Newcastle Racecourse will stage a nine-race all-weather meeting on Monday, 12 October 2026, featuring a varied programme of novice contests and handicap races. The meeting will begin at 4:28 PM local time and continue until 8:30 PM, with races over distances ranging from six furlongs to one mile and five furlongs. The card includes opportunities for two-year-old horses, older runners and horses competing in different race classifications, providing an engaging evening of Flat racing on the all-weather surface.
The opening contest, The Download The At The Races App Novice Stakes (Class 3), is scheduled for 4:28 PM over one mile, two furlongs and 42 yards. Open to horses aged three and older, the race carries total prize money of £12,000 and is the most valuable contest on the programme alongside the closing race’s £9,000 allocation. The longer distance will test the participants’ stamina and ability to maintain a consistent pace throughout the contest. As a novice event, it will also offer an opportunity to assess the developing form of horses at this stage of their careers.
At 5:00 PM, the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Fillies’ Handicap Stakes (Class 5) will bring fillies and mares aged three and older together over one mile and five yards. The contest offers £7,600 in prize money and is restricted to horses rated between 51 and 70. The distance will place emphasis on balance, tactical positioning and the ability to sustain an effective finishing effort. The all-weather conditions will provide a consistent racing surface for the participants.
The third race, The Free Tips on EBF Novice Stakes (Class 4), will take place at 5:30 PM. Reserved for two-year-old horses, this six-furlong contest carries £10,000 in prize money. The race will provide a test of early speed and racing maturity, with the young participants required to settle into a rhythm and respond to the demands of a sprint distance. Their performance will offer a useful indication of their development and adaptability to the Newcastle surface.
At 6:00 PM, the Follow @attheraces on Instagram Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 4) will feature another contest for two-year-olds. Scheduled over six furlongs, the race offers £10,000 in prize money and is open to horses rated between 0 and 85. The nursery format provides a competitive setting for younger horses with previous racing experience. Speed, positioning and the ability to produce a sustained effort in the final stages will be important over the sprint distance.
The fifth race, The Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap Stakes (Class 5) Division I, is scheduled for 6:30 PM. The six-furlong contest is open to horses aged three and older and carries £7,600 in prize money. Runners must fall within the official rating range of 56 to 75. The race will place particular emphasis on acceleration and maintaining momentum, especially during the closing stages when the field approaches the finish.
Division II of the same handicap, The Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap Stakes (Class 5), will follow at 7:00 PM. Also run over six furlongs, the contest offers £7,600 in prize money and is open to horses aged three and older with ratings between 56 and 75. The second division will provide another opportunity for participants to demonstrate their sprinting ability on Newcastle’s all-weather track. Efficient positioning and a well-timed finishing effort will be important throughout the race.
At 7:30 PM, the Download The Racecourse App Raceday Ready Handicap Stakes (Class 6) will take place over one mile and five yards. The race is open to horses aged three and older, with a rating range of 46 to 65, and carries £6,200 in prize money. The longer trip compared with the preceding sprint contests will require a different approach, with participants needing to balance pace and stamina over the mile distance.
The eighth race, The Get Raceday Ready Handicap Stakes (Class 5), is scheduled for 8:00 PM over seven furlongs and 14 yards. Open to horses aged four and older, the contest offers £7,600 in prize money and is restricted to runners rated between 56 and 75. The distance falls between a sprint and a mile, requiring a combination of speed, tactical awareness and stamina. Participants will need to maintain a suitable position before producing their finishing effort.
The meeting will conclude at 8:30 PM with The Free Digital Racecard At Handicap Stakes (Class 6). This six-furlong race is open to horses aged four and older, with ratings between 46 and 55. It carries £9,000 in prize money, making it the second-highest-value contest on the card. The final race will bring the evening’s action to a close with a sprint in which early pace, positioning and consistency over the all-weather surface will be important.
Overall, Newcastle’s nine-race programme on 12 October combines novice races for developing horses with handicaps across several age groups and rating bands. The card features three-year-olds and older runners over a range of sprint and middle-distance trips, while the two-year-old contests add a focus on emerging talent. With racing scheduled from late afternoon into the evening, the meeting offers a comprehensive programme of all-weather Flat racing.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.