As family outings go, this was something a bit different. Newcastle Racecourse celebrated the All-Weather Championships Finals Day with a family fun day. Top-class racing on the track, and a wealth of child-friendly entertainment alongside. It seemed odds-on for a good day out.
Admittedly, there were some question marks. In pre-parenting days, trips to the races revolved around drinking and gambling. Not the most child-friendly activities. And dropping into the crowded Grandstand Hall for an early meet-and-greet with Spiderman, Rapunzel and a free Easter Egg meant coping with a large and noisy crowd thronging the bars and bookies. For a somewhat timid nine-year-old, it was all a bit much to start with.
Things improved in the open air. Your reviewer and their family were just in time to see the horses parade before the first race. Your reviewer’s daughter picked out number seven, Timeforshowcasing, as her favourite: a 25/1 shot according to the card, albeit with form that had some of the tipsters interested. Dad’s selection led from the front but faded badly, and the outsider galloped away to win it by a neck. That maiden success – strictly a sportsman’s bet for us, with no money changing hands – got some repeated showcasing as the afternoon went along.
In between races, we ran away to join the circus. From dazzling aerial work to hands-on workshops, the Let’s Circus tent was where we ended up spending most of the day. When we weren’t gawping at the strength and elegance of the performers – Freya Averley’s hula hoop show a real stand-out – we were happy to have a go at diablo or juggling. Successfully? Well, we had more luck at picking winners than keeping balls in the air.
There was more entertainment, with a good mix of fairground rides and inflatables split in two separate areas. Most of these were free of charge – always a bonus at the start of the school holidays when costs quickly mount. The only problem was that they took us away from the actual racing.
And, ultimately, that was what stopped a good day out from being a great one. As a family entertainment it was good, but not necessarily an upgrade on, for example, the pleasure beach at nearby South Shields or the bouncy castles and carousels on offer at local farm attractions. As a sporting event, it was a day of high-quality competitive racing, but watching a race meant an awkward juggle between family entertainment and careful study of the form guide. Had the scheduled chance to meet the ponies from Newcastle’s Stepney Bank Stables materialised, it might have bridged the gap more neatly; sadly that didn’t make the final programme.
It’s clear that racing at Newcastle is taking great strides to make itself attractive to a new generation of fans. The atmosphere around the course was notably less edgy than some other courses one has attended in the past and that made for an event this reviewer was comfortable visiting with a primary-aged child. But, a bit like one’s chosen horse in the first race, the afternoon started strongly but lost its way a little before home time.
Reviewed on 3rd April 2026. Newcastle Racecourse has around 60 racedays a year, many with themed entertainment alongside the action on track.
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The Reviews Hub score6
