Author: GC

Posted on

Perth

Perth Racecourse is located at Scone Palace by Perth, Scotland. The racecourse has been a venue for thoroughbred horse racing since 1908. The racecourse has the perfect rural setting with the picturesque Parkland landscape and the historic Scone Palace just by.

Perth has a long history of horse racing that dates back to 1613. Scone Palace soon became the new venue for horse racing as a drinking ban drove it out of the North Inch. Lord Mansfield then offered a large acreage so that horse racing enthusiasts could continue enjoying the sport.

The course has a circumference of ten furlongs and is made as a steeplechase course. The course has eight fences with the water jump well placed in front of the grand stand.

History of the course

In 1908 as the racecourse was just starting, it hosted 2 meetings. This number went up to 13 and thus the sport of Kings had established itself professionally at a regal venue. Away from the fact that the scenic racecourse is close to a palace, it has entertained royalty when the Queen Mother attended race meetings twice, in the 70s.

Notable Races

Perth Racecourse comes alive with a packed calendar that runs from April to September. The known crowd pullers are the Perth Gold Cup Day which is famous because it comes just before Aintree and Cheltenham meetings. As such, it draws a lot of top class jockeys who test their fluidity on the obstacles.

Stan James.com Perth festival is also another favourite fixture. The festival is a 3 day treat of National Hunt racing and family fun.

Glorious Finale Meeting also lives up to the fanfare of an awaited fixture. As the season draws to a close, horseracing fans enjoy an annual celebration of the entrenched culture of the sport in Perth. The fixture dates back to the 17th century.

Other events

The racecourse is set in the ideal location for a wholesome experience and it does not let down one bit. When it is not busy hosting races, the venue is welcoming guests. The Nelson Stand has been designed for corporate events and has a stunning view of the racecourse.

Posted on

Citation

In 1948, Citation became the eighth horse to win the American Triple Crown and, in a 45-race career between 1947 and 1951, became the first horse in history to win over $1 million in prize money. Bred and owned by Warren Wright Snr., under the name Calumet Farm, Citation was by Bull Lea, leading sire in North America five times between 1947 and 1953, out of Hydroplane, a mare by Hyperion, leading sire in Great Britain six times between 1940 and 1954.

 

Trained by Horace A. “Jimmy” Jones, Citation won eight of his nine races as a juvenile and was named American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse in 1947. Citation also won 19 of his 20 races in 1948. His sole defeat that year came in the Chesapeake Trial Stakes, run over 6 furlongs at Havre de Grace Race Track in Maryland. Sent off at odds of 1/4, on a muddy track, he was beaten by Saggy, a “baggy-legged auction colt” who never won another race. Eddie Arcano – having his first ride on Citation after the tragic drowning of his previous jockey, Al Snider – said afterwards, “I could have caught him, but I wasn’t about to burn up that horse for an $8300 pot with all those $100,000 races laying ahead of us.”

 

In any event, Citation went on to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes – by an aggregate of 17 lengths – as part of a 16-race winning streak that would last until January 1950. In fact, prior to the Kentucky Derby, Jimmy Jones stepped aside to allow his father, Ben, to be named as the official trainer of Citation and, afterwards, jockey Eddie Arcano donated a share of his prize money to the widow of Al Snider.

 

Citation was named American Horse of the Year in 1948 but, having developed arthritis in the fetlock of his near front leg, didn’t race again for 13 months. On his return, at Santa Anita, he won an allowance race to extend his winning streak to 16 consecutive races. When the proprietor of Calumet Farm, Warren Wright, died in December 1950, he specified that Citation remain in training long enough to earn over $1 million in prize money. So he did, winning the Hollywood Gold Cup in July 1951 to take his career earnings to $1,085,760.

Posted on

Nottingham

Nottingham Racecourse is nestled in the leafy green of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire, England. It is located 3 km away from the city just close to River Trent in Colwick Park. The venue actually has two racecourses, with one inside the other. They are both left handed and are about 1.5 miles round. The outer course has a straight stretching for 6 furlongs and is used through the summer. The inner course is meant for spring and autumn and has a straight running for 5 furlongs.

The course hosts thoroughbred horseracing and is easy to ride on with trouble-free turns and a small gradient. The last turn as you come into the homestretch is, however, much sharper. It is the kind of racecourse that suits well-balanced horses rather than those with long strides.

History of the racecourse

The racecourse had already begun operating as far back as 1773. Back then it was located at Nottingham Forest Recreation Ground. It was during this time when it held a Royal Plate race granted by the monarch.

The racecourse was moved to its present location in Colwick Park in 1892 and later on in 1965 the entire 293 acre venue was bought by a local corporation. The corporation then leased the racecourse to Racecourse Holdings Trust as it seemed to be in jeopardy of closing. Today it is owned by Jockey Club Racecourses and has undergone so many improvements that it won the Gold Standard from the Racehorse Owners Association in 2014.

Until 1996, the racecourse held National Hunt racing but abandoned it to focus only on flat course racing and also improve ground conditions. The racecourse hosts 23 meetings each year.

Notable races

The two races that are known to draw crowds are the Further Flight Stakes and Kilvington Fillie’s Stakes- which runs on the Ladies’ Day. Aside from these, there is a host of other themed events that provide excellent entertainment and of course the thrill of racing.

Other events

The beautiful scenery of Colwick Park is inviting and the venue offers lots of treat for an afternoon out at the races. The rooftop restaurant offers a scenic view of the racecourse and the park coupled with good food. The hospitality is great and various packages are available for private events.

The racecourse has come a long way from the tumultuous early days to a sprawling venue with excellent facilities. Visitors can now enjoy two magnificent stands; the grandstand and the Centenary stand as well as good parking.