Thursday 13 August 2026: Today's UK Horse Racing Overview
Thursday's racing card gives punters plenty to get stuck into, with four active UK venues staging 24 races between them this afternoon and evening. The headline meeting is undoubtedly Redcar, where a top prize of £45,000 makes it the richest card of the day, but there is quality to be found at Wincanton, Kempton Park and Bangor-on-Dee too. The bad news comes from Essex, where Chelmsford City's six-race evening card has been abandoned following a BHA Inspector inspection – a frustrating blow for connections and punters alike, with the cancellation confirmed more than 72 hours in advance. Here is everything you need to know about today's UK racing.
Bangor-on-Dee – Afternoon Flat Racing From 14:15
Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse gets proceedings underway this afternoon, with the first of six flat races going to post at 14:15. The going is Good to Firm, Good in Places – conditions that will suit the speedier, nimble types who handle quick ground well. The top prize on offer is £10,000, keeping this firmly in the grassroots end of the flat calendar, but there is no shortage of interest for keen-eyed punters.
The standout contest at Bangor is The Racing TV Club Day EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Class 4), a GBB Race that should attract some promising fillies from the top yards. Novice fillies' events at this time of year can be a real minefield, but they are also a brilliant opportunity to catch a future star at a generous price before the market wakes up. Alongside that, The Welcome Racing TV Club Members Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 6) and The Hornsea Ladies at the Races Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 6) complete the nursery double – two-year-old handicap form can be notoriously tricky to unravel, but the good-to-firm ground should ensure a true test of pace. Read the full Bangor-on-Dee Preview for our race-by-race analysis.
Redcar – The Day's Richest Card From 17:30
The evening's showpiece meeting takes place on the North Yorkshire coast, where Redcar Racecourse hosts six races with a top prize of £45,000 – comfortably the most valuable card on the board today. The going is Good to Firm, Good in Places, though punters should pay close attention to the clerk of the course's note: there are areas of faster ground as a result of this prolonged period of drought, particularly on the higher or sloping parts – such as on the woods' side of the Straight course and on the outside of the loop section. In short, horses drawn wide or racing away from the main line could encounter quicker ground than the official description suggests, and that could be a crucial factor in your selections.
The key contest is The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai British EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes (Class 3), an EBF Restricted Race Qualifier and GBB Race for horses in Bands B, C and D. Class 3 novice fillies' races at this level often feature horses with classic entries or Pattern-race aspirations, so expect some well-bred debutantes and lightly-raced types with plenty of upside. Also on the card is The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Apprentice Handicap Stakes (Class 5) – notably run under special conditions where whips are to be carried but not used, as part of the Racing Excellence initiative. Apprentice races with no-whip conditions can produce unpredictable results, so keep your stakes sensible. Rounding off the key races is The Colin Hinton & Mitch Hinton Novice Stakes (Class 4), another GBB Race that should attract some useful unexposed types. Don't miss our Redcar Racing Preview for the full lowdown.
Kempton Park – All-Weather Action From 17:23
Switching to the artificial surface, Kempton Park Racecourse stages six races on its Polytrack surface, with racing getting underway at 17:23 and a top prize of £12,000 on offer. The going is Standard, meaning the surface is in its typical condition and no significant bias is expected – a relief after some of the quirky draws and pace scenarios we have seen at Kempton in recent weeks.
The pick of the card is The Follow @attheraces on X EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (Class 4), an EBF Restricted Race Qualifier and GBB Race for Band D horses. Maiden races on the all-weather at this time of year can be informative affairs, with horses stepping up from turf or making their debut under artificial conditions. Also watch out for The Free Tips on attheraces.com Handicap Stakes (Class 5) and The Emilies 21st Birthday Handicap Stakes (Class 6), where the handicapper may have left some leniency for those returning from a break. Check out the Kempton Park Preview for our best bets.
Wincanton – Somerset Flat Racing From 17:36
Better known as a jumps venue, Wincanton Racecourse is hosting flat racing this evening, with six races from 17:36 and a top prize of £18,400 – making it the second most valuable card of the day. The going is Good to Firm with a soil moisture reading of 37, confirming that the ground is genuinely quick and holding its condition well through the summer drought.
The marquee contest is The #Matchbook Loves Racing Handicap Stakes (Class 4), the highest-grade race on the card and one where the handicapper's assessments will be tested by the quick ground. Alongside it, The Play the Matchbook Match 6 Handicap Stakes (Class 5) and The Bet £20 Get £40 in Free Bets at matchbook.com Handicap Stakes (Class 6) complete a Matchbook-sponsored treble that gives the card a coherent commercial identity. Wincanton's flat track can be an advantage for front-runners on good-to-firm ground, so keep an eye on early pace in each race. See the Wincanton Racing Preview for our selections.
Chelmsford City – Abandoned
Sadly, Chelmsford City Racecourse will not be in action this evening. The six-race card – which would have included the intriguing Fegentri World Championship Handicap Stakes (Class 5) for Gentleman Amateur Jockeys – has been officially abandoned following a BHA Inspector's assessment, with the cancellation confirmed more than 72 hours in advance. Connections with runners entered at Chelmsford should check with their trainers regarding alternative engagements. We will bring you the full Chelmsford City Preview details and rescheduling news as soon as it becomes available.
Today's Racing Summary
Thursday 13 August 2026 serves up a solid day of UK flat racing across four venues, with Redcar leading the way in prize money and prestige. The theme of the day is quick ground – Good to Firm conditions dominate the turf cards at Bangor, Redcar and Wincanton, so horses with a proven liking for fast ground are the ones to side with. On the all-weather at Kempton, Standard going provides a more predictable surface. Keep an eye on the drought-related ground warnings at Redcar in particular, where the going away from the racing line could catch out a few fancied runners. With 24 races across four venues, there is plenty of each-way value to hunt down – good luck, and happy punting.
