Horse Racing Today – Wednesday 5 August 2026: Four Meetings, 24 Races

Wednesday's UK racing card is a satisfying spread of flat action, with Bath, Perth, York and Hexham all in play across the afternoon and evening. Whether you are searching for today's horse racing tips, going reports or a full overview of what's running, you've come to the right place. We've got 24 races to get through, a top prize of £20,000 on offer at Bath, and some fascinating contests to sink your teeth into. Let's break it all down, course by course.

Bath Racecourse – The Afternoon Headline Act

Bath Racecourse heads up the afternoon action with the richest prize on offer today – a £20,000 top prize making it the standout meeting on the card. The going is GOOD TO FIRM, GOOD IN PLACES with a soil moisture reading of 34, so expect quick ground on the Somerset hillside track and horses that handle a lively surface to be at a premium.

First race is at 14:30, giving punters a nice early start to proceedings. Read our full Bath Racing Preview for our best bets and race-by-race analysis. The six-race card features some intriguing contests, including:

  • The Jenningsbet Over 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap Stakes (Class 6) – a competitive lower-grade handicap that often throws up a well-backed market mover on a quick surface like this.
  • The Jenningsbet in Deal Classified Stakes (Class 6) – classified races can be tricky to call, but they reward those who dig into recent form lines carefully.
  • The Sapporo Japanese Premium Lager Brighton Mile Challenge Handicap Stakes (Class 4) – contested for the Brighton Mile Challenge Trophy, this is the prestige race of the day at Bath and the one to focus your attentions on. With Class 4 prize money and a mile trip on good to firm ground, this is where the form book earns its keep.

Bath's undulating track suits handy, front-running types, and with the ground riding quick today, watch for horses drawn low who can get across and dictate from the front.

Perth Racecourse – Scottish Flat Action with a Ladies' Day Twist

Up in Perthshire, Perth Racecourse stages its own six-race flat card with a first race at 14:45. The going mirrors the south – GOOD TO FIRM, GOOD IN PLACES – meaning fast-ground performers will again be at an advantage. The top prize here is £11,000, and the card has a lovely mix of amateur jockey action, maiden racing and veterans' fare.

Check out our Perth Racing Preview for the full lowdown, but here are the races to note:

  • The Honda Wakefield Super-N Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Stakes (Class 6) – amateur jockey races are always unpredictable, but they can be great fun to follow. Look for horses that have a strong handler who can compensate for the reduced experience in the saddle.
  • The Jayne – On Course Lady Bookmaker EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 4) (GBB Race) – a Great British Bonus eligible race, meaning winning connections could pocket a significant bonus if the horse was bought at a qualifying sale. These races attract well-bred, potentially unexposed horses and the winner could be one to follow through the season.
  • The Riu Hotels and Resorts Ladies Day Veterans' Handicap Stakes (Class 5) – a lovely touch on Ladies Day at Perth. Veterans' races (for horses aged five and above, often much older) are wonderfully competitive affairs. Older horses with a proven record on quick ground and at this course deserve special attention.

Hexham Racecourse – All-Weather Evening Action on Unusual Ground

Hexham Racecourse provides one of the more unusual going reports you'll see all season. The track was rotavated (turned over) to a depth of 120mm and has been compressed back to STANDARD TO SLOW going. This is notably different from the good to firm conditions elsewhere today, and punters need to treat this card with fresh eyes – horses that handle a slower, more testing surface will have a clear edge.

First race at Hexham is at 17:20, making it the first of the two evening cards. The top prize is £13,000 and there are three particularly interesting races on the card. See our Hexham Racing Preview for full selections. Key races include:

  • The Try Unibet's New Improved Acca Boosts Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 6) – nursery handicaps for two-year-olds are always fascinating as the assessor is working with limited data. Any horse stepping up in trip or switching to this unique surface for the first time could be underestimated.
  • The Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (Class 3) Division II (GBB Race) – a Class 3 novice race is a cut above the usual evening fare, and with GBB bonus eligibility, expect some smart horses to line up here. The rotavated surface will be a leveller.
  • The Unibet 3 Uniboosts a Day Novice Stakes (Class 4) (GBB Race) – another GBB-eligible novice contest to round out the card. Watch the market closely on these types of races – stable confidence often leaks out before the off.

York Racecourse – The Evening Showpiece

The Knavesmire rounds off the day in style. York Racecourse needs no introduction – it is one of the finest tracks in Britain, and even on a midweek evening card it attracts quality horses and sizeable crowds. The going is GOOD TO FIRM with a soil moisture reading of 36, and the first race goes off at 17:40. Top prize is £10,200 across six races.

Our York Racing Preview has all the angles covered, but the three races to focus on are:

  • The Gold & Silver Exchange Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Stakes (Class 6) – York's wide, galloping track is a genuine test, and amateur jockey races here can produce surprising results. Horses that have run well at the track previously are worth upgrading.
  • The British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (Class 4) (GBB Race) – fillies' maiden races at York regularly produce smart sorts who go on to better things. With GBB eligibility adding extra incentive for connections, expect the big yards to be well represented.
  • The Strawberry Fields Stud Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 4) – a Class 4 nursery at York is a proper race. Two-year-olds running off handicap marks for the first time on a track that demands real ability – this could be the race of the day.

Today's Horse Racing Summary – Wednesday 5 August 2026

It's a full and varied day of UK flat racing with something for every type of punter. Bath is the afternoon headline with the biggest prize pot and a prestigious mile challenge trophy up for grabs. Perth adds Scottish flavour with its Ladies Day card and a mix of amateur, maiden and veterans' action. Hexham's uniquely rotavated surface makes it the wildcard of the day – tread carefully but the opportunities are there for those who do their homework. And York rounds things off beautifully under the evening sky, with a fillies' maiden and a Class 4 nursery that could feature tomorrow's stars.

Keep it locked to PaddockPunter for race-by-race previews, live updates and results as today's action unfolds. Good luck, and may the going be in your favour.