Newmarket is set to stage a seven-race Flat programme on Friday, 25 September 2026, with the opening race scheduled for 1:15 PM and the final contest due off at 4:45 PM. The afternoon features a combination of Group, Listed, maiden and handicap races, with horses from different age groups competing over distances ranging from seven furlongs to one mile and four furlongs.
The programme includes two Group 2 races, one Group 3 event and two Listed contests. The Joel Stakes at 3:00 PM carries the highest prize allocation of the day at £165,000, followed by the Rockfel Stakes for two-year-olds, which is worth £125,000. The Princess Royal Stakes also provides a valuable £95,000 contest.
Newmarket Racecards 25 September 2026
The afternoon begins with the British EBF Rosemary Stakes, a Class 1 Listed race over one mile. The contest is open to three-year-olds and older horses and carries £70,000 in prize money.
The one-mile distance provides a balanced test of speed and stamina. The runners will need to maintain a steady rhythm before producing their strongest effort during the closing stages. As a Listed event, the race provides an important opportunity for horses competing at a high level.
The second race is the Princess Royal Stakes, a Class 1 Group 3 contest over one mile and four furlongs. The race is open to three-year-olds and older horses and carries £95,000 in prize money.
The extended distance presents a different challenge from the opening one-mile contest. Stamina will be particularly important as the runners negotiate the longer trip. Maintaining an even pace and finishing strongly should be key elements of the race.
The third race is the Rockfel Stakes, a Class 1 Group 2 contest over seven furlongs. Restricted to two-year-olds, the race carries £125,000 in prize money.
The seven-furlong distance provides a significant test for developing two-year-old horses. The runners will need to combine early pace with the ability to maintain their effort through the closing stages.
With Group 2 status, the Rockfel Stakes represents an important opportunity for young horses to compete at a high level and gain valuable experience against quality opposition.
The Joel Stakes is the fourth race of the afternoon and carries the day’s highest prize allocation of £165,000. The Class 1 Group 2 contest will be run over one mile and is open to three-year-olds and older horses.
The one-mile distance provides a strong test of pace and finishing ability. The runners will need to settle into a suitable rhythm before building their effort towards the finish.
As one of the principal races on the card, the Joel Stakes adds further Group-level quality to the Newmarket programme.
The fifth race is the Godolphin Stakes, a Class 1 Listed race over one mile and four furlongs. The contest is restricted to three-year-olds and carries £60,000 in prize money.
The extended trip presents a demanding stamina test. The runners will need to conserve energy throughout the race while maintaining a consistent rhythm. The final stages are likely to place particular emphasis on stamina and finishing strength.
The Listed classification makes this another important race on the afternoon’s programme.
The sixth contest is the British EBF “Confined” Maiden Stakes, a Class 3 race over seven furlongs.
The race is restricted to two-year-old colts and geldings that have run no more than twice and carries £15,000 in prize money.
The limited previous experience of the runners makes this an interesting developmental contest. The seven-furlong distance requires a combination of speed and the ability to sustain an effort. The race provides these young horses with another opportunity to gain experience in competitive conditions.
The final race of the afternoon is a Class 3 Handicap Stakes over one mile and one furlong. The contest is open to three-year-olds and older horses and carries £25,000 in prize money.
The runners are required to have ratings between 71 and 90. The one-mile-and-one-furlong distance provides a middle ground between the shorter mile races and the longer one-mile-four-furlong contests earlier in the programme.
The closing race should provide a demanding final test, requiring the runners to balance pace and stamina throughout the contest.
Friday’s Newmarket programme offers seven races covering several levels of Flat racing and a variety of distances. The afternoon begins with the one-mile British EBF Rosemary Stakes before moving into the longer Princess Royal Stakes over one mile and four furlongs.
The Rockfel Stakes then brings Group 2 action for two-year-olds over seven furlongs, followed by the Joel Stakes, another Group 2 contest and the most valuable race of the meeting at £165,000.
The Godolphin Stakes continues the Listed action over one mile and four furlongs, before the programme moves into the British EBF “Confined” Maiden Stakes for lightly raced two-year-old colts and geldings. The meeting concludes with a Class 3 handicap over one mile and one furlong.
Prize money across the seven races ranges from £15,000 to £165,000. The card also provides contrasting tests for young and experienced horses, with seven-furlong, one-mile, one-mile-one-furlong and one-mile-four-furlong contests all included.
With racing beginning at 1:15 PM and concluding at 4:45 PM, Newmarket will host a compact afternoon featuring Group 2 and Group 3 competition alongside Listed, maiden and handicap racing on Friday, 25 September 2026.
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