occasion. As a result, a smart/casual look is often adopted by many racegoers. It’s also worth keeping in mind that, on feature days, such as Brighton Ladies’ Day, prizes are available for the best outfit, so it’s worth dressing to impress.

The racecourse also reminds punters that race meetings at Brighton are predominantly outdoor events, so you should be mindful of the weather when deciding what to wear.

There are lots of different ways that you can reach Brighton Racecourse. As it’s uphill from the city centre, a majority of punters choose to access the racecourse via bus. You can grab the Number 2 bus service from Stop C in Churchill Square - just alight at Pankhurst Avenue.

If you’re driving, then you’ll find that Brighton Racecourse is easy to reach from the A27 Brighton bypass. Simply put the following postcode in your sat nav:

• Brighton Racecourse
• Freshfield Road
• Brighton
• East Sussex
• BN2 9XZ
• Tel: 01273 603 580

Once you arrive, you’ll find that plenty of free Brighton Racecourse parking is available.