Category

The Meetings

Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, the Derby. One guide per fixture, from the first race to the last train.

10 posts

Racing in the Rain: What Changes and What to Wear
The MeetingsOct 1, 2026

Racing in the Rain: What Changes and What to Wear

Meetings are rarely cancelled for rain. What soft ground does to the racing, where you can actually shelter, and the footwear advice racecourses give themselves.

Read
Can You Go to the Races Without Knowing Anything About Racing?
The MeetingsSep 29, 2026

Can You Go to the Races Without Knowing Anything About Racing?

Yes, and nobody will notice. What actually matters on a raceday when you do not follow the sport, and the one thing worth checking before you buy a ticket.

Read
Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, Aintree or Epsom: Which Should You Go To?
The MeetingsSep 27, 2026

Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, Aintree or Epsom: Which Should You Go To?

Four meetings, four completely different days. Which one suits you, by what you actually want from the day rather than by reputation.

Read
An Ordinary Ascot Raceday vs Royal Ascot: Same Course, Different Day
The MeetingsSep 23, 2026

An Ordinary Ascot Raceday vs Royal Ascot: Same Course, Different Day

Free parking, a lighter dress code and the same grandstand. Why 21 of Ascot's racedays cost a fraction of the five in June.

Read
Racing Terms Explained for People Who Do Not Follow Racing
The MeetingsSep 21, 2026

Racing Terms Explained for People Who Do Not Follow Racing

The going, a handicap, a furlong, the colours. The vocabulary you will actually hear at a racecourse, and the three terms worth knowing before you go.

Read
The Epsom Derby: The Most Relaxed of the Big Race Meetings
The MeetingsSep 15, 2026

The Epsom Derby: The Most Relaxed of the Big Race Meetings

Epsom tells you to wear jeans and clean trainers if that is what you are comfortable in. The one stand where that does not apply, and why the course itself is unusual.

Read
The Grand National at Aintree: Enclosures, Dress Code and Free Parking
The MeetingsSep 13, 2026

The Grand National at Aintree: Enclosures, Dress Code and Free Parking

No dress code, free on site parking and children go free. What each Aintree enclosure gets you, and the two things that are not allowed.

Read
Your First Time at the Races: How the Day Actually Works
The MeetingsSep 11, 2026

Your First Time at the Races: How the Day Actually Works

You do not need to bet and you do not need to know anything about racing. What happens across a raceday, and the mistake most first timers make.

Read
What a Day at Royal Ascot Really Costs
The MeetingsSep 9, 2026

What a Day at Royal Ascot Really Costs

Tickets from £25, parking at £45, and the one enclosure where you can bring your own champagne. An honest breakdown of what you actually pay.

Read
Cheltenham Festival: Enclosures, Dress Code and What to Expect
The MeetingsSep 7, 2026

Cheltenham Festival: Enclosures, Dress Code and What to Expect

Four days, 28 races and no dress code at all. What the three enclosures get you, and why the weather matters more than the outfit.

Read