Nottingham Racecourse - New to racing

New to Racing

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear? We always expect a reasonable level of dress however there are no strict rules for the Grandstand Enclosure. There is a smart casual dress code for the Premier Enclosure which stipulates no untidy attire, shorts, t-shirts, trainers or Fancy Dress. This dress code also applies for our Rooftop Restaurant and Hospitality Boxes.

What time should I arrive? The gates open to the public 2 hours before the first race. You can check this time by phoning the Racecourse Office on 0870 850 7634.

How do I get to the racecourse? Nottingham Racecourse is situated just 2 miles east of the city centre and is easily accessible from M1, A1, A52 and A46. Please refer to the maps on How to Find Us page. The Racecourse is well signed with Nottingham Racecourse brown tourism signs and the yellow Racecourse Park and Ride signs.

Is there car parking & how much is it? There is ample on-site parking which is free. We also have coach / minibus car parking, however a coach security pass which is available from the Racecourse Office, must be completed and handed to a Car Park attendant.

Can I buy tickets in advance? We do advise everyone to buy their tickets in advance to guarantee availability. On occasion, particularly for the Saturday fixtures, the Premier Enclosure is often Sold Out before the raceday. To buy your tickets in advance simply call our 24 hour ticket hotline on 0844 579 3011 , have your credit/debit card handy and we’ll take your booking, or click here to buy your tickets on-line.

Is there a cash point? There is not a cash point on the racecourse but cash back is available from the Raceday Cash Office for all debit cards, subject to an upper limit and a transaction charge. Cash back is not available with credit cards.

How much for children? Children under the age of 16, when accompanied by an adult come in for free. Junior discounts are available for 16 - 21 year olds, proof of age will be required, into all enclosures on the weekday afternoon racedays and into the Grandstand only on weekend and evening racedays.

How do I find out what horses and jockeys will be at the Racecourse? We do not know what horses and jockeys will be at the Racecourse until 12.00pm two days before racing. The racecard, which details all the day's horses and jockeys, is printed overnight and is available at the Racecourse on the raceday. This can be paid for in advance to save you queuing on the day.

What’s the going/Good to firm? The Going describes the state of the turf on the race track on raceday i.e. how soft or firm it is. Many horses have an individual preference for running on softer or firmer ground and therefore, the going can play a vital part in how well a horse runs on a particular day. There are various going descriptions which cover the range of ground conditions that horses are allowed to race on:

Heavy, Soft, Good-to-Soft, Good, Good-to-Firm and Firm. Racing is not allowed to take place on ground conditions that are too soft or too firm and the optimum going for Flat racing is Good-to-Firm.

Is there a picnic area? There is not a dedicated picnic car park or picnic area, but picnics are allowed on the trackside lawn adjacent to the betting ring. Please note that alcohol and glass bottles/receptacles must not be bought into the Racecourse.

Can I have a personal PA announcement? PA announcements are reserved for health and safety, raceday and sponsors announcements only.

Can I upgrade once I am at the Racecourse? Yes, you can upgrade from the Grandstand to Premier subject to availability. On occasion, particularly the Saturday fixtures, the Premier Enclosure is sold out prior to the Raceday.

Where do I go if I have any questions on the raceday? You can ask any one of our staff or come to the Racecourse Office where our staff will be happy to help.