Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 Day 1, all 7 races have been completed, with some winners declared and some results still pending. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, these races have been completed at Goodwood Racecourse, Sussex. There was a race involving horses of world-class caliber on the first day, and a large number of celebrities were also present to watch it. So if you did not watch the race of Day 1, then there is nothing to worry about.
![]() |
| Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 Day 1 |
Today, in this blog post, we are going to talk in detail about the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 Day 1 Highlights and Full Results. In this we will talk about each and every race, what happened from the start of the event to the end, and we will know about everything.
What Happened on the First Day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025?
Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 Day 1 was quite explosive. Many celebrities came to watch the race; the racecourse was completely packed with audience. High-class races took place throughout the day; fashion and entertainment were spread everywhere. But the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup race impressed the crowd the most. This long-distance race features elite horses and jockeys. People were quite excited for this race.
There was already an atmosphere of top-class races at Goodwood Racecourse, but along with this, another interesting event took place on Day 1, which was a friendly cricket match. Every year it is a part of the Goodwood tradition that after horse racing a cricket match takes place in the background of Goodwood House. This time the match took place between Lord March’s Racing XI and Sussex XI, which was quite exciting.
Key Highlights of Day 1
Highlight 1: It was the opening day of Glorious Goodwood, so excitement was high. People from all over the world had come to watch the races of the world's best horses. And the weather was also good throughout the day, so all the races went well and smoothly.
Highlight 2: The biggest race on Day 1 was the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, which was won by Scandinavia, and Illinois got the second position. The finish of this race was quite thrilling; fans from both sides were cheering from their seats. At the finish of the race there were just a few seconds difference between Illinois and Scandinavia.
Highlight 3: A fashion event also took place on Day 1, the Goodwood Talent in Fashion Award, in which the most stylish people among the visitors were appreciated. This shows the uniqueness of Goodwood, where a 200-year-old sport and royal fashion have been combined. This is more than just a race; it's a combination of fashion and social gathering.
Highlight 4: There was a cricket match at the end of Day 1, and the day's event ended with music, food, and full entertainment. There was nothing but happiness during the entire day. the presence of the crowd and their support made the event even more special.
Overall, Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 Day 1 was very exciting, full of fashion and full of entertainment. This first day was a perfect start to the glorious Goodwood. Which would have become memorable for everyone.
Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup: A Thrilling Finish
Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup was the main event of Day 1. Day 1 isn't complete without this race. There is a massive following for this race, and it is the most crucial. In these races, horses that are experts in long-distance races participate. These horses are usually 3—4 years old.
This time everyone's focus was more on 2 horses in this race. The first one was Scandinavia's, and the other was Illinois. Both are dangerous and experienced racers and were looking compelling on Day 1. There was a very tough fight between these two horses, but at the very end point Scandinavia improved its game and defeated Illinois in a close fight. Illinois lost this race by just a few seconds.
The prize money for the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup was the most motivating factor on Day 1. This prize money is quite big; therefore, the world's top horses and top jockeys participate in it. Among all the horse races in the world, the Qatar Goodwood Festival is the oldest and most prestigious event of flat British racing. Therefore, being a part of it is a matter of pride for every participant.
Other Notable Races
Apart from the Goodwood Cup, Day 1 also saw some high-level races, which included niche races.
- Chesterfield Cup Handicap: This race proved to be very exciting as there was a tough fight between the contenders. The close margins created a lot of thrill in the race. These races were worth watching.
- Vintage Stakes (Group 2): These races were for all young horses, like 2-year-old horses. This was a newcomer race, which provided an opportunity to showcase new talents. Many upcoming stars were seen in this race.
- Lennox Stakes (Group 2): A very short race. Or should say, it was a sprint race, which was extremely fast and ended in just a few seconds. In a short time, the audience got a chance to witness an amazing thrill.
The atmosphere was very electrifying throughout the day due to different types of races. All the spectators enjoyed all the races from Lennox Lawn and other premium locations. There were other races on Day 1, which were so enjoyable for both those who were at home and those who were in the stadium.
Full Results for Day 1 with Exact Timings
Below is a detailed summary of all the races of the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025, Day 1. It has information about the approximate timing and winners of all the races.
Note: When the content has been written, as per the results that were officially updated, they have been mentioned. The timing is also approximate, although it does match up with the schedule. If you want any clarity, you can check the official website of Goodwood Racecourse.
Race Scores and Highlights
All the races of the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 Day 1 were much talked about. Because a lot of unpredictability was seen in these races. We have discussed it one by one.
1) Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (3:05 PM)
This is the most important and highest-status race of Goodwood Day 1. This was the main race of the day, which was approximately 3200 meters long. In which Scandinavia defeated Illinois by a very small margin.
- It took 3 minutes and 27 seconds for the winner to cross the finish line, which indicates that the race lasted that long.
- Different tactics of the jockeys and horse stamina and strength were used to their fullest.
- Scandinavia 3 years old and ridden by Wayne Lordan, he was on top from the start and was on top until the end.
- Sweet William finished in third position.
- Trushan, a popular nine-year-old veteran horse, fell on the track; it was an emotional moment for everyone.
2) Vintage Stakes (1:55 PM)
The Vintage Stakes race is for young horses. Only those horses participate in it which are 2 years old. In this, Zavateri won the race, and Morris Dancer took the second position.
- This race was almost 1400 meters long, equivalent to 7 furlongs.
- The winner finished the race in just 1 minute 26 seconds.
- This race gave an idea about the future star horse.
3) Lennox Stakes (2:30 PM)
This is a short and fast race on Day 1. Witness Stand won, which no one had any expectations of.
- The contest was also a race of 1400 meters, i.e., 7 furlongs.
- But the focus was on full action and full speed.
- This race was also finished in 1 minute 23 seconds, which tells us how many faster horses there were in this race.
- Lake Forest finished second, and Audience finished third.
- For the crowd, this race is like a feast.
Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 Day 1 Schedule and Time
Qatar Goodwood Festival Day 1 started at 11:00 AM (local UK time) in the morning. Gates opened, and all the visitors were enjoying family activities at Lennox Lawn. Some folks were enjoying music and food on Earl's Lawn. The races at the specific racecourse began at 1:20 PM, and the event concluded at 5:30 PM. There were a total of 7 races of Group 1 and Group 2 on Day 1.
Day 1 Schedule Overview (Local UK Time – BST)
- 11:00 AM: Gate open
- 1:20 PM: Race 1 Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap
- 1:55 PM: Race 2 Vintage Stakes
- 2:30 PM: Lennox Stakes
- 3:05 PM: Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup
- 3:45 PM: Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap
- 4:10 PM, ~4:45 PM, and ~5:20 PM: baki races
- 5:30 PM: Coral Racing Club Handicap
- A cricket match at Goodwood House at last
People Also Ask (PAA)
1. What are the dates for the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025?
The Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 began on July 29 and ended on August 2.
2. What time does Day 1 racing start?
Day 1 racing got underway around 1:20 p.m.
3. How much are Day 1 tickets?
Day 1 tickets were priced based on seatings, with Lennox Enclosure prices starting at £30.
4. Where is Goodwood Racecourse located?
Goodwood Racecourse, where the Qatar Goodwood Festival is held every year, is in Chichester, West Sussex, UK. The area is surrounded by mountains. Very beautiful and attractive.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Qatar Goodwood Festival 2025 Day 1 was very exciting and memorable. Top-level races took place; it was fun, and there were some emotional moments too. Scandinavia won the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, the day's most important race, by a very small margin. All 7 races of the day were quite thrilling; the crowd was completely hypnotized. It was a perfect start for one of the world's most prestigious horse racing events.
All 5 days of this season of Glorious Goodwood are over. Now next year if you want to attend the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2026, then start booking the tickets in early July itself and enjoy the event live with your family or groups.
We have covered all the races, results, and highlights from day 1 to day 5 of season 2025; you can explore them too. Or you can watch the recorded races on YouTube channels anytime.

Post a Comment
If you have any doubt, let us know please