Newcastle Racecourse
Newcastle is unusual: the only major British racecourse to operate an all-weather tapeta straight alongside its traditional jumps course.
LEFT-HANDED
EST. 1882
About Newcastle Racecourse
Newcastle is unusual: the only major British racecourse to operate an all-weather tapeta straight alongside its traditional jumps course. Newcastle Racecourse is a dual-purpose racecourse hosting both flat and National Hunt fixtures, located at High Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5HP.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle, late November
The first leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling, first run in 1969. The Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival complete the trio. Trainer Nicky Henderson has won four of the last eight renewals.
Meetings & feature races
Newcastle Racecourse on Gosforth Park has staged racing since 1882 and operates both flat (turf and all-weather) and National Hunt fixtures. The course was the first British track to install a tapeta all-weather surface, which opened in 2016.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle (late November / early December)
Named after the nickname of the army regiment, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. The race is the first top-grade hurdle race of the British season and a key marker for Champion Hurdle aspirations. Buveur d’Air won in both 2017 and 2018, with the 2018 victory feeding into a Champion Hurdle success the following March.
Northumberland Plate (late June)
Known as “The Pitmen’s Derby”, the Northumberland Plate is the flat-season highlight at Newcastle and one of the most popular handicaps in British racing. Run over two miles on the all-weather surface, it’s a stamina test for full-fields of staying handicappers and routinely produces big-priced winners.
All-weather flat racing (year-round)
Newcastle’s tapeta surface hosts a busy year-round flat schedule including evening meetings throughout the winter. It is one of only a handful of artificial surfaces in Britain and plays slower than the polytrack at Lingfield and Chelmsford.
Live races at Newcastle
Upcoming races at Newcastle
Live racecards from Newcastle — pulled from our racing data feed, refreshed throughout the day.
No Newcastle meetings scheduled in the next 14 days.
Check the UK Racing Predictor for races at other tracks today, or visit Newcastle Racing Data for past meetings and statistics.
Fighting Fifth — key trends
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Course statistics & betting angles
Long uphill home straight rewards stayers, punishes horses ridden too freely. Pace analysis is critical.
Tapeta is one of only a handful in Britain. Form on tapeta or similar surfaces (Wolverhampton) carries clear edge.
16 of last 18 Fighting Fifth winners had Grade 2 form. Up-and-comers rarely succeed at the level.
Nicky Henderson dominates the Fighting Fifth. On the flat: Mark Johnston, William Haggas, Karl Burke.
How to watch racing at Newcastle
ITV provides live terrestrial coverage of the Fighting Fifth and the Northumberland Plate. Sky Sports Racing covers every Newcastle card with comprehensive on-the-ground analysis. For race-by-race tips and value picks, the horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes daily picks for every Newcastle fixture.
Visiting Newcastle
Newcastle Racecourse sits at Gosforth Park, around four miles north of Newcastle city centre. By car, the A1 (Junction 70/71) is the most direct approach. Newcastle Central Station is a 20-minute taxi ride. The course operates an on-site car park with free parking. Race-day temperatures in late November and June can vary wildly — check the forecast before heading north.
Official Newcastle Racecourse website →
Frequently asked questions
When is the Fighting Fifth Hurdle?
The Fighting Fifth is run on the last Saturday of November or the first Saturday of December each year. It opens the season for top-grade hurdle racing in Britain.
What is the Triple Crown of Hurdling?
The Triple Crown of Hurdling comprises the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (late November), the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (Boxing Day) and the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival (March).
Does Newcastle have all-weather racing?
Yes. Newcastle’s tapeta all-weather track opened in 2016 and hosts year-round flat racing. It was the first tapeta surface installed in Britain.
What is the Northumberland Plate?
The Northumberland Plate (“The Pitmen’s Derby”) is a two-mile flat handicap run on Newcastle’s all-weather track in late June. It is one of the most popular long-distance handicaps in British racing.
Where can I find Newcastle tips?
The horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes daily picks for every Newcastle card, with full-field probability ratings and value plays.
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