Craven Meeting opens at Newmarket

Sophie Able said there is "no better place to be" than the Craven Meeting

Horse racing fans will mark the start of Newmarket's flat racing season with its traditional three-day event.

The bet365 Craven Meeting commences at the Rowley Mile racecourse in Suffolk later.

The 20-race meeting includes Thursday's Craven Stakes which is seen as a trial for next month's 2,000 Guineas.

Sophie Able, general manager at Newmarket Racecourses, said: "It's fantastic to be welcoming everyone back to the home of horse racing."

Kevin Stott won the 2023 Craven Stakes on Indestructible

The Craven Meeting was established in 1771 and is held annually at Newmarket, with last year's Craven Stakes won by Indestructible.

"There's no better place to be at this time of year," said Ms Able.

"It's very much envisaged as the start of the flat season across the UK.

"Everyone's so excited to to get back racing here and to see the stars of the future."

George Scott has over 70 horses in training at his stables on Hamilton Road

There will be a number of young colts and fillies - juvenile male and female horses - making their race debut during the event.

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Trainer George Scott, who has worked at Eve Lodge Stables in Newmarket for about 10 years, said: "We've got some really nice horses coming through.

"[Isle of Jura] was a star for us this winter. He won the Triple Crown in Bahrain.

"Watch My Tracer won the Spring Cup and Piz Nair was impressive at Lingfield the other day."