On Saturday, August 9th, 2025, Newmarket’s scenic July Course plays host to Dinosaur Day – great horse racing and fun for all the family. Newmarket Racecourse, the home of British racing, is the venue for this special day, a Jurassic-themed afternoon of entertainment and sport. Take part in this enthralling, unique dinosaur experience. You can even get up close and personal with our giant reptilian friends.
Zeus, Europe’s largest walking T-Rex, returns to the July Course along with all his friends. He will be joined by some new dinosaurs too. Here’s the best bit – under-18’s go free for the day!* There is also some top-class horse racing on the track throughout the day as Newmarket mixes family fun with proper sporting action.
Dinosaur Day Timings & Location
Newmarket’s summer track, the July Course, is the venue for all races and our dinosaur friends. Simply head to Newmarket Racecourses and then look for signage directing you to the July Course.
The dinosaurs will be free to roam around the Garden Enclosure throughout the day. Those buying tickets can also choose the Premier Enclosure, offering best views of the parade ring and the track, as well as the grandstands. All enclosures offer views of the track, big screens and food & drink outlets.
Timings
Race and show timings for Dinosaur Day at Newmarket are:
- Gates open at 11:55am
- First race is due off at 1:55pm
- Last race is due off at 4:50pm
Food and drink locations will remain open for a short while after racing finishes. Assuming the final race goes off on time, the sporting action will be over, and the final presentation complete by approximately 5pm.
Horse Racing Action During Dinosaur Day
Along with the magnificent beasts on display from the Jurassic era, some of our current best thoroughbreds are also on display during the afternoon. The home of British Flat acing, Newmarket, hosts a six-race card on Saturday, August 9th on the July Course. The second race of the day is for “newcomers”, meaning none have raced yet but all are potential high quality. There could be some real stars of the future here.
Information on all the runners and riders is available within the racecard, available upon entry to the course. You can also find the same information online. The full racing schedule for Dinosaur Day is:
- Race 1 (1:55) – 7-furlong nursery handicap
- Race 2 (2:32) – 7-furlong “newcomers” maiden stakes
- Race 3 (3:07) – 7-furlong handicap
- Race 4 (3:40) – 7-furlong stakes race (The Sweet Solera)
- Race 5 (4:17) – 1-mile handicap
- Race 6 (5:50) – 1-mile, 6-furlong handicap
Race four is the Sweet Solera Stakes, a ‘Group 3’ race which is among the finest in the country. The race contains some of the best juvenile fillies around at the moment. Lookout for star jockeys Billy Loughnane, Oisin Murphy and Saffie Osborne taking part.
Every race bar the final event takes place entirely on the straight course, the Bunbury Mile. All races finish off in front of the stands anyway, with fine views of the action available for all. Get up close and personal with our star jockeys and horses.