Ayr Racecourse
Scotland’s leading racecourse and a dual-purpose venue with two headline meetings: the Ayr Gold Cup — one of Britain’s most valuable sprint handicaps — in September, and the Scottish Grand National over four miles in April.
LEFT-HANDED
EST. 1907
About Ayr Racecourse
Scotland’s leading racecourse and a dual-purpose venue with two headline meetings: the Ayr Gold Cup — one of Britain’s most valuable sprint handicaps — in September, and the Scottish Grand National over four miles in April. Ayr Racecourse is a dual-purpose racecourse hosting both flat and National Hunt fixtures, located at Whitletts Road, Ayr, KA8 0JE.
Ayr Gold Cup, mid-September
One of the most valuable sprint handicaps of the season. The six-furlong cavalry charge attracts big fields, with runners heading north of the border after tilts at races like the Stewards’ Cup and the Wokingham Handicap. In 2018 the race produced one of the most exciting finishes in its 200-year-plus history, with Baron Bolt and Son of Rest dead-heating.
Meetings & feature races
Ayr is Scotland’s leading racecourse and a dual-purpose venue with two headline meetings: the Ayr Gold Cup — one of Britain’s most valuable sprint handicaps — in September, and the Scottish Grand National over four miles in April.
Ayr Gold Cup (mid-September)
The Ayr Gold Cup is one of the most valuable sprint handicaps of the season, the six-furlong cavalry charge attracting big fields with runners heading north of the border after tilts at races like the Stewards’ Cup and the Wokingham Handicap. It is typically a thrilling race, and in 2018 produced one of the most exciting finishes in its 200-year-plus history with Baron Bolt and Son of Rest dead-heating.
Ayr Gold Cup Key Trends
While favourites in the Ayr Gold Cup have enjoyed a renaissance in the race over recent years, eight of the last 11 winners have been sent off at double-figure odds. A total of seven of the last 12 Ayr Gold Cup winners have been aged three or four and six of those twelve went off from stall 17 or higher. The draw and age profile is critical — high draws in big fields, with younger sprinters favoured.
Scottish Grand National (mid-April)
The Scottish Grand National is the year’s premier jumps fixture at Ayr, run over 4 miles 110 yards in mid-April. Coral has sponsored the race continuously since the 1970s, providing strong promotional support each spring. Notable winners include Earth Summit and Vicente, with the latter winning back-to-back renewals in 2016 and 2017.
Live races at Ayr
Upcoming races at Ayr
Live racecards from Ayr — pulled from our racing data feed, refreshed throughout the day.
No Ayr meetings scheduled in the next 14 days.
Check the UK Racing Predictor for races at other tracks today, or visit Ayr Racing Data for past meetings and statistics.
Ayr Gold Cup — key trends
Best UK bookmakers for Ayr racing
The major race days at Ayr come with significant promotional support from UK bookmakers. Best Odds Guaranteed is standard at the leading sportsbooks; the offers below are the strongest currently available to new customers.
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Course statistics & betting angles
On the straight six-furlong sprint course, high draws (15+) have a structural edge in big fields. Critical for the Gold Cup.
Ayr’s coastal location means weather plays a big role. Strong winds and rain can shift the form-line dramatically — check the forecast before betting.
On the flat: Karl Burke, Tim Easterby and Richard Fahey have outstanding records. In jumps: Lucinda Russell (trainer of 2017 Grand National winner One For Arthur) is the leading Scottish operator.
Ayr ground in September is typically good or good to soft. The April Scottish National often produces soft to heavy conditions and rewards horses with stamina and ground-handling ability.
How to watch racing at Ayr
ITV shows the big races live from the Ayr meeting, with Racing TV providing comprehensive coverage of every race and all the latest news from their team at the track. The Scottish Grand National is also covered by ITV. For race-by-race tips and value picks, the horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes daily picks for every Ayr fixture.
Visiting Ayr
Ayr Racecourse sits on the south coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, around 35 miles south-west of Glasgow. Ayr railway station is a 15-minute walk from the course with regular direct services from Glasgow Central (around 50 minutes). By road, the A77 from Glasgow is the most direct approach. Free parking is available on-site.
Official Ayr Racecourse website →
Frequently asked questions
When is the Ayr Gold Cup?
The Ayr Gold Cup is run on the Saturday of Ayr’s Gold Cup Festival in mid-September. The three-day meeting also includes the Silver Cup, the Bronze Cup and a strong supporting card.
When is the Scottish Grand National?
The Scottish Grand National is run on the Saturday of Ayr’s April meeting, typically a fortnight after the Aintree Grand National. It’s the premier jumps fixture in Scotland.
Does Ayr host both codes?
Yes. Ayr is a dual-purpose racecourse with flat fixtures across the summer and jumps fixtures in autumn, winter and spring.
How do I get to Ayr from Glasgow?
Direct trains from Glasgow Central to Ayr take around 50 minutes. The course is a 15-minute walk from Ayr station. By road via the A77 takes around an hour from central Glasgow.
Where can I find Ayr Gold Cup tips?
The horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes Ayr Gold Cup Day picks the morning of racing, with full-field probability ratings and value plays.
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