The final racing meeting of 2026 at York Racecourse, featuring the traditional York welcome for students returning to university.
York Races return to York Racecourse on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October for the October Meeting, the final racing fixture of the 2026 season. Gates open at 11:15 on both days, with racing starting from 13:30. If you've been meaning to get to the course this year, this is your last chance.
The two days have a different feel to them. The Saturday has grown into one of the busiest weekend racedays of the month nationwide, with the grandstands full of buzz. The Friday is prized for easy access to some of the best views and facilities on the turf, so it's often the quieter of the two. A regular feature of the finale is the York welcome for students returning to the region's universities, staged in a marquee in the middle of the course with a DJ set after racing.
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You can pick your enclosure based on the atmosphere you're after. There's the formal County Stand, where jacket and tie are required for gentlemen, and the relaxed, picnic-friendly Clocktower Enclosure, which doesn't need advance booking. Children under 18 enter free with an adult. Gates open at 11:15, racing from 13:30.
