π NEWMARKET β What’s Happening This Week
Sunday 27 September 2026
Yesterday was arguably Newmarket’s biggest Saturday of the autumn so far: the Cambridgeshire Meeting reached its finale and the Newmarket Sausage Festival took over Market Square.
The town now moves towards Sun Chariot Day on 3 October, followed by the huge Dubai Future Champions Festival on 9β10 October.
π Cambridgeshire Meeting β RESULTS
Yesterday, Saturday 26 September
The final day of the Cambridgeshire Meeting featured the Cheveley Park Stakes, Middle Park Stakes and the bet365 Cambridgeshire.
The headline results were:
π Cheveley Park Stakes: Sun Goddess
π Middle Park Stakes: Orthodox
π Cambridgeshire: Pierre Royal, at 33/1
π₯ Cambridgeshire: Crest of Fire
π₯ Cambridgeshire: Altareq
The Cambridgeshire itself attracted a 27-runner field, with Pierre Royal winning by a short head.
That’s quite a result to go into the local sporting section this week β a 33/1 winner in the town’s flagship heritage handicap.
π Newmarket Sausage Festival
The free Sausage Festival also took place yesterday in Market Square.
10amβ3pm β Market Square
The 2026 event featured:
25+ artisan food and drink traders
Live entertainment
The new Cookery Theatre
Sausage Dog Competition
Sausage Pan Races
Whack a Sausage
Best Flavoured Sausage Roll Competition
Hot-dog themed activities
The Cookery Theatre included demonstrations from Musk’s Sausages, West Suffolk College culinary students, Hintlesham Hall’s executive chef Lee Cooper and Bedford Lodge’s new executive head chef Jordan Ryan.
So the two major Newmarket events yesterday were genuinely complementary:
World-class racing at the Rowley Mile + a very Newmarket food festival in the town centre.
π What’s Next at the Racecourse?
βοΈ Sun Chariot Day
Saturday 3 October 2026
π Newmarket Racecourse β Rowley Mile
This is the next major meeting.
Gates: 10:25am
First race: 12:25pm
Last race: 3:55pm
The headline race is the Group 1 BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes, run over a mile for fillies and mares.
There are seven races on the current programme, with the Β£200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes also on the card.
Under-18s go free with a responsible adult.
Sun Chariot Day β official Newmarket Racecourse information
π Dubai Future Champions Festival
Friday 9 β Saturday 10 October
π Newmarket Racecourse β Rowley Mile
This is the next major international racing weekend.
Friday 9 October
The headline is the Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile, alongside the Dubai Challenge Stakes.
Saturday 10 October
The programme includes the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes and the Cesarewitch Handicap, the latter forming the second half of the historic Autumn Double with the Cambridgeshire.
The two-day festival features a substantial collection of Group races and is regarded by the Jockey Club as one of the jewels of the autumn season.
π¨ What’s On in Newmarket
πΌοΈ James McNeill Whistler β Exhibition on Screen
Wednesday 30 September, 5:15pm
π Kings Cinema, 16 Fitzroy Street, Newmarket, CB8 0JW
A filmed exploration of Tate Britain’s major James McNeill Whistler retrospective, including works from the exhibition and the story behind the artist.
Kings Cinema – 01638 475322
π The Misanthrope β National Theatre Live
Thursday 1 October, 7pm
π Kings Cinema, Fitzroy Street
Sandra Oh stars in a modern reworking of MoliΓ¨re’s The Misanthrope, filmed live at the National Theatre.
π΅ Madness β Take It Or Leave It
Thursday 1 October, 4:45pm
π Kings Cinema
A restored 1981 film telling the story of the formation of Madness and the emergence of their distinctive ska-pop sound.
That’s a particularly good choice for a music fan β although obviously not a live concert.
πΊ Markets & fairs
ποΈ Newmarket Market
The regular market continues on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
πͺ Vintage Furniture & Fashion Flea
Saturday 17 October, 10:30amβ3pm
π Newmarket Racecourse, Cambridge Road, CB8 0TF
This is a new event for the racecourse, bringing together mid-century, vintage and retro furniture, homewares, lighting and 1920sβ1980s vintage fashion.
Early entry is 10:30am; general entry from 11:30am.
π Racing beyond next weekend
After Sun Chariot Day, the next major fixture is:
Dubai Future Champions Festival
9β10 October
and then:
October Thursday
Thursday 22 October
π Rowley Mile
Gates: 11:45am
First race: 1:45pm
Last race: 5:15pm
Tickets currently from Β£15.
The final meeting of the 2026 Newmarket season is then:
π Final Meeting
Friday 30 β Saturday 31 October
The Saturday is officially the final raceday of the 2026 season.
ποΈ Local business & community news
One useful business change to keep on the radar is the closure of the Table Table restaurant at The Ormonde, which closed to the public on 3 September. Premier Inn guests continue to have food and drink arrangements through the hotel.
That’s worth including because a local restaurant closure is just as relevant as a new opening.
Meanwhile, The Lodge at The National Stud is now operating as a cafΓ©/restaurant within the Stud, offering seasonal food and drinks with free parking.
The Lodge at The National Stud – 01638 663464
π Roads & transport
Yesterday’s Cambridgeshire Meeting and Sausage Festival inevitably created extra traffic around Newmarket, but the major event pressure has now passed.
The next significant traffic increase is likely to be Saturday 3 October, when Sun Chariot Day brings another substantial crowd to the Rowley Mile.
For anyone driving to the racecourse, the Jockey Club currently confirms free public parking for racegoers and notes that the venue itself is cashless, although on-course betting facilities still accept cash.
π¦οΈ Newmarket weather
There’s an unusually warm spell coming for the time of year. Tuesday and Wednesday could reach about 25Β°C, with Thursday beginning wetter before improving. Friday looks particularly good, and Saturday currently looks mild.
So the forecast is actually looking quite promising for Sun Chariot Day on 3 October, although that’s still six days away and the detail will inevitably change.
β Newmarket β My Picks
π Sporting result of the week: Pierre Royal wins the Cambridgeshire at 33/1
π Event of the week: Sausage Festival β yesterday
π¨ Best culture: Whistler β 30 Sept
π΅ Best music-related event: Madness β 1 Oct
π Next big race day: Sun Chariot Day β 3 Oct
π Biggest upcoming racing weekend: Dubai Future Champions β 9β10 Oct
πͺ Best upcoming non-racing event: Vintage Furniture & Fashion Flea β 17 Oct
π½οΈ Business change: The Ormonde restaurant closed to the public on 3 Sept
Overall
Newmarket has just come through a huge weekend, with the Cambridgeshire Meeting and Sausage Festival both taking place yesterday. The racing produced a proper surprise in 33/1 winner Pierre Royal, while the Sausage Festival continues to develop into a substantial local food-and-family event.
The good news is that the racing calendar doesn’t let up: Sun Chariot Day is next Saturday, followed by the Dubai Future Champions Festival the following weekend.
β This Week at a Glance
Big recent event September cultural programme Cambridgeshire + Sausage Festival
Best next event High Notes & Low Jokes β 1 Oct Sun Chariot Day β 3 Oct
Best music High Notes & Low Jokes Madness film β 1 Oct
Best market Saturday Craft/Food/Vintage Vintage Flea β 17 Oct
New business news Quay & Fen planned The Lodge / Ormonde change
Weather Warm spell midweek Warm spell midweek
Big sporting date β Dubai Future Champions β 9β10 Oct
Bottom line: Newmarket’s autumn racing season is now in full swing.
