Horse racing has a history that dates back to Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and Egypt which means here in the UK, we mounted up somewhat late in the day. The first recorded horse races in the UK were held at London’s annual St Bartholomew’s horse fair in the late 12th century but as a sport, it was well established by the 18th century. The Jockey Club was formed in 1750.
Sussex soon caught on to this love of the turf and the county is now known for the Sussex Stakes, a well known flat horse race for two-year-olds that was was established in 1841. The oldest racecourse here is Brighton, which opened in 1783. In the 1920s, the abandoned village of Tide Mills was home to a pioneering stables for lame race horses and there is still a racehorse sanctuary in Pulborough. These days, you’ll also find a number of racing yards such as Coombelands (also in Pulborough) and Shovelstrode (near East Grinstead).
Sussex horse racing remains a great part of Sussex life with four major race courses spread across the county as well as a Point to Point course. And whether you ride horses or not, there’s nothing quite like the thunder of hooves and the roar of the crowd to get your pulse quickening and your heart beat pounding! Indeed, it has all the hallmarks of a great day out.
In Sussex, there is a great mix of flat, National Hunt and Point to Point racing, with each venue having their own unique points. So, if you’re looking for a fun day out and some high octacaine action, why not try:
Plumpton Racecourse
Plumpton officially opened on 28 December 1876 and held its first horse racing meeting in 1884. Plumpton is one of the smallest racecourses in the UK and has a unique one-mile circuit, meaning you can get views of the entire track.
Just north of the South Downs and Brighton, they hold race meetings from September to May, and the Plumpton Jump Season Opener kicks off the new National Hunt season on Sunday 21 September. With six competitive races, horses, jockeys and trainers battle it out for the first wins of the season. There’s also family-friendly entertainment and a brilliant atmosphere.
If you fancy a day at the races, we have some tickets to the Plumpton Jump Season Opener on 21 September to give away over on Instagram and Facebook.
Fontwell Park Racecourse
Fontwell Park is in between Chichester and Arundel. Horse racing (well horse race training) arrived here in 1887 and the race course opened in 1924. It’s the only remaining figure of eight jumps track in the UK and they have a programme of racing throughout the year.
The Fontwell Family Festival Raceday is on Sunday 7 September 2025, and promises a mix of thrilling jump racing and free family entertainments.
Brighton Racecourse
Brighton Racecourse is situated on Whitehawk Hill, around 1 mile away from the coast. It dates back to 1783, when the first official race was held in the area.
These days, Brighton Racecourse has flat racing fixtures from April until October as well as a number of other events throughout the year. The track is quite unusual, as it is one of the few British courses not to have a complete circuit. The circuit is undulating and horseshoe-shaped and there is an uphill climb from the start to the finish.
They have a fixture list that includes a Family Fun Day on the 31 August and a Season Finale on the 16th October.
Goodwood Racecourse
The first public race meeting took place here in 1802. The year before, the third Duke of Richmond had held a private race meeting for the officers of the Sussex Militia and members of the Goodwood Hunt.
These days, they host 19 days of racing each year, including Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, a highlight of the flat racing season. They have racing meets on the weekend of the 22 to 24 August, two autumn meets in September and their Season Finale on the 12 October.
Parham Races
Point to Point is an amateur sport and often an important way for upcoming jockeys, horses and trainers to progress. Parham Races is home of the Crawley & Horsham Point to Point and has been running for over 65 years. Their events are held in March.
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