With Punchestown Festival (26-30 April) we say goodbye to hurdles and fences at what is considered the "Grand Finale" of the jump season. The 5-day festival is truly one of the highlights of the Irish racing and social calendar with prices starting from just EUR €24 (GBP £20). In the weeks following the famous fixture, Ireland welcomes its flat racing season with Leopardstown’s Ladies Evening (13 May), the Irish Guineas Festival (20-22 May) at The Curragh, and Punchestown’s Summer in Town (28-29 May).
Standing proud in a whole host of season opener fixtures – such as those at Haydock Park (23 April), Ayr (25-26 April), Brighton (26 April), and Goodwood (29-30 April) – Newmarket’s Rowley Mile’s Guineas Festival (29 April-1 May) features the first 2 of the UK’s 5 Classic Races: the 1000 Guineas and the 2000 Guineas. The small horse-mad town of Newmarket has witnessed many a famous name gallop to victory over the years including the magnificent Frankel. Tickets start from just GBP £17.60 for your opportunity to experience the "historic home of horse racing".
Boodles May Festival (4-6 May) is one of the most prestigious meetings held at the oldest horse racing course still in operation, the stunning Chester Racecourse. In 500 years, the tight track of the affectionately named “Roodee” has changed very little, but racegoers can expect to enjoy some fabulous bars and facilities as they experience a day at the races for as little as £20.
All this before we’ve even thought about the Epsom Derby (3-4 June) and Royal Ascot (14-18 June); both of which will be even more special this year with celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee!
If you’re in the States, why not don your Southern Belle hat or that pastel linen suit and quench your thirst with a mint julep at the biggest event in the US racing calendar? The Kentucky Derby, with the fabulous carnival of events that surround it, runs from the 30 April to 7 May with the meeting immediately following the incredible Spring Meet at Keeneland. Derby Week celebrations lead up to the Derby on 7 May including: evening racing on Opening Night; training at Dawn at the Downs sessions; racing on Tuesday's Champions Day, Wednesday, and Thurby (an abbreviation for Derby Thursday); the Oaks (the premier race for 3-year-old female horses); and concludes with the big race itself. Brace yourself for the “most exciting 2 minutes in sport”!
For those of you lucky enough to be Down Under, Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse has some incredible racedays coming up in the next month. ANZAC Day (25 April) is, of course, a special occasion honouring the men and women who have served to keep Australia safe. This is followed by Andrew Ramsden Raceday (14 May) and VRC National Jockeys Trust Raceday (21 May) before a selection of summer fixtures.