July festival crowds up six per cent as Newmarket boss hails meeting as a showcase for the 'fantastic sport we have'

Newmarket boss Sophie Able said this year’s July meeting showcased "what a fantastic sport we have" after three days of increased attendances and the largest overall crowd for the meeting since the coronavirus pandemic.

The total attendance of 36,591 for the three-day meeting was a six per cent increase on last year, and builds on the ten per cent year-on-year increase in spectators at the Guineas meeting in May.

Able said: "The weather we're seeing at the moment opens up people's options in terms of what they can do with their free time, but I think these three days have shown what a fantastic sport we have and what a compelling, exciting and entertaining spectacle British racing can put on for people from all walks of life.

"Huge congratulations to all the winning connections this week, especially the Godolphin team, who won an incredible eight of the 21 races staged over the three days and Richard Hughes, whose success in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup was his first Group 1 victory as a trainer.

"It's been fantastic to see so many people out enjoying the sunshine, the racing, our range of different hospitality offerings and the post-racing music over all three days."

Temperatures exceeded 30C with unbroken sunshine in Newmarket, resulting in crowds on each day of the meeting being the highest since Covid-19. The largest attendance of the week was on Saturday, when 14,704 people were on hand to watch No Half Measures win the July Cup at 66-1.

No Half Measures won the July Cup in front of a crowd of 14,704Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Able has previously outlined how Newmarket had developed a strategy to engage to a greater extent with the local community, a process that has been coming to fruition in 2025.

She praised the staff at the racecourse, with this year’s meeting taking place during a heatwave, saying: "The whole team here have worked so hard to promote the event, get the site looking fantastic in such challenging and hot conditions, and running the three days so smoothly. 

"Andrew Morris, our clerk of the course, and our head groundsman, Alan Hatherley, and all the grounds team deserve huge praise for the dedication and long hours they have put in to keep the course in such great condition, both visually and in terms of maintaining all the facilities for our participants.

"They've been out preparing and watering the track at all hours of the day and night, and so much of the success is testament to what they do."

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