Southwell Racecourse will stage a nine-race Flat All-Weather meeting on Thursday, 15 October 2026, featuring a varied programme of handicap contests, maiden races and a nursery event for two-year-olds. The evening meeting begins at 4:30 PM and concludes at 8:30 PM, with races scheduled over distances ranging from four furlongs and 215 yards to one mile, three furlongs and 24 yards. The card brings together younger horses gaining experience and older runners competing across several classifications.
The meeting opens at 4:30 PM with the Apprentice Handicap Stakes, a Class 6 contest over one mile and 14 yards. Open to horses aged three and above with ratings between 46 and 55, the race offers £6,200 in prize money. The event provides apprentice jockeys with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills, while runners will need to settle into a suitable rhythm and maintain their pace over the distance. Positioning and a well-timed finishing effort could be important factors.
At 5:00 PM, the Free Race Replays On Handicap Stakes will take place over the same distance of one mile and 14 yards. This Class 4 contest is open to horses aged three and above with ratings between 61 and 80. With £10,000 in prize money, the race brings together runners competing at a higher classification than the opening event. Consistency, stamina and the ability to respond to the jockey’s instructions will be important throughout the contest.
The third race, scheduled for 5:30 PM, is the Get the Inside Track with EBF Maiden Stakes. This Class 3 contest will be run over one mile and 14 yards and is restricted to two-year-olds. Offering £13,000 in prize money, it is the richest race on the evening’s programme. The event will provide young runners with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability over a mile, with race positioning, pace management and a strong finish likely to be important. As a maiden contest, it will also offer the prospect of a first career victory for one of the runners.
At 6:00 PM, Division I of the Follow @attheraces on X Handicap Stakes will take place over seven furlongs and 15 yards. This Class 6 race is open to horses aged three and above with ratings between 46 and 55, and carries £6,200 in prize money. The shorter distance will place greater emphasis on acceleration and efficient positioning, particularly as the runners approach the final stages.
Division II of the Follow on X Handicap Stakes follows at 6:30 PM. Also classified as a Class 6 event, the race will be run over seven furlongs and 15 yards and is open to horses aged three and above with ratings between 46 and 55. With £6,200 in prize money, the contest provides another opportunity for runners in this rating category to demonstrate their form. A steady early rhythm and a sustained effort in the closing stages could prove valuable.
The sixth race begins at 7:00 PM with the Free Tips on Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. This Class 4 contest is scheduled over six furlongs and 17 yards and is restricted to two-year-old fillies in Bands B, C and D. The race offers £10,000 in prize money. The shorter distance is expected to test early speed and acceleration, while the young runners will also need to respond effectively to their jockeys’ instructions and maintain their pace to the finish.
At 7:30 PM, the Handicap Stakes will be contested over six furlongs and 17 yards. This Class 4 event is open to horses aged three and above with ratings between 66 and 85. Offering £10,000 in prize money, the contest is one of the principal races on the card. Speed and tactical positioning will be important, with runners needing to find room and produce a strong finishing effort over the sprint distance.
The eighth race, scheduled for 8:00 PM, is the Free Digital Racecard at Nursery Handicap Stakes. This Class 6 contest will be run over four furlongs and 215 yards and is open to two-year-olds rated between 0 and 65. The race carries £6,200 in prize money and represents the shortest event of the evening. A quick start and immediate acceleration are likely to be important, as the limited distance leaves little room for runners to recover from a slow beginning.
The meeting concludes at 8:30 PM with the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Stakes, a Class 6 contest over one mile, three furlongs and 24 yards. Open to horses aged four and above with ratings between 46 and 65, the race offers £6,200 in prize money. The extended distance will place greater emphasis on stamina and pace management, with runners needing to conserve energy before producing their final effort.
Southwell’s nine-race All-Weather meeting offers a varied evening of racing, combining sprint contests, mile races and a longer-distance handicap. The £13,000 EBF Maiden Stakes is the highest-value event on the card, while the two divisions of the seven-furlong handicap provide additional opportunities for horses in the lower rating categories. The programme concludes with a stamina-focused contest, bringing the evening’s racing to a close.
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