Perth Races - the ultimate day out with horses, history, dressing up and the odd flutter

By Kirsten Binnie

PERTH Racecourse has a long and distinguished history as the most northern track in Britain where race meetings dating back to 1613 at its original site at South Inch were popular with local gentry, and regularly took place, only interrupted by Cromwell and the Covenators in the 17^th century.

Racing nowadays held in the grounds of Scone Palace, where the National Hunt track still celebrates the history of the Stone of Destiny - where Scottish kings were crowned - with the popular 'Stone of Destiny' meeting in August each year.

This one-day meeting features the Stone of Destiny Handicap Hurdle amongst a card of seven races and the day is rounded off with music from Unison Anthems which blends traditional Scottish bagpipes with percussion from around the world.

Although tne August meeting celebrates the history and traditions of Perth Racecourse, the summer of jumps racing actually begins this month with the Perth Festival in April, a competitive three-day card which attracts top trainers, jockeys and horses from all over the UK and Ireland.

With just a few weeks until the event on 22nd to 24th of April, only a few tables are left to book at the Galileo Restaurant and the Champagne Booth is already sold out on one day of the meeting.

On Wednesday 22nd, the first day’s top race is the Gold Castle Novice Listed Hurdle where rising stars will take to the course; it is followed by Thursday’s (23rd) Tweed & Tartan Day which has a £100,000 prize fund and is rounded off with a ceilidh where entertainment is provided by the Ragin’ Ceilidh Band.

Friday 24th brings the meeting to a close with the Festival Finale and Highland National Day. The QuinnBet Highland National Handicap Steeple Chase has a £30,000 prize pot and the three-day event ends with live music from Carbon Copy after the racing.

May 2026 sees two one-day cards at Perth – the Murrayshall Country Estate Raceday on the 13th and the Edinburgh Gin Ladies Day on the 14th.

The Murrayshall Raceday has seven races with the feature race the £10,000 Handicap Steeple Chase.

Glamour, racing and music combine on the 14th for Ladies Day, in aid of Breast Cancer Now. Tiger Lily Boutique will support the fashion competitions which will see one well-dressed racegoer crowned the Grand Lady of 2026.

Perth Races Ladies Day has supported Breast Cancer Now for 12 years, raising £120,000 in total which has funded research and provided support services.

Director of Racing at Perth, Matthew Taylor, said: “Each ticket bought gives you the chance to donate, plus the fundraising activity on the raceday directly contributes to the charity’s life-changing work, making every hat, dress and cocktail count towards a meaningful cause.”

The racing after party on Ladies Day will include live music and fashion shows and the Picnic Enclosure is open for ‘Grazing on the Green’ where there will also be a disco for racegoers.

Ladies Day includes a competition for Grand Lady of 2026.

Gold Cup Day on 7th June has the Perth Gold Cup as its showcase race with £34,000 on offer alongside the £20,000 Silver Cup Handicap Steeple Chase.

The day is another chance to find out more about the history of this prestigious track – the Gold Cup was first run in 1825 and is one of the oldest fixtures in British horse racing, where generations of Perthshire and Scottish racing fans have attended the Old Scone course.

On their way to the start at Perth. Image by Jill Vasey.

In July the Horizon Parking Ltd Raceday – a midweek fixture on the 2nd – has a race card total of over £58,000. It’s followed by the Family Raceday on July 12th where jump racing is run alongside various family friendly activities to get everyone involved in the sport.

Raising funds for Saints in the Community, the family day will include football games and street football sessions, there will be a Family Fun Zone with free children’s activities, the Muckmedden Cycle Track where children can try out Frog bikes, along with inflatables and giant games.

Racegoers can bring their own picnics and funds raised on the day for Saints in the Community will help the charity to provide sport, education and wellbeing programmes throughout Perth and Kinross.

King of Answers in the parade ring. Image by Jill Vasey.

On August 15th the racecourse celebrates the return of the Stone of Destiny to Scotland with seven races and a prize fund of £86,000. The day finishes with live music from Shaka Loves You!

During September, nearing the end of the summer jumps season at Perth, the Auto Services Perth Ltd Raceday takes place on September 7th and is followed by the Glorious Finale on September 23rd and 24th.

The finale is the oldest fixture at Perth, first run in 1613 on the South Inch, the meeting was the very beginning of racing at Perth and has over four centuries of history behind it.

Director of Racing at Perth Races, Matthew Taylor, has managed the Perth Festival since 2019, and says: "Perth is different from other racecourses, we have beautiful scenery and not many have the scenery and the thrill of some jumping.

"We have invested much more into the racing surface in recent years, with welfare of horse and jockey remaining high on our list of priorities. Trainers travel horses to Perth from England, Ireland and Wales as well as Scotland and they know exactly what they can expect when they reach us."

Perth's first meeting - the famous Perth Festival - takes place from the 22nd to 24th of April, where over £330,000 of prize money will be available. A three-day ticket for Grandstand entry to the festival is £63.

For more information go to https://www.perth-races.co.uk