Newmarket Today – 9th August 2026 Edition
π NEWMARKET β What’s Happening This Week
Sunday 9 August 2026
Newmarket is moving into another busy racing-and-entertainment fortnight, with Craig David, Summer Saturday racing, Kaiser Chiefs and National Racehorse Week all coming up.
ποΈ Latest Local News & Developments
π Racing was in the spotlight yesterday
Newmarket hosted The Greatest Raceday on Saturday 8 August, with the Sweet Solera Stakes among the day’s races. The meeting also attracted national racing coverage, with Graceful Song among the horses attracting attention.
β½ Local football season delayed
The Anglian Combination League, covering 85 amateur teams across Norfolk and Suffolk, has postponed the start of its 2026/27 season until 29 August because many grass pitches have become dangerously hard following the exceptionally dry summer.
That is relevant to Newmarket and the surrounding area, where several local clubs use grass pitches.
π Police community pop-up
Suffolk Police will have officers available at:
Friday 14 August, 11amβ12 noon
π The Racing Centre, Newmarket
This is a local community engagement opportunity rather than a formal event, but useful for residents with local policing concerns.
π ΏοΈ Free first-hour parking trial
The free first-hour parking trial introduced by West Suffolk Council in Newmarket continues. The scheme began on 22 June and is intended to encourage town-centre visits and support local businesses.
π€ What’s On in Newmarket
π€ Craig David TS5 β THIS FRIDAY
Friday 14 August
π Newmarket Racecourses, The July Course
ποΈ Tickets currently from Β£36.96 including booking fee
Racing begins at 5:18pm, with Craig David TS5 scheduled to perform at approximately 8:25β9:55pm.
This is one of the biggest events in Newmarket this week and combines evening racing with the concert.
Craig David TS5 β official Newmarket Racecourses information
π Summer Saturday
Saturday 15 August
π Newmarket Racecourses β July Course
- Gates: 11:35am
- First race: 1:35pm
- Last race: 5pm
- U18s go free with the appropriate adult
- Face painting and a bouncy castle for younger visitors
The feature attraction is the Grey Horse Handicap, with a field of grey horses.
π Afternoon Racing
π Newmarket Racecourses β July Course
- Gates: 12 noon
- First race: 2pm
- Last race: 4:51pm
- Tickets from Β£15
- U18s go free
This is the final July Course afternoon meeting of the summer.
πΈ Kaiser Chiefs + Scouting For Girls
Saturday 22 August
π Newmarket Racecourses β July Course
Racing starts at 1:33pm, followed by Scouting For Girls and then the Kaiser Chiefs, with the concert scheduled for approximately 6pmβ8:45pm.
Tickets currently start at Β£40.32 including booking fee.
Kaiser Chiefs β official Newmarket Racecourses information
π National Racehorse Week
22β31 August 2026
This is one I’ll be following particularly closely because it is exactly the sort of event that makes Newmarket distinctive.
The programme includes opportunities to visit racing yards and studs and see what happens behind the scenes.
One confirmed local event is:
π΄ Ace Stud
Saturday 22 August
π Dullingham, near Newmarket
ποΈ Free entry
Ace Stud is an integrated thoroughbred breeding and racing operation. The event is part of National Racehorse Week and gives visitors an opportunity to see behind the scenes.
π The National Stud
Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 August
The National Stud, in Newmarket, is also opening as part of National Racehorse Week.
This is potentially one of the most interesting things in the entire August Newmarket calendar for anyone interested in horses.
ποΈ Markets & Town Centre
Newmarket Market
Every Tuesday & Saturday, 9amβ3pm
π Market Square car park, behind The Guineas Shopping Centre
The market has operated in Newmarket for more than 800 years and currently includes produce, fish, cakes, jewellery and other goods.
Inside The Indies
Throughout August
π Newmarket town centre
Love Newmarket is running a competition encouraging people to explore the town’s independent businesses, with a Β£20 Cook voucher as the prize.
Summer Thursdays
Every Thursday through 27 August
π Memorial Gardens, Newmarket
Free family entertainment including face painting, inflatables and crafts.
π§ Roads & Transport
One definite upcoming roadwork to put in the diary:
Ashley Road
Thursday 27 August
π Ashley Road, Newmarket
Cambridgeshire County Council’s current road-improvement programme lists a one-day closure and diversion from 9:30amβ3:30pm for surface dressing.
There are also works on nearby roads around Ashley and Cheveley that could affect journeys around the wider Newmarket area.
β Newmarket β This Week’s Picks
π Biggest night: Craig David TS5 β 14 August
π Best family racing day: Summer Saturday β 15 August
πΈ Biggest music event: Kaiser Chiefs + Scouting For Girls β 22 August
π΄ Most uniquely Newmarket: National Racehorse Week β 22β31 August
π¨βπ©βπ§ Free family activity: Summer Thursdays β Memorial Gardens
ποΈ Regular town-centre option: Newmarket Market β Tuesdays & Saturdays
π¨ Worth noting: Anglian Combination football season delayed until 29 August
Overall: Newmarket has arguably the stronger entertainment programme over the next fortnight, particularly if you like racing and live music. Craig David this Friday and Kaiser Chiefs on 22 August are the two big headline events, while National Racehorse Week is the one I’d particularly recommend keeping an eye on because it offers access to parts of the racing industry that you don’t normally get to see.
