Glorious Goodwood: the must-have guide to five days of racing on the South Downs

The Qatar Goodwood festival is a five-day meeting where a number of the best horses in Britain and Ireland compete in top-level racing action. There are 35 races over the course of the meeting, which begins on Tuesday with the Unibet Handicap (1.50).

All of the action will be aired on Racing TV, while ITV will show four free-to-air races per day, beginning with the opening race on each day's card. You can also stream and bet on races at the festival on the Racing Post website and mobile app.

Why is the Goodwood festival so special?

Founded in 1801 by the Duke of Richmond, the first public meeting at Goodwood occurred in 1802. Over the years 'Glorious Goodwood', as it became known, became a fixture of the British summer with King Edward VII being a notable fan of the meeting.

Members of the public who fail to secure a ticket can still enjoy fantastic views free of charge from the vantage point of the Trundle, a hill on the north-east of the racecourse.

More than 100,000 people make their way to the South Downs for this prestigious meeting annually and are treated to a host of top-quality races, with the the best trainers, jockeys and owners in attendance.

This year there will be £5,175,000 in prize-money on offer.

What is the feature race?

There are three Group 1 races over the five-day meeting and the most prestigious is the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday (3.35), which is run over a mile and is open to three-year-olds and older.

A total of £1 million is available in prize-money for the race and has been won by some of the best horses in racing's history. Frankel, who was scored in 2010 and 2011, is the only horse to have won the race twice.

What are the other highlights?

On the Tuesday, the Group 1 Goodwood Cup (3.35) will see the John Gosden-trained Stradivarius go for a hat-trick of victories in the race, which is run over two miles.

It is supplemented by two Group 2 races – the Vintage Stakes (2.25), which is a 7f race for two-year-olds, and the Lennox Stakes (3.00) which is open to older horses over the same distance.

As well as the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes (3.00) pits the top sprinting juveniles against each other.

On Thursday the Nassau Stakes (3.35), the final Group 1 race of the meeting, takes place over 1m2f and is open to fillies and mares. The contest was won last year by Wild Illusion for Charlie Appleby.

The other major races on day three are the Group 2 Richmond Stakes (2.25), a 6f dash for two-year-olds and the Group 3 Gordon Stakes (3.00).

The biggest race on the Friday of the Goodwood Festival is the Group 2 King George Stakes (3.35) run over 5f, where this year Battaash will attempt to win the race for the third year running.

Friday also sees the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes (1.50) and Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes (2.25) take place, while the Unibet Golden Mile Handicap (3.00) will be the big betting race of the day.

Saturday is dominated by the Stewards' Cup (3.40) – won last year by Gifted Master – and also features the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes (3.00) over 1m6f.

What is the dress code for the Goodwood festival?

There is an enforced dress code in the Richmond enclosure, where men are required to wear a jacket accompanied by a tie, cravat or polo-neck sweater. Women are encouraged to dress stylishly with a relaxed feel.

While there is a less formal dress code in the Gordon enclosure, t-shirts, sleeveless tops, sports attire, trainers, shorts, ripped/torn jeans and fancy dress are not permitted.

Can I still get tickets?

There is very limited availability for tickets, but you can visit the official website for details.

Who should I bet on at the Goodwood festival?

That's the question everyone wants answered! Have a look at the cards and check out our free bet offers to start with, then stay tuned to the Racing Post website, mobile app and newspaper for our expert betting advice and all the latest news in the run-up to Saturday's big race.

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