The British summertime is peppered by a steady stream of top-class racing festivals, with the next major meeting seemingly never too far away. July sees flat racing’s HQ get in on the act as Newmarket hosts the excellent July Festival. Squeezing in nine contests rated at Listed level or above, the highlight comes on the closing Saturday, as a field of crack sprinters set off in pursuit of July Cup glory.
As with so many of the biggest Newmarket races, the July Cup is a truly historic affair, having first been run in 1876, when Queen Victoria sat atop the throne. Close to 150 years on, the Group 1 event over six furlongs remains one of the flagship sprint contests of the season, with £600,000 (2024) in total prize money up for grabs. Open to colts, geldings, and fillies aged three years and older, the event helps determine who is the quickest of the quick, with previous winners including the sprinting superstars Diadem, Abernant, Oasis Dream, Muhaarar, and Harry Angel.
2024
- 1st - Mill Stream 11/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
- 2nd - Swingalong 22/1, Jockey: Clifford Lee, Trainer: Karl Burke
- 3rd - Vandeek 4/1, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Simon & ed Crisford
2023
- 1st – Shaquille 5/2J - Jockey: Rossa Ryan, Trainer: Julie Camacho
- 2nd – Run To Freedom 28/1 - Jockey: Trevor Whelan, Trainer: Henry Candy
- 3rd – Kinross 4/1 - Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Ralph Beckett
2022
- 1st – Alcohol Free 14/1 - Jockey: Rob Hornby, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 2nd – Naval Crown 4/1 - Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 3rd – Artotius 8/1 - Jockey: Jamie Spencer, Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman
2021
- 1st – Starman 9/2, - Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: Ed Walker
- 2nd – Dragon Symbol 7/2F - Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Archie Watson
- 3rd – Oxted 11/2 - Jockey: Cieren Fallon, Trainer: Roger Teal
2020
- 1st – Oxted 12/1 - Jockey: Cieren Fallon, Trainer: Roger Teal
- 2nd – Sceptical 18/5 - Jockey: Frankie Dettori:, Trainer: Denis Gerard Hogan
- 3rd – Golden Horde 2/1 - Jockey: Adam Kirby, Trainer: Clive Cox
2019
- 1st – Ten Sovereigns 9/2 - Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd – Advertise 3/1F - Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Martyn Meade
- 3rd – Fairyland 10/1 - Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2018
- 1st – U S Navy Flag 8/1 - Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd – Brando 14/1 - Jockey: Tom Eaves, Trainer: Kevin Ryan
- 3rd – Fleet Review 50/1 - Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2017
- 1st – Harry Angel 9/2 - Jockey: Adam Kirby, Trainer: Clive Cox
- 2nd – Limato 4/1 - Jockey: Harry Bentley, Trainer: Henry Candy
- 3rd – Brando 28/1 - Jockey: Tom Eaves, Trainer: Kevin Ryan
2016
- 1st – Limato 9/2F - Jockey: Harry Bentley, Trainer: Henry Candy
- 2nd – Suedois 25/1 - Jockey: Robert Havlin, Trainer: David O’Meara
- 3rd – Quiet Reflection 7/1 - Jockey: Dougie Costello, Trainer: Karl Burke
2015
- 1st – Muhaarar 2/1J - Jockey: Paul Hanagan, Trainer: Charles Hills
- 2nd – Tropics 25/1 - Jockey: Pat Cosgrave, Trainer: Dean Ivory
- 3rd – Eastern Impact 50/1 - Jockey: Jack Garrity, Trainer: Richard Fahey
2014
- 1st – Slade Power 7/4F - Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Edward Lynam
- 2nd – Tropics 66/1 - Jockey: Robert Winston, Trainer: Dean Ivory
- 3rd – Gregorian 12/1 - Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John Gosden