HAMILTON PARK’S COMMITMENT TO OWNERS & TRAINERS

2026 marks the 100-year centenary of racing at Hamilton Park with this historic season getting underway on Sunday 3 May. As we mark this milestone in our history, we are delighted to be able to share our plans for prize money and our continued commitment to Owners, Trainers and racing staff for the coming season.

We have planned the richest and highest quality of race programme ever to be staged at Hamilton Park with total prize money set to exceed £1.74M, which represents an increase of over £100,000 on last year’s record prize money. This is once again offered across 18 fixtures, having deferred a fixture to ensure that all bar one of our racedays are scheduled as seven race cards. This year’s programme continues to see investment in prize money at all levels, with every fixture due to be run for at least 25% above BHA minimum values, rising to 141% for our Sunday Series fixture, whilst more than half of our races will be staged at Class 4 or above. All races will be run for at least £1,500 above the new BHA minimum values, resulting in all races being run for no less than £7,000 with 52% of the programme due to be run for £10,000 or more.

Hamilton Park is overseen by a Board of Trustees, and as such all profits are reinvested back into the business for the good of racing and to ensure racing continues at Hamilton Park into the future. We invest in prize money, turf management and facilities to make Hamilton Park a place worth visiting and of course run your horses. The experience that we strive to offer our visiting Owners remains a key area of focus for the team, and we were incredibly proud to be named RCA/ROA Owners Racecourse of the Year for 2025 at the annual RCA Showcase & Awards. This is the second time that we have received this prestigious accolade in the three years that its been awarded, having also won the award in 2023, as well as being shortlisted in 2024.

To mark the 100-year centenary of racing at Hamilton Park, we have committed to increasing prize money by £100,000 or more for the 2026 season. With total prize money expected to exceed £1.74M, this year will see the richest race programme ever staged at Hamilton Park across 18 fixtures, having deferred our early July fixture to ensure we are able to programme seven races at all bar one of our racedays. We have once again teamed up with Darley and the British EBF to run two, high value development races worth £40,000 each, in addition to increasing prize money above the new BHA minimum values for Class 3 and Class 4 Novice and Maiden contests. We have also introduced a new Class 3 handicap on Monday 21 September worth £25,000 in memory of our former Chairman Sir Ian Good alongside further increases to some of our Class 2 and Class 3 feature races to ensure that investment is made across the programme.

As an aspirational racecourse, Hamilton Park are committed to investment into prize money to continually develop the quality of our race programme, and as such we strive to always exceed minimum values set by the BHA. The 2026 race programme will be run at 46% above the required minimum values, with individual fixtures being run for at least 25% above those levels, rising to 141% for our Sunday Series fixture on Sunday 17 May. We have implemented prize money increases and programme changes to our development races for the season which means that more than 50% of our race programme will now be staged at Class 4 or above, with no race in this year’s programme being run for less than £1,500 above the new minimum values.

With a £215,550 prize fund, our Sky Bet Sunday Series Raceday returns on the earlier date of Sunday 17 May and will be broadcast live on ITV Racing, coming quickly after our fixture on Friday 15 May. Featuring a card full of high value Class 3 and Class 4 races worth between £35,000 and £29,000 respectively, as well as a Class 2, 2-Y-O Novice contest worth £21,500. With excellent prize money on offer we’re sure to attract strong, competitive fields for a late afternoon of fantastic racing.

Our highest-grade race of the year is the Class 1 British Stallion Studs EBF Glasgow Listed Stakes, which will be staged on our centenary fixture on Friday 17 July, alongside the Class 2 Jordan Electrics Scottish Stewards’ Cup. The Glasgow Stakes boasts an impressive list of Group 1 alumni, lead most recently by 2024 winner Kalpana, who is a two-time winner of the Fillies’ & Mares’ Champion Stakes, with the most decorated graduate being quadruple Group 1 winner and now British based stallion Postponed. Over the last ten years, no less than six horses have gone on to win at international Group level having previously competed in the Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton Park. This year’s renewal will see a significant uplift in the prize fund for the race, which has been increased by 45% to £80,000. We hope that this investment will make it one of the richest races of its type in the UK this year, which in turn will continue the fine tradition of attracting high class runners to Scotland.

To view Hamilton Park’s commitment to Owners & Trainers along with details of our 2026 race programme, please click here! 

We're closer than you think!

As the second-most northernly flat racecourse in the UK, it can perhaps feel like a visit to Hamilton Park requires more than a day trip. However, with an accessible location just off of the M74 (adjoins the M6) and under an hour to either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport, Hamilton Park is closer than you might think.

We pledge the following to all Owners:

  • Hamilton Park re-invests all profits back into the company, ensuring maximum investment in prize money, turf management and facilities
  • Voted RCA/ROA Owners’ Racecourse of the Year at the 2025 RCA Showcase & Awards
  • Widely-accessible Going Reports accurately reflecting current track conditions
  • A consistent racing surface with no discernible draw bias
  • Preferential Owners hotel rate to stay at our on-site Hampton by Hilton Hotel
  • Dedicated Owners Parking adjacent to the Owners’ and Trainers’ entrance
  • Exclusive and spacious Owners & Trainers Bar overlooking the Parade Ring with access to lawn seating area and complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits
  • Exclusive Owners & Trainer desk where Director Fiona Murdoch and her team will be on hand to answer any queries
  • Exclusive use of our private Owners & Trainers Restaurant overlooking the Winners’ Enclosure
  • Up to six complimentary meals with arrival drink per raceday for each registered Owner with a declared runner or runners
  • Up to two complimentary meals with arrival drink per raceday for each registered Trainer with a declared runner or runners
  • Single Owner – entitled to 6 Owner & Trainer admission badges
  • Syndicates/Partnerships – entitled to 6 Owner & Trainer admission badges including meals, with option to receive 12 admission badges with no meals provided
  • Two general admission badges for ROA/TBA Members without a runner at ALL fixtures
  • Additional admission badges available at 50% discount

Should your horse win then our team will be on hand to help you celebrate with a trophy presentation before toasting your winning horse with a Champagne reception and a re-run of the race victory. Winning Connections will be given a copy of the victory race on a USB flash drive, along with a framed photograph as a lasting memory, as well as a Winners Memento including Champagne.

To enable us to ensure that all of the appropriate arrangements are in place, minimise risk for owners and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all attendees you must provide us with the details of those who will be attending by no later than 9:30am on the day of the race meeting.

The quickest and easiest way for you to do this is via the Racecourse PASS System https://www.rcapass.com. A simple step-by-step guide to using the system is available from the RCA Website. If you do not have access to the PASS System or need any assistance in its use, please contact the PASS Helpdesk on 01933 270333 or [email protected].

On arrival at Hamilton Park, please enter the racecourse via Gate 1 where you will be directed to the Dukes Car Park. Please display your ROA parking pass on arrival. Once parked, you will be directed to the dedicated Owners & Trainers Bar which is situated next to Dukes Entrance. A member of our Senior Management team will be on hand to register your attendance via the PASS system, and then you will be issued with your ticket for the day.

TICKET ALLOCATION

Owners & Trainers with Runners:

Hamilton Park operates the PASS System and encourages all Owners & Trainers to arrange their tickets via the online PASS concierge service or by contacting Fiona Murdoch at the racecourse directly on 07932024995 once your horse is declared.

Single Owner – entitled to 6 ‘Owner & Trainer’* admission badges

Syndicates/Partnerships – entitled to 6 ‘Owner & Trainer’* admission badges with option to receive 12 admission badges with no meals provided.

ROA/TBA Members - entitled to 2 general admission badges at ALL fixtures regardless if they have a runner.

*NB: For safety reasons, only Owner & Trainer admission tickets allow access to the exclusive Owner & Trainer facilities on course including the Parade Ring (subject to the restrictions below).

Owners must not pass their unused badges to other individuals.

We are delighted to provide the following for visiting racing personnel:

  • 5 Star Racecourse rating from the National Association of Racing Staff
  • Complimentary overnight accommodation in our on site Hampton by Hilton Hotel
  • Single occupancy rooms with private ensuite bathroom
  • Complimentary breakfast when staying overnight
  • 15% discount on all food and beverage purchases when staying overnight
  • Complimentary meal on racedays
  • Free Wi-Fi access across the racecourse
  • Free tea and coffee throughout racedays
  • Access to our Racing Staff canteen
  • Access to private day rest rooms and shower facilities
  • Best Turned Out award of at least £50 cash per race
  • £500 cash prize for the yard who wins our season’s BTO Championship
  • Box of biscuits for winning yards

Bookings for overnight accommodation and stable requirements can be arranged by emailing: [email protected] or by contacting the Clerk of the Course.

HAMILTON PARK’S COMMITMENT TO THE HORSE

The health and wellbeing of your horse is a top priority at Hamilton Park;

  • Well-appointed Stable yard with 101 stables, offering a choice of Bedmax dust-free shavings as well as high quality recycled newspaper bedding.
  • High quality equine facilities and care within stable yard, saddling boxes and wash-down areas. New trot-up area installed for 2024.
  • Veterinary services provided by leading vets from Weipers Centre Equine Hospital (University of Glasgow), The Dick Vet Equine Hospital (University of Edinburgh) and Avondale Veterinary Group.
  • Endoscopy service available on site by arrangement with the Racecourse Vet. Please note priority will be given to horses requiring emergency assistance.
  • If required, referral and transfer services are available directly to the industry-leading Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, only 18 miles away.

HorsePWR

Every single horse matters to racing. That’s why we’ll never be done in making our sport the safest and best it can be for them. All the HorsePWR information, in black and white, is available www.horsepwr.co.uk

ROA GOLD STANDARD

The ROA Racecourse Accreditation Scheme is continually seeking to improve the owners’ racecourse experience. We ask that you spare just a few minutes of your time to complete the following form about your experience on days when you have had a runner.

To complete this survey, please click here.

RACEDAY AT HOME

For those of you unable to attend on the day you will be able to download a copy of our racecard which will be sent to you by Weatherbys. If your horse should win we will endeavour to send a digital memento and winning photograph to you either directly or via your trainer. Our raceday photographer will be capturing images of every horse running and can be viewed at www.grossick.co.uk.

WEATHER AND GOING

Our state-of-the-art Turftrax Weather Station is located on site and provides live weather data updates every 30 mins. To view the data from this station,  please click here.

Local weather forecasts are available on the Met Office website, please click here.

For the latest Going Updates please visit please click here to visit the British Horseracing Authority website. Updates are available from 7 days prior to each racemeeting.

Going Updates can also be sourced on Twitter by following @HamiltonParkRC

For more information, Owners and Trainers can contact Hamilton Park on 01698 283806 or [email protected]

BECOMING AN OWNER

From breath-taking mornings watching your racehorse on the gallops, to a thrilling day at the races, owning a racehorse can be easier and less expensive that you might imagine.

Shared racehorse ownership allows you to discover the excitement of ownership together with likeminded people.

For more information on all types of Ownership including Syndicates and Racing Clubs, please visit http://www.inthepaddock.co.uk/ or the Racehorse Owners Association

Alternatively, please contact one of Hamilton Park Racecourse’s local Scottish trainers to find out about opportunities to get involved in racehorse ownership in Scotland and beyond. http://www.scottishracing.co.uk/map-locations/

CLERK OF THE COURSE 

Carol Bartley

Call: 07734303862

Email: [email protected]