An ex-professional footballer, a farrier, two generations of the same family, one of Britain’s most successful property developers and a Fleet Street Royal correspondent are among the riders competing in the 355th running of one of the world’s oldest horse races this Saturday (August 22nd).

The Newmarket Town Plate is a historic race which has been run on the July Course at the Home of Horseracing since 1666. It was instigated by King Charles II, who also won the inaugural race and became the first and only reigning monarch to win it as a jockey. The King also stated that the race should be run “forever”.

Once one of the most prestigious races in the land, the Newmarket Town Plate is now a pinnacle of glorious historical eccentricity, which brings down the curtain on the summer racing season at Newmarket.

It is strictly for amateur riders - professional jockeys, stable staff and grooms from racing yards are not eligible to ride. Eileen Joel became the first woman to ride the winner of a race in Great Britain, when winning the 1925 Town Plate on Hogier. Nowadays, many riders use the Newmarket Town Plate as an opportunity to raise money for charities close to their heart.

Normally staged over three-and-three-quarter miles and starting outside the racecourse close to The National Stud, this year’s race will take place over a reduced distance of two miles and a furlong due to the extraordinarily dry conditions seen in 2026. This means it will take place entirely on the racing surface of the July Course.

Sophie Able, The Jockey Club’s Managing Director of Newmarket, said: “The Town Plate is always one of the great spectacles of the July Course’s season and I’m delighted that so many riders have risen to the challenge to take part this season.

“The dedication and hard work that all those competing in the race have to put in, alongside their jobs and other daily commitments, just to get here is not to be underestimated and all of us are looking forward to this year’s running of what is a prestigious, historical and most of all fun race.”

Prizes are generously provided by outfitters Goldings of Newmarket and Powters Celebrated Newmarket Sausages.

Among the riders taking part in 2026 are:

Clive Boultbee Brooks
One of Britain’s most successful property developers alongside his brother Steve, Clive also trains a small string of Jump racehorses from his base in Herefordshire and enjoyed a career-best 11 winners in the 2025-26 season.

John Burgess
John works as a professional in the racing industry, namely as Director of Integrity at the British Horseracing Authority. Prior to joining the BHA in 2008, John was a Detective Constable in the Intelligence Bureau at Leicestershire Police. In his spare time, he is a lifelong racing fan and keen rider with a passion for retraining racehorses.

Jon Day
Jon is a regular Newmarket Town Plate competitor and in his day job is the farrier at Southwell Racecourse in Nottinghamshire.

Amber Holt
Currently studying Equine Veterinary Nursing at Hartpury University, Amber will be competing on Saturday up against her father Ian.

Roya Nikkhah
Roya has one of the most coveted roles on Fleet Street as Royal Correspondent of The Sunday Times. She also features regularly on the airwaves as a contributor to Times Radio and various TV programmes. She will be riding in her second race of 2026, having won the Ernest Cooper Macmillan “Ride of Their Lives” charity race at York on June 13th.

Peter O’Reilly
A passionate racing enthusiast, Peter O’Reilly was the breeder of Bensalem, a winner at the Cheltenham Festival in 2011. Having previously ridden under Rules as an amateur alongside his career in the financial services industry, he has competed regularly in charity races in the UK and Ireland and is currently CEO of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He is competing in the race for charity and is raising funds for the Pat Smullen Fund and My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which is committed to funding research to find effective treatments for motor neurone disease.

Eddie Partridge
Newmarket-based Eddie Partridge, 60, currently works as a Development Manager of Valiant Group UK but was previously a professional footballer with Macclesfield Town. Earlier in his career he had been on the books at Manchester City, Chelsea and Oldham Athletic. He will be riding for Hertfordshire-based trainer Clare Hobson on Saturday and raising money for Breast Cancer UK, a cause close to his heart having lost his mother to the disease.

Abi Thomas & Nicola Allison Smith
Currently on a gap year, 19-year-old Abi Thomas will be riding in her second Newmarket Town Plate. Riding for Shropshire-based trainer Clare Ellam, she is dedicating her ride on Saturday to Robert Clarke who is an owner at the yard and currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Her chosen charity is Prostate Cancer UK. Nicola Allison-Smith, 25, who works for a farm vets practice as a TB tester for cattle, also dedicates her participation to Robert Clarke and will be raising money for Prostate Cancer UK.