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Sandown Park FAQs

Frequently asked questions


Do you have any questions about your visit? Read on to find the answers with our most frequently asked questions.

 

Cashless VENUE

Our racecourses continue to operate on a ‘cashless’ basis. All ticket, racecard payments and food and drink purchases within our racecourse are to be made via card payment only, unfortunately cash payments will not be accepted. However, cash may be used when placing bets with all on-course bookmakers only.

 

If you need some ideas of what to do in Sandown take a read of our guide here.

 

Your Raceday Experience

Walk-up tickets will be available for racedays which have not already sold out, unless when specified otherwise. Please do check the website of each individual fixture or contact the racecourse directly if you require further information.

 

Payments made by card only.

 

However, we do recommend that tickets are purchased in advance. Pre-booked tickets reduce the time taken to enter the racecourse on the day.

Once you have purchased your tickets, they will be emailed to you. Please note there may be a slight delay while your booking is processed.

 

Your ticket is designed to be either printed at home on your home printer and brought with you on the day or presented on arrival on your mobile phone from your email confirmation. You may also opt for your ticket to be sent to you via The Jockey Club app.

Children are very welcome at our racedays and can attend most fixtures free of charge when accompanying an adult. Children’s tickets are subject to availability and may be limited at high demand fixtures. 

 

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times, with a maximum of two children per adult.

Under 18 tickets can be added to your basket for free when purchasing an adult ticket, except for a limited number of racedays when child tickets must be paid for.

If you fall ill on a raceday and are able to get home safely we suggest you leave as soon as possible. If you need assistance please alert one of our racecourse team members who can contact qualified first aiders to help you.

RCA-issued accreditation, including badge schemes and metal badges, are accepted forms of entry at most fixtures but will be used in conjunction with the PASS system.

 

Please note there will be a small number of fixtures where RCA-issued badges and accreditation will NOT be accepted and you will be required to apply directly to the racecourse for accreditation. We ask you to continue to check the specific raceday information and contact the racecourse directly if you require further guidance.

 

RCA metal badges (press/photography) to apply via PASS system the day before. Passcards must be displayed at the point of entry. Non accredited press/photographers will need to apply via the Racecourse.

Our racecourses continue to operate on a ‘cashless’ basis, including concessions. However, cash may be used when placing bets with all on-course bookmakers.

 

There are cash machines on course.

 

Cash may be used when placing bets on the Tote and with all on-course bookmakers.

 

Please note that due to new laws prohibiting the use of credit to place a bet, all betting facilities on site will be unable to accept Apple Pay.

Digital racecards for all fixtures can be found via The Jockey Club app. Printed racecards will be available on selected racedays. 

We allow racegoers to bring picnics on to the racecourse unless where otherwise stated in the specific raceday information. Click here for more information.

 

Please contact the racecourse directly if you require further guidance.

To guarantee availability, it is essential that you email or telephone us on the same day you make your ticket purchase if you wish to request a personal assistant ticket. We offer complimentary admission to one accompanying personal assistant in circumstances where a person with a disability would otherwise be at a substantial disadvantage without the personal assistant. For further information please view our Carer/Assistant admission policy here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please check the event specific detail on the fixture page for parking information.

We will be operating cashless sales throughout our food and drink outlets, including concessions.

 

For betting facilities cash payment will still be accepted, but contactless payments are recommended.

​On all racing fixtures except music nights, two under 18's can be accompanied free of charge with every paying adult. Please note that proof of age may be required.

 

Children still require a ticket as we will require contact details and consent to Code of Conduct for each individual before racecourse entry.

 

These tickets are subject to availability and may be limited at high demand fixtures.

The dress code at Sandown Park is officially smart casual, but many people like to dress up for certain days, for example the Coral-Eclipse Summer Festival. We do not insist that a jacket and tie are worn to all meetings nor are ladies required to wear a hat.

 

Please be aware that the Sandown Park dress code will be applied to children over 12 years of age.

 

Read the full dress code here 

The gates open approximately two hours before the first race. Please check the What’s On listing for the up-to-date times.

A racecard is an essential tool for your day, listing all the runners & riders, their form guides and helpful tips. They are available to purchase at the racecourse on the day or on our website and on The Jockey Club app. If you have booked a hospitality package, racecards are usually provided.

Tickets for all Sandown Park Racecourse events are non-refundable. Once a ticket is purchased, the attendee is not entitled to cancel the purchase. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to exchange your tickets to an equivalent fixture. For more information see our Refund Policy.

 

Dogs are not allowed within the grounds of Sandown Park, with the exception of registered assistance dogs. The Sandown Park Management respectfully requests that dogs are never left in cars.

 

ASSISTANCE DOGS

Assistance dogs are welcome to attend with their owners. Please note we now require assistance dogs to be registered at the Ticket Enquiries desk in the Main Foyer before access can be granted onto the site. Pet insurance with public liability cover documentation will be requested when registering your dog. We also suggest owners contact the racecourse in advance when booking your tickets so we can advise you on the expected attendance for your event date and the facilities available for yourself and your assistance dog.

Sandown Park is accessible for disabled customers with ramp access, disabled parking close to the entrance, disabled viewing platforms*, disabled toilet facilities, low level service areas in the bars and Food Court and first aid facilities.

 

*Only one carer accompanying one disabled person will be allowed on the viewing platform

Flat racing at Sandown Park is run on a natural grass surface (turf) at a predetermined distance from five furlongs (1006 m) to over two miles (3219m). They are generally called sprints, middle distance or stayers’ races. Jump racing (also known as National Hunt) derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside.

You will see them warming up in the Pre-Parade ring opposite the Winner’s Enclosure, in the Parade Ring where the jockeys mount the horses, making their way to the racecourse via the Horsewalk and on the racecourse for the race. After the race, the horses will make their way to the Winner’s Enclosure again via the Horsewalk where the winning presentations will take place.

You can bet on-course with the Tote at counters located across the racecourse. There are also bookmakers who are situated in the betting ring at the front of the Grandstand Enclosure. Contactless is recommended, but cash payments are still an option.

We recommend that the large tree between the parade ring and the winner’s enclosure is a great meeting point. Alternatively, Grandstand ticket holders could arrange to meet on the Sports Bar patio, overlooking the parade ring and Premier badge holders could meet underneath the clock tower, overlooking the horse walk and Parade Ring.

At Sandown Park, smoking is not permitted within the following areas: inside the Grandstand, the Eclipse Pavilion. Owners and Trainers (including the balcony), Weighing Room (including the balcony), Summer Marquees and other tented areas.

Please note that smoking is still allowed in all other outside areas and balconies. Smoking is also prohibited in the designated ‘No Smoking & Drinking Zone’ located in the Premier Enclosure.

If you have any queries regarding smoking legislation, please visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk.

You may use a camera in the normal public enclosures, as long as the photographs are not for commercial use. Please refrain from using flash photography in close proximity to any racehorse. On Music Nights, band management retain all image rights. Any photographer that is felt to be impeding or contravening these rights without accreditation and prior written consent will be requested to leave and escorted from the premises. Commercial photographers need to apply for press accreditation.

Yes. You can also celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or just get a group of friends together. Sandown Park offers a unique venue to enjoy a celebration. Each raceday is different and the choices of entertainment are numerous, with top-class racing throughout the year, including Ladies, Gentlemen’s and Family Days, live Music Nights from some of the world's best artists and even Comedy Days.

At Sandown Park the Flat season runs from April until September whilst the Jump Season runs from November through to bet365 Jump Finale in April which is the official end of the National Hunt Season in Britain.

App FAQs

Currently the app is able to import tickets that are Print at Home. To import the tickets, either scan the QR code on the ticket pdf or enter the bookers email and order confirmation.

We will look to add further ticket types in 2024.

Cracked screens can prevent the ticket scanners from reading the mobile ticket. We suggest that you access your tickets using a friend’s phone, or print your ticket at home.

Once you have imported your tickets to the app, you will be able to view them by tapping My Visit and then Tickets. To view the ticket QR code, select a ticket and it will open. You will need the QR code for our ticket scanners.

If you have booked tickets for a group, we recommend, sending each individual their printed ticket and then they can download the app and import via the tickets QR code.

Firstly on the map select your enclosure and then use either the search or filter bar to find what you are you looking for.

It is possible to use the app offline, all the functionality will still work but you will not receive any updates – all our racecourses offer free wi-fi on course.

Contact us

 

If you have more questions or can't find what you are looking for, please get in touch. View our full contact information here.

What to do in esher before or after the races.

 

If you’re heading to Sandown Park Racecourse for a day at the races here are some ideas on places to visit before or after visiting the racecourse.

 

Esher Commons is a mixture of heath and woods. Black Pond is worth a visit and there are a few cycle paths.

 

Distance from racecourse: 0.5 miles

View Fixtures

View Fixtures

What's on at Sandown Park Racecourse

What's On

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