Friday Night Live: Your Gateway to Racing
What is Friday Night Live?
Friday Night Live is racing at its most social and the best atmosphere perfectly designed for the younger generation to enjoy a night at the races.
In partnership with Invades, the group that organises the highly successful university racedays, it’s a series of evening race meetings staged under floodlights, but it is more than just that.
It’s designed to feel fast, fun and easy to get into. It’s high-quality racing in a lively atmosphere. The focus is as much on the experience as it is on the action on the track.
If you think racing is all early starts and quiet afternoons, Friday Night Live is where that idea gets turned on its head – and you could be on ITV too, as they show the action live.
What to expect at Friday Night Live?
The current fixtures for Friday Night Live is exclusively Flat racing, which means no jumps are involved, but it is still just as competitive and exciting.
Expect a huge buzz of horses thundering past the winning post, mixed with a big party vibe. It is designed to help bring the fun of racing to young people. Not only can you cheer on your bets, but you can get up close and personal to the horses at the parade ring beforehand.
The Racing Post’s brilliant Pocket Post is the best guide to helping you pick out your winners. It is designed to be easily accessible, not just in size, but give you an easy-to-read racecard, learn racing terminology, easily read our Smart View and find tips from experts.
If you need help understanding the racecard, and picking your winner, then you can read our handy guide to reading the racecard. Alternatively, you can use Racing Post’s Smart View racecards that does the heavy lifting for you!
If it is your first raceday, make sure to do all of this, but get the vibe the betting ring has to offer – make sure to get the best price on your horse! Plenty of tasty food options will be available too.
Friday Night Live has gone above and beyond to bring the party to racing. A DJ, live music, interactive games are all on show, as well as discounted drinks through the night.
You don’t need a high level of racing knowledge to enjoy horse racing, whether you pick a horse at random, follow the favourite, or just watch for the spectacle. Friday Night Live is designed to be accessible for all.
There are at least seven high-quality races each night, with the total prize-money soaring in excess of £240,000, but the series has a whole emphasis on creating a welcoming environment for first-time racegoers.
When and where is Friday Night Live?
Friday Night Live is scheduled to take place across two more racedays early in 2026.
- March 20 at Wolverhampton
- March 27 at Newcastle
Where to buy tickets for Friday Night Live?
Tickets can be purchased through each racecourse’s website. Students can pick up their tickets through Invades, which also offers discounted travel to and from the racecourses.
- Wolverhampton tickets (from £19)
- Newcastle tickets (from £12)
- INVADES website – Tickets available to purchase for all events