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The 2022 Newmarket July Festival Schedule

Introduction To the Newmarket July Festival

The Newmarket July Festival is a three day horse racing event that is held at the Newmarket race course. With numerous different races taking place each day, it is a highlight of the horseracing calendar. There are races of different lengths and grades with different entry criteria, ensuring that there is something for all horseracing enthusiasts.

Newmarket July Festival Schedule

The event lasts for three days, meaning there are plenty of races to look forward to, though the schedule may have some variations each year, here are the main events that can be expected.

First Day

The EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes

This first race is run over 6 furlongs and is open to 2 year old fillies only. This is a great race to start off the event as it features a lot of up and coming talented fillies that are sure to get the crowds excited.

The Bahrain Trophy

Following the EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, this is a Group 3 race that is open to three year old horses and is run over a distance of 1 mile and 5 furlongs. The Bahrain Trophy used to be called the H & K Commissiones Handicap, and was run over 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 175 yards. It became a listed race in 1990, and changed its name to the Bahrain Trophy in 1991.

The July Stakes

This is a group 2 horse race which is open to 2 year old colts and geldings, and this race is also run over the course of 6 furlongs. The July Stakes is one of the oldest races that is held at Newmarket, and it is the oldest surviving race for two year olds in Britain. Originally established in 1786, it was open to horses of both genders. Horses that were sired by legendary racing horses Eclipse or Highflyer needed to carry an additional weight of three pounds. When the grading system was created in 1971, this race was originally classed as a Group 3 event. The race was restricted to only colts and geldings in 1977, and then in 2003 it was promoted to a Group 2 race.

The Heritage Handicap

Also known as the bet365 Handicap Stakes, this race is run over the course of 6 furlongs and is open to 3 year olds only. This race is a Group 2 category race and is sponsored by bet365.

The Princess of Wales's Stakes

This is a 1 mile and 4 furlong race that is graded as a Group 2 event. This race is open to horses of either sex that are 3 years old or older. The event is named in honour of Alexandra of Denmark, who became Princess of Wales in 1863. Alexandra of Denmark was married to Edward VII, who became king of England in 1901 after the death of his mother, Queen Victoria. This race was initiated in 1894 and was one of Britain's most valuable races in the 19th century. The race was initially classed as Group 3 in 1971, but it was promoted to a Group 2 status in 1978.

The Sir Henry Cecil Stakes

This race is another listed horse race that is run over a distance of 1 mile and is open to 3 year old horses of either gender. The race was established in 2007 as the Xplor Conditions Stakes, and was later renamed the Stubbs Stakes and upgraded to a listed status in 2013. In 2014 it was renamed again, as the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes in memory of the British flat racing 10 time Champion Trainer.

The John Deere Handicap Stakes

The final race on the first day is a Group 3 horse race that is run over the course of 1 mile. It is open to all horses aged 3 years old and older, and is sponsored by John Deere, the American corporation that manufactures agricultural machinery and technology.

Second Day

The British EBF Maiden Stakes

This race is the first event of the second day, and is similar to the first day that kicks off with a fillies’ race. This race is also a maiden race, meaning that it features horses that have not yet won a big race or a race in that category. This race is run over 7 furlongs, making it slightly longer than the first race on day one.

Bet365 Handicap Stakes

The following event is the bet365 Handicap Stakes, which is run over a distance of 10 furlongs. This race is open to 3 year old horses and is a Group 2 category race. It is one of the many races that is sponsored by bet365.

The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes

This is also a Group 2 race, though it is run over a distance of 6 furlongs. This race is open to two year old fillies, and was established in 1947. The race has been continuously running since it was established and in 1971 it was classed as a Group 3 race. It was promoted to a Group 2 status in 1996. This race is similar to the July Stakes, and is often referred to as the female horse equivalent of that race.

Bet365 Trophy

This is followed by the bet365 Trophy, a race that is run over 1 mile and 6 furlongs. This race is open to all horses aged 4 years old and older, and it is a Group 2 classed race.

The Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes

The next event is a Group 1 race that is run over the distance of 1 mile. It is open to fillies and mares aged three years old and older. The race is named after Evelyn Boscawen, 6th Viscount Falmout who was one of the leading racehorse owners and breeders in the Victorian era. Inaugurated in 1911, this race was originally restricted to three year old fillies. In the 70s, the race was classed as a Group 3 race and it was opened to older fillies and mares. It was promoted to Group 2 in 1987.

The Cash Out At bet365 Handicap Stakes

This race is run over the course of 7 furlongs. It is a Group 3 classed race that is open to horses aged 3 years old and older.

The Moët & Chandon Handicap Stakes

This is the last race on Festival Friday. This race is 5 furlongs long and is a Group 3 classed race that is open to all horses aged 3 years old and older. This race is sponsored by Moët & Chandon, also known as Moët, which is a French winery that is famous for its high quality champagne.

Third Day

The Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes

This race is run over a distance of 7 furlongs, and is open to fillies and mares aged 3 years old and older. The Maiden Fillies' Stakes are a Group 3 graded race. As a maiden stakes, it is only open to fillies and mares that have not yet won any major races.

The Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies' Handicap Stakes

This is a Group 2 race for fillies aged 3 years old only, and is run over a distance of 7 furlongs as well. It is an exciting second race as it gives viewers the chance to see some up and coming talents.

Bet365 Mile Handicap

The next race is the bet365 Mile Handicap. This is a race that is run over the distance of 1 mile and is open to all horses aged 3 years old. This is a Group 2 graded race.

The bet365 Superlative Stakes

This is a Group 2 horse race that is run over a distance of 7 furlongs. This event was formerly named the Bernard van Cutsem Stakes in memory of the successful horse trainer who died in 1975. Inaugurated in 1986, the race was promoted to Group 3 status in 2003 and Group 2 status in 2006.

The bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap)

The Bunbury Cup is a handicap horse race that is run over the distance of 7 furlongs. Open to horses aged three years old and older, it is named in memory of Sir Charles Bunbury, who was a senior steward of the Jockey Club in the late 18th century and early 19th century. He introduced the Classics at Newmarket.

The July Cup

This is a Group 1 graded race that is open to horses aged three years old and older. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs and is considered to be one of Britain's most prestigious sprint races. Winners of this race have been crowned champion sprinters in Europe.

The Handicap Stakes

The last race in the Newmarket July Festival is the Handicap Stakes. This is a Group 3 race that is run over a distance of 1 mile and is open to horses aged 3 years old and older.

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