Flat Turf Racing Returns With Saturday’s Doncaster Lincoln Meeting

by Roy Brindley, 25 March 2026

Saturday’s domestic horse racing action includes the flat racing turf season’s curtain-raising Brocklesby Stakes and the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.

The return of turf flat racing at Doncaster’s Lincoln Handicap meeting always draws a healthy crowd. © Getty Images

Key Facts:

• Turf flat racing is back with the action starting at Doncaster on Saturday.
• Group-1 winners will be in action at the South Yorkshire Venue.
• In Meydan, Forever Young is expected to shine in the Dubai World Cup.
• Kentucky Derby signpost race takes place at Gulfstream at the end of a busy day.

The British flat racing turf season will kick into gear on Saturday when the runners in the traditional curtain-raising race, the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse, jump from the stalls at 1.20 pm.

A field of unraced two-year-olds will go to post for the contest, this year named after the late Bill Turner, who trained six Brocklesby winners. The prestigious Lincoln Handicap is the highlight of Saturday’s seven-race card at the South Yorkshire course.

Sponsored in its entirety by William Hill, other races include the Listed Cammidge Trophy and the Doncaster Mile Stakes. The one-mile contest has attracted a strong entry, headed by Group 1 Royal Ascot winner, Docklands. Qirat, who caused a 150/1 upset when landing the Sussex Stakes last summer, is another entrant.

Forever Young Chasing More Millions in Meydan

Globally, this is a massive weekend for horse racing, with Meydan Racecourse staging the 30th running of its annual Dubai World Cup. The $12 million race is the showpiece of a spectacular card that offers $30.5 million in prizemoney across nine races.

Unluckily beaten in a photo-finish in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Forever Young finished third in the Dubai World Cup 12 months ago as the 4/9 betting favourite. However, three successive victories since have led British betting sites to quote him on 4/7 odds to win the feature contest in 2026.

To date, bolstered by his success in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Saudi Cup six weeks ago, the Japanese-trained horse has won almost £23 million in prizemoney. Forever Young is therefore the biggest prize money earner in racing history.

Calandagan and Ombudsman Are the Desert Bankers?

There are four other Group-1 races on the Meydan card with superstars contesting them all. Courtesy of victory in Ascot’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, followed by Champion Stakes and Japan Cup victories, the French-trained Calandagan will deservedly start as the shortest-priced favourite of the day.

Priced 4/7, Britain’s best hope of a winner appears to be Ombudsman in the nine-furlong Dubai Turf Sprint. John & Thady Gosden’s charge took his record to six wins and three seconds from nine career starts when chasing home Calandagan in October’s Champion Stakes. He is unraced since, but should find this trip to be ideal.

Florida Derby to Point to the Big One in Kentucky Again?

In North America, all eyes will be on the Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Due off at 10.42 pm, this contest has produced 26 Kentucky Derby winners, making it the number one prep race for America’s most famous and most prestigious race.

Five of the past 13 Kentucky Derby winners contested the Florida Derby, meaning there is a fair chance the 2026 champion will be in action on Saturday. Chief Wallabee, trained by Bill Mott, is the early betting favourite. He finished second, by a neck, to Commandment in the Grade-2 Fountain of Youth Stakes a month ago.

Commandment is a forecast 5/2 to frank the form by landing the Curlin Florida Derby with Nearly – winner of the Grade-3 Holy Bull Stakes on his latest outing – trading as the third favourite. The Puma, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby at the start of March, is another to consider.