The racecourse is noted for its proximity to the Lambourn training centre, which means that the course is often home to locally-grown talent as well as attracting horses from further afield.

In 1904 the Newbury Racecourse Company was founded, purchased the land and constructed the buildings and stables on the current site.

Mr. D. V. Pullinger's Copper King, at 100-7, ridden by Charlie Trigg and trained by Charles Marnes, won the opening race, the Whatcombe Handicap at 2pm, worth £160, over five furlongs.

The racecourse's founder, John Porter, trained Zealous to win the 1m 4f Regulation Plate, worth £100, on 27 September.

[3] Sir Peter O'Sullevan's last broadcast commentary took place in November 1997 at Newbury, on the Hennessey Gold Cup, won by Suny Bay.

Riders appreciate the good ground they generally find on what is a fine, galloping track with long straights, easy left-handed bends and a racing surface of resilient, thickly-matted meadow turf.

The national hunt course is over 1 mile 5 furlongs, with eleven fences: eight plain, two open ditches and the water jump.

[12] The latter was one of two concerts held in 2008, with Irish boyband Boyzone performing in August as part of the Ladies Day horse racing meet.

[15] American girl group Pussycat Dolls were scheduled to perform at Newbury Racecourse as part of the Party in the Paddock on 15 August 2020, but was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[16] However, the Party in the Paddock returned in 2021, when Olly Murs performed the first concert at Newbury Racecourse following the COVID-19 pandemic on 14 August, with an audience of 17,000.

Professor Tim Morris, Director of Equine Science and Welfare for the British Horseracing Authority, reported that they had been informed that there had been leakage from an electrical cable running under the parade ring.