Today's UK Horse Racing: The Big Picture

Friday 28 August 2026 is a cracking day for racing fans, with six UK racecourses hosting 38 races across both codes. Flat enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with cards at Ffos Las Racecourse, Taunton Racecourse, Ripon Racecourse and Folkestone Racecourse, while jumps fans can head to Ffos Las Racecourse for an evening National Hunt card and Salisbury Racecourse for a seven-race jumps fixture. With top prizes ranging from £10,000 to £30,000, there is genuine quality on offer throughout the day. Read on for your complete one-stop guide to today's horse racing in the UK.

Afternoon Flat Action: Where to Start

Ffos Las (Flat) – First Race 14:00, Going: Good

Ffos Las Racecourse kicks off the day's flat action at 14:00 with a six-race card on Good ground (soil moisture reading of 39). The Welsh track is always a fair test, and today's card features some competitive handicap fare. The Behind The Lens Media Handicap Stakes (Class 6) and the Golwg Gwendraeth Handicap Stakes (Class 5) will attract plenty of punters looking for value in the handicap ranks, while the Dandara Homes Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Class 4) – a GBB Race – is the standout opportunity for fillies looking to get off the mark and earn their GBB bonus. The top prize on offer is £10,000. Check out our full Ffos Las Preview for detailed selections.

Taunton – First Race 14:13, Going: Good (Fast in Places), Top Prize: £30,000

Taunton boasts the richest flat prize money of the day at £30,000, making it the headline flat meeting on Friday. The going is described as Good, Good (fast) in places, which should suit horses with a decent turn of foot. There are three races of particular note: the AJA Novice Flat Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Stakes (Class 6) – restricted to riders with three wins or fewer at the start of the season – adds a charming amateur flavour to proceedings, while the Work Matters Novice Stakes (Class 4) (GBB Race) and the Caddick Construction EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Class 4) (EBF Restricted Race Qualifier, GBB Race) are both key novice contests with bonus scheme implications. Trainers with unexposed types in Bands B, C and D will be targeting that EBF restricted race in particular. Get our detailed analysis in the Taunton Racing Preview.

Ripon – First Race 14:25, Going: Good, Good to Firm (in Places), Top Prize: £13,000

The Champagne Capital of Racing, Ripon Racecourse, rounds off the afternoon flat openers with a six-race card getting underway at 14:25. The going is Good to Firm in places on the round course, so pace will be at a premium. The Killik Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 4) is the race that will dominate the market – nurseries at this stage of the season are always fascinating puzzles, with trainers having had the summer to assess their two-year-olds. The Killik Handicap Stakes (Class 5) adds further handicap intrigue, while the Chasemore Farm EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 3) is the class act of the card and could well feature a well-bred debutant worth following into the autumn. Don't miss the Ripon Racing Preview for our best bets.

Evening Flat: Folkestone Under the Spotlight

Folkestone – First Race 16:35, Going: Good to Firm, Good (in Places), Top Prize: £20,000

As the afternoon meetings conclude, attention switches to the Kent coast where Folkestone Racecourse stages an evening flat card with a first race at 16:35. The going is Good to Firm, Good in places (38% soil moisture), so expect fast ground and front-runners to be respected. With a top prize of £20,000, this is a solid card headlined by three fillies-only contests. The Virgin Bet / EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Class 3) (GBB Race) is the most prestigious race on the card and is sure to attract some well-regarded sorts from the major yards. The White & Brooks Fillies' Handicap Stakes (Class 5) offers a more accessible opportunity for handicappers, while the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Fillies' Handicap Stakes (Class 4) – a GBBPlus Race – rounds off the card with an added bonus incentive for connections. See our Folkestone Racing Preview for the inside track.

Evening Jumps: Ffos Las and Salisbury Deliver National Hunt Thrills

Ffos Las (Jumps) – First Race 16:05, Going: Good (Easy Side), Top Prize: £10,000

Ffos Las pulls off a remarkable double today, hosting both a flat afternoon card and a seven-race National Hunt evening fixture starting at 16:05. The going for the jumps card is described as Good, looking to deliver consistent ground on the easy side of Good – ideal conditions for summer jumping. The Nationwide Concreting Ltd Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 4) is the feature contest, while the KSR Lighting Juvenile Maiden Hurdle Race (Class 4) (GBB Race) will showcase the early juvenile hurdlers of the season – always worth noting for future reference. The Mercedes-Benz of Chichester Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 5) completes the key races. Visit the Ffos Las Preview for our jumps selections.

Salisbury (Jumps) – First Race 16:25, Going: Good, Good to Firm (in Places), Top Prize: £10,000

Salisbury Racecourse hosts a seven-race jumps card beginning at 16:25, with the track's characteristic variety – the top bend quickest, the back straight offering tighter ground – sure to test jockeys and horses alike on Good, Good to Firm ground. The Darlington RA & Ellie Wake Novices' Hurdle Race (Class 4) (GBB Race) is the novice highlight, while the Newts Rocket To The Top Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 5) adds another competitive novice contest. The standout race for seasoned jumps fans, however, is the Bodhi Solutions Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 5), which doubles as an ARC Summer Chase Series Qualifier – meaning the winner could well be back for a big payday later in the summer series. Full analysis is available in our Salisbury Racing Preview.

Today's Racing at a Glance: Key Facts

  • Total races today: 38 across six courses
  • Richest prize: £30,000 at Taunton
  • First race of the day: 14:00 at Ffos Las (flat)
  • GBB and GBBPlus Races: Multiple bonus scheme opportunities at Ffos Las, Taunton, Folkestone, Ffos Las (jumps) and Salisbury
  • Going summary: Predominantly Good to Good to Firm across all six venues – fast ground racing throughout
  • ARC Series Qualifier: Salisbury Chase is a Summer Chase Series Qualifier – one to watch

Conclusion: A Full Day of Racing Not to Be Missed

Friday 28 August 2026 offers a genuinely varied and exciting day of British racing. Whether you're drawn to the rich prize money at Taunton, the juvenile hurdling intrigue at Ffos Las, the fillies' action at Folkestone or the ARC Chase Series drama at Salisbury, there is something for every type of punter. Make sure you check out our individual course previews for detailed race-by-race analysis, best bets and each-way value before you place your first wager. Good luck at the races – and remember to bet responsibly.