Newbury Racecourse is set to host a six-race Flat turf meeting on Friday, October 23, 2026, with the programme scheduled to begin at 1:42 PM and conclude at 4:40 PM. The card features a variety of contests for fillies, two-year-old maiden runners, novice horses, experienced handicap performers and apprentice jockeys. With prize money ranging from £11,000 to £20,000, the meeting will cover distances from six furlongs and 110 yards to two miles and seven yards.
The highest prize money of the afternoon is £20,000, offered in two races. The 2:17 PM Pump Technology Handicap Stakes is a Class 3 contest over seven furlongs for horses aged three and older, rated between 76 and 95. The second £20,000 race takes place at 4:02 PM and features a Class 3 handicap over one mile, four furlongs and seven yards for horses aged three and older rated between 71 and 90. Both contests will provide important tests of speed, stamina and consistency.
The meeting opens at 1:42 PM with the Renegade Brewery Fillies’ Handicap Stakes, a Class 4 contest designated as a GBBPLUS race. Scheduled over one mile, two furlongs and seven yards, the race offers £14,000 in prize money. It is open to horses aged three and older rated between 66 and 85. The extended distance will test the runners’ ability to maintain a steady pace and finish strongly, with the additional seven yards included in the scheduled trip.
At 2:17 PM, attention turns to the Pump Technology Handicap Stakes. This Class 3 event is scheduled over seven furlongs and carries £20,000 in prize money. Open to horses aged three and older rated between 76 and 95, the race is one of the main attractions on the card. The distance is likely to reward runners capable of combining early speed with sustained effort through the final stages.
The third race begins at 2:52 PM with the EBF Maiden Stakes, a Class 4 contest for two-year-olds. Run over six furlongs and 110 yards, the race offers £12,000 in prize money and is designated as a Great British Bonus (GBB) event. As a maiden contest, it provides young horses that have yet to record a victory with an opportunity to establish themselves in competitive company. Their early pace, responsiveness and finishing ability will be important factors over the sprint distance.
At 3:27 PM, the programme continues with the Join Hot To Trot Racing 2027 EBF Novice Stakes. This Class 3 race is restricted to two-year-olds and will be run over one mile, with £15,000 in prize money available. Designated as a GBB/GBBPLUS race, the contest offers a longer-distance opportunity for younger runners to demonstrate their development and stamina. The mile trip will require them to settle well and maintain their rhythm before producing a sustained finish.
The fifth race is scheduled for 4:02 PM and features a Class 3 Handicap Stakes over one mile, four furlongs and seven yards. With £20,000 in prize money, it shares the highest prize fund on the day’s programme. The race is open to horses aged three and older rated between 71 and 90 and is designated as a GBBPLUS event. The extended distance will place greater emphasis on stamina, tactical positioning and the ability to maintain a consistent pace throughout the contest.
The meeting concludes at 4:40 PM with the ‘Hands and Heels’ Apprentice Handicap Stakes, the final of its series and part of the Racing Excellence Initiative. This Class 5 race carries £11,000 in prize money and is open to horses aged four and older rated between 51 and 70. The scheduled distance is two miles and seven yards, including an additional seven yards beyond the two-mile base distance. The staying contest will provide an opportunity for apprentice jockeys to demonstrate their race management and riding skills over a demanding trip.
Overall, Newbury’s Friday programme offers six races across a broad range of distances, combining contests for developing two-year-olds with handicaps for older horses. The two £20,000 races headline the meeting, while the opening fillies’ handicap and closing apprentice contest add variety to the card. Racing is scheduled to start at 1:42 PM, with the final event due off at 4:40 PM.
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