"Blaydon Races" (Roud #3511) is a Geordie folk song of 1862, with lyric by George Ridley written in a style deriving from music hall. It celebrates the horse races held at Blaydon in North East England that year, although mostly composed in advance of the event. The words were inspired by the American ballad "On the Road to Brighton" (in Massachusetts), to the tune of which they are set. The song has become a local anthem, and is frequently sung by supporters of Newcastle United Football Club, Newcastle Red Bulls rugby club, and Durham County Cricket Club.

Now part of Gateshead, the former village of Blaydon lies on the south bank of the River Tyne about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Newcastle upon Tyne, from where the song describes a horse-drawn omnibus journey to the annual races. Although obscure in origin, these were of some antiquity and had been mentioned in a song dating from around 1830. Prior to 1860, they had not been held for more than two decades due to the building of the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway, which cut across the original course. In 1862, as in the previous two years, they were held just north of Blaydon on an island in the river Tyne called Dent's Meadows. The revival lasted only until 1865, but the races began again in 1889 at a new course on Stella Haughs. The final meeting on 1–2 September 1916 was abandoned on the second day, after serious rioting followed the disqualification of the even money favourite and popular winner of the opening race, Anxious Moments, which had apparently been the target of foul play.

Of the 19 songs known to have been written by Ridley, all 16 to survive concern local people and events. Like "Cushie Butterfield", which was a parody of Harry Clifton's "Polly Perkins", they were often based on existing popular songs. The lyrics of "Blaydon Races" were set to a tune labelled "Brighton" in early publications. This refers to "On the Road to Brighton", an American blackface minstrelsy "sleighing song" of 1858, with words and music by Lon Morris. Minstrel shows had become highly popular in Britain from the 1840s onwards, and numerous references to them can be found in contemporary local newspapers. Ridley first performed his song at a testimonial concert for local oarsman John H. Clasper, held in Balmbra's Music Hall on 5 June 1862. The final verse was added for a concert given on the evening of 9 June at Whickham Mechanics' Institute in Blaydon, where it was reported by the local press that Ridley's "local songs" were received "with great applause".

Although the account of the trip to Blaydon is fictional, the heavy rain was noted in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, as were the missing "cuddy" (horses). These were unable to ford the river due to an unexpected rise in the water level, meaning that only one horse was present when racing was scheduled to begin. Some spectators from Newcastle arrived by train, whilst others were conveyed by two omnibus companies, which the same newspaper observed "might harness better cattle if they wish to assure passengers of the safety of their means of transport".

The song is quoted from the author's manuscript in Allan's Tyneside Songs of 1891:

Aa went to Blaydon Races, 'twas on the ninth of Joon,
Eiteen hundred an' sixty-two, on a summer's efternoon;
Aa tyuk the 'bus frae Balmbra's, an' she wis heavy laden,
Away we went 'lang Collin'wood Street, that's on the road to Blaydon.

Chorus:
Ah me lads, ye shudda seen wi gannin',
We pass'd the foaks alang the road just as they wor stannin';
Thor wis lots o' lads an' lassies there, aal wi' smiling faces,
Gannin' alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.

(chorus)

We flew past Airmstrang's factory, and up to the "Robin Adair",
Just gannin' doon te the railway bridge, the 'bus wheel flew off there.
The lassies lost their crinolines off, an' the veils that hide their faces,
An' aw got two black eyes an' a broken nose gannin' te Blaydon Races.

(chorus)

When we gat the wheel put on away we went agyen,
But them that had their noses broke they cam back ower hyem;
Sum went to the Dispensary an' uthers to Doctor Gibbs,
An' sum sought out the Infirmary to mend their broken ribs.

(chorus)

Noo when we gat to Paradise thor wes bonny gam begun;
Thor was fower-an-twenty on the 'bus, man, hoo they danced an' sung;
They called on me to sing a sang, aa sung them "Paddy Fagan",
Aa danced a jig an' swung my twig that day aa went to Blaydon.

(chorus)

We flew across the Chain Bridge reet into Blaydon toon,
The bellman he was callin' there, they call him Jackie Broon;
Aa saw him talkin' to sum cheps, an' them he was pursuadin'
To gan an' see Geordy Ridley's concert in the Mechanics' Hall at Blaydon.

(chorus)

The rain it poor'd aall the day an' mayed the groons quite muddy,
Coffy Johnny had a white hat on – they war shootin' "Whe stole the cuddy."
There wis spice stalls an' munkey shows an' aud wives selling ciders,
An' a chep wiv a hapenny roond aboot, shootin' "Noo, me lads, for riders."

(chorus)

As in the following example, the song is now usually sung with more modern language, but retaining something of the Tyneside dialect:

Oh me lads, you should've seen us gannin'
Passing the folks along the road
just as they were stannin'
Aal the lads and lasses there
aal wi' smilin' faces
Gannin along the Scotswood Road
To see the Blaydon Races