Newton Abbot
Date of Review: 13th May 2026
RCA Reviewers: Dave & Ray
Address: The Racecourse, Newton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 3AF
Website: https://newtonabbotracing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewtonAbbotRacecourse/
X: https://x.com/NewtonAbbotRace
Email: management@newtonabbotracing.co
Phone: 01626 353235
Accommodation: https://www.booking.com/landmark/gb/newton-abbot-racecourse1.en-gb.html
Course Information: Newton Abbot Racecourse is a left-handed, turf National Hunt (jumps) track, oval-shaped and around one and a half miles in circumference. It is a compact course with relatively short straights and tight bends.
Aerial View of Newton Abbot Racecourse (Image credited to Google Earth)
It has seven fences per circuit, with a very short run-in on the hurdles course after the last fence. Due to the characteristics of the course, it suits nimble, prominent, front-running horses who travel well and like to lead. It also suits horses that can jump well, as the fences come quickly on the tight circuit. An excellent video of a ride around the racecourse from a jockey's viewpoint can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/669356440?fl=pl&fe=cm
The Racecourse Advisor Guide to Newton Abbot Racecourse: Newton Abbot Racecourse is situated just to the north of the market town of Newton Abbot, Devon, in the Southwest of England, on the banks of the River Teign, close to the holiday hotspots of Dawlish, Teignmouth and Torquay. It is the most westerly based racecourse in Great Britain. It has a rich history of horse racing and has been in its current location since 1886; therefore, this year (2026) marks its 160th anniversary. The main grandstand was opened in 1969, and corporate facilities were added in 1990.
Newton Abbot also has several connections to the Royal Family. The Queen Mother officially opened the main grandstand in 1969, and Prince Charles had his last ride in a race at the track when partnering his grandmother’s horse, Upton Grey, to finish ninth in the spring of 1981. The racecourse holds around 19 National Hunt fixtures per year between March and October.
Location Map – Newton Abbot Racecourse Course Access:
By Road: The racecourse is 18 miles south of Exeter and the M5. From the north: follow the A380 towards Torquay after leaving the M5 at Junction 31. From Plymouth and Cornwall, leave the A38 at the junction signposted Newton Abbot, following the A383 until the main roundabout on the outskirts of the town. Take the first exit for the A381, signposted to the Racecourse and Kingsteignton. There is ample free parking available in the centre of the racecourse. Please note that the main car entrance is via Greenhill Way, not the Tesco roundabout.
By Rail: Newton Abbot has its own railway station within a three-quarters of a mile walk to the course. Newton Abbot station is on the mainline from London Paddington
By Air: The nearest airport to Newton Abbot Racecourse is Exeter (EXT) Airport, which is 15 miles away. Other nearby airports include Bristol (BRS) (70.6 miles) and Southampton (SOU) (144 miles). Rating: 6/10.
Parking: There is ample free parking available in the centre of the racecourse. Rating: 10/10.
Pricing: On the day of our visit, it was a Wednesday evening National Hunt (jumps) meeting. It was a seven-race card, consisting of two Class 5 races, four Class 4 races and one Class 3 race. Of the seven races, two had four runners, and two other races had four and five runners, respectively. So, it must be said, relatively low-level racing. On the day, the racecourse operated a “double enclosure” policy, which we are not great fans of. Entrance to the Paddock Enclosure, which gives you full access to the entire racecourse, including the finishing line and parade ring, was £22.00 or £19.00 if booked online in advance. The Course Enclosure, which restricts access to the finishing post and parade ring, was £15.00 or £13.00 if booked online in advance.
Disappointingly, there are no concessions whatsoever for OAPs or students. Children under 18 get in for free when booked in advance, and proof of age is required on entry. There was a Freddie Mercury/Queen tribute band playing after the meeting, and it was free. There was a “Pasty & a Pint” offer for £8, which is exactly what it says on the can: a pasty and a pint of beer. However, this had to be booked online in advance.
There are two restaurants: The Paddock and Winning Post restaurants, but for some completely unknown reason, pricing is not shown on the website, and you are required to contact the racecourse by phone for more details. Rating: 6/10.
Viewing: The overall viewing experience at Newton Abbot Racecourse is excellent. The course is flat, and there are no obstructions such as trees or buildings to spoil the view. The horses can be seen 100% of the time during a race, regardless of the distance or starting point. It is one of the best viewing experiences we have seen on our travels. After entering the racecourse, the first stand you see on your right-hand side is the Course enclosure.
The Course Enclosure – Newton Abbot Racecourse
It is a large stand of around twenty concrete terraced steps. It is covered but has no seating whatsoever. There are some picnic benches on the lawn in front of the stand, and it is a considerable distance away from the finishing post, and you do not have access to the parade ring.
The Paddock Enclosure – Newton Abbot Racecourse
If you continue walking, you will reach the Paddock Enclosure. Your ticket is checked by security staff, and you are allowed through. Again, it is a relatively large stand with approximately twenty concrete terraced steps. It is well covered by a roof, and the sides are enclosed, so protection from the elements is excellent if needed. At the rear of the stand are four rows of flip-down padded seats. Some of these are reserved for annual members, and the rest can be purchased for £3.00 each, which we feel is unnecessary. With entrance costing £22.00 to the stand, these seats should, in our opinion, be free. To the right of the stand (when viewing the racecourse) are the hospitality boxes. As mentioned previously, the viewing from this vantage point is truly excellent. There is also a large portable TV screen positioned just after the winning post. Rating: 10/10.
Parade Ring / Winners Enclosure: The Parade Ring is positioned immediately behind the Paddock Enclosure. It is oval in shape, turfed in the middle and of a decent size.
The Parade Ring & Winners Enclosure – Newton Abbot Racecourse
The winners’ enclosure is situated inside the parade ring at the front. Access around the ring is only about 60% because the saddling enclosures are at the back of the ring and the stables area is to its right. There are four raised viewing platforms, two at each side, which is good. Immediately to the left of the ring is the jockeys'/weighing room. In our opinion, it could have done with a bit of colour in the form of a few shrubs, potted plants or hanging baskets around the area. However, as far as parade rings go, we have seen much worse. Rating: 6/10.
Bookmakers / Betting Facilities: The main on-course bookmakers are located on a large concourse area directly in front of the Paddock Enclosure. On the day of our visit, there were around fifteen bookies plying their trade, which was ample.
The Main Bookmakers Ring – Newton Abbot Racecourse
There are also numerous Britbet (Tote) concessions around the racecourse, along with numerous William Hill outlets. Placing a bet and picking up are the least of your worries. Rating: 10/10.
Catering: Here at Racecourse Advisor, we enjoy doing “racecourse reviews” rather than restaurant reviews, and we do not pretend to be food critics. We aim to provide you with an overview of the culinary options and prices available at the racecourse on race days. On the day of our visit to Newton Abbot, it must be said that the catering options available were excellent. The main restaurant is the Paddock Suite Eaterie and bar at the top of the Paddock Enclosure.
Paddock Suite Eaterie & Bar – Newton Abbot Racecourse
It’s a carvery serving your choice of beef, ham, pork, or chicken with all the trimmings for £18.00 each. It also has soup for £6.00, a selection of sandwiches for £5.50 each, or a cream tea deal for £6.50. We didn’t partake, but the food did look good, and it was very busy. The bar area was serving Carlsberg lager, Thatcher’s Gold cider and Tribute ale for £5.50 a pint. Estrella Lager and draft Guinness were £5.90 a pint. A glass of house wine was £4.50 or £6.00, depending on the size. All spirits were £4.00 each. Which, in our opinion, is tremendous value for money compared to many other racecourses we have visited.
They have a system where you pay a £1.00 deposit for a glass, and each time you buy a drink, the glass is replaced with a fresh one. At the end of the day or when you leave, you hand in your glass and receive your £1.00 refund. This area also has an outside terrace area directly overlooking the parade ring.
On the ground floor of the Paddock stand, there are numerous other eating and drinking establishments. The most notable being Silks Champagne and coffee bar.
The Silks Champagne & Coffee Bar – Newton Abbot Racecourse
This is a little place with highchairs and tables that serves wine, coffee, and snacks in a relaxed yet smart environment. It also has an outdoor terrace with aluminium tables and chairs. In here, a large variety of wines could be purchased, ranging in price from £22.00 to £25.50 per bottle, depending on your tastes. Bottles of Champagne could be had for £70.00 to £250.00, depending on how deep your pockets are.
Another eating area is Café Alfresco, which is located between the Paddock and Course enclosures. This too has an outdoor decked seating area, and it was knocking out the more traditional race-day grub, such as a jumbo pork sausage for £8.00. A slow-roasted pork bap for £7.50 or a 6-oz beefburger for £6.50, and a range of teas, coffees and hot chocolate priced from £2.50 to £3.40.
The downstairs area of the Paddock Enclosure also has a number of other bars, such as The Thatcher’s Bar, which was selling a range and variety of ciders. The Tribute Bar and The Vines Bar, which had a selection of wines, Pimms, and Prosecco on hand. In addition to the above, there was also a good range of street food vendors in attendance, selling anything from Greek Gyros, burgers and hot dogs and a “Fast Fare” menu of roasted falafel for £8.50
Street Food Vendors – Newton Abbot Racecourse
Or a bowl of beef chilli, or a basket of breaded chicken for £9.50, or a plate of BBQ pulled pork for £9.50. Overall, an excellent range of catering outlets to suit all tastes and all pockets. Rating: 10/10.
Guinness Standard: Draft Guinness was available at the bars for £5.90 per pint, which in our opinion is excellent value. It was served in thick plastic pint pots, and it was nicely chilled with a creamy head. Excellent! Rating: 10/10.
Friendliness of Course Staff: Plenty of course staff were available, chatty, and very helpful. The racecourse was also patrolled by a good number of litter pickers, keeping the place clean and tidy, which was nice to see. There was also an above-average number of security guards on duty at the course, which seems to be a common theme at the racecourse located down the south-west coast of England and Wales. Rating 10/10.
Pros & Cons: Newton Abbot racecourse has a lot going for it, and the pros certainly outweigh the cons. The parking, viewing, catering, Guinness, and staff are excellent. The only con we have is the ticket pricing. £22.00 on the gate with no concessions, and then a further £3.00 if you want a seat in the Paddock Enclosure, is, in our opinion, pushing it a bit too far to watch low-grade racing, with relatively very few runners. As always, here at Racecourse Advisor, we ask ourselves at the end of each review: would we return? The answer is very simple: yes, we would. If you are visiting the south-west and fancy a day out at the races, then this place should be high on your list. Rating: 8/10.
Wi-Fi/Internet Connection: A good, free internet connection is available at the racecourse, and you only need to enter your name and email address to get online.
The entire day's racing results can be found here: https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/2026-05-13/newton-abbot/118786
Facilities and Location Map of Newton Abbot Racecourse (image credited to Newton Abbot Racecourse)
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