Author: GC

Cartmel Racecourse is a jumps-race track located in the countryside village by the same name in Cumbria County, England. It is considered a small course, but races are still televised on Racing UK. It is owned by Lord Cavendis, who acquired it in 1998.

History

The track has been galloped by racehorses since 1856 according to records, but stories of horse racing stretch further back. Landowners from the vllage were the main source of funding for the small course, which did not adopt professional racing until after the second World War.

The track was caught up in an attempted fraud scandal in 1974, when trainer Antony Collins produced a weak version of the horse ‘Gay Future’in order to get beter odds from bookmakers. The scandal was later adopted into the movie ‘Murphy’s Stroke’in 1979.

The course

The course’s shape is a unique oval, with gentle bends on one side that make it appear more like a soft-edge rectangle. The other end of the oval skews to one side, such that one bend is sharp and the other is absolutely smooth- no need for slowing down as a horse navigates.

The finishing straight then cuts across the oval, joining its two long arms.

Cartmel enjoys a rich race going culture, with around 20,000 spectators arriving on some race days. This puts it third in the list of attendance at jump courses in Britain, only behind Cheltenham and Aintree, home of the Grand National. It maintains a culture of letting people have fun besides horse racing, sometimes with a break between three days of racing for people to visit the country. The allowing of cars to drive right into the middle of the course and choose spots from which to catch races is a popular move, as is the permission to set up bbqs.

 

Races

There are seven race days in the Cartmel calendar, with the Bank Holidays of August proving to be by far the most popular. The most memorable horse on the track is Soul magic, who has won here seven times before 2014.

Carlisle is located in the village of Blackwell, close to the county town of Carlisle in Cumbria County, England. It is a dual-race type course, owned by Jockey Club Racecourses. Action from the track is televised on Racing UK.

 

History

The current location of the track has been in active use since 1904, although racing in the area was active much earlier. The Carlisle Bell was first run in 1599.

The first grandstand opened as the track came into business, but as required upgrades over the years as the number of spectators has increased. In the 60s, refurbishments adapted the course for night racing and a new grandstand was built. The Jubilee Grandstand of 2002 is still the largest upgrade of recent times.

Carlisle also holds the honour of first British course to have Tote betting, which was introduced in 1929.

The course

The course runs over a length of 1-mile 2-furlongs. It is mostly flat, with a steep uphill towards the finish. Flat and National races are run here, making the ground a busy venue throughout the year. Jump races are held at every end of the April-September flat competition period.

Access is possible by road, rail or air, with a bus service operating between the track and the station for £1.60 each way. The train station is 2.2 miles off, and helicopter landing would require an advance approval.

Races

Carlisle Bell, rated among the oldest known horse races worldwide, is run at The Carlisle. Cumberland Chase, Graduation Chase and Cumberland Plate are other popular races forming part of the circle.

Red Rum, the great Grand National champion horse from the 70s, has a unique attachment to Carlisle. The triple-Grand National winner prepared for each of his big wins with successful warm up runs here, and to date the entire Carlisle fraternity is proud of that stat to no end. October’s Red Rum racing Day is named in his honour.

Brighton is a flat-type racecourse located in a seaside resort by the same name in Sussex County to the South of England. It is owned by the Arena Racing Company, and has races airing on At The Races. It is just a mile away from the coast, at an altitude of 400 ft above sea level.

History

The course was set up in 1783 by a group of rich townspeople, among them the Duke of Cumberland. Racing quickly grew in popularity in the area, attracting the prince of Wales on only its second year.

The current track was set up in 1850, with the introduction of the first main stand coming at the time. Popularity kept rising, an in 1898 the local authorities took full charge in a bid to control the negative aspects that had come with the growth of the crowd. Racing was stopped during each of the World Wars, but otherwise track meetings have been regular.

The course

The course has a unique horse-shoe shape, extending to a length of 1-mile four-furlongs. The incomplete circuit often draws comparison with Epsom Racecourse. It starts out gentle, then goes into a lengthy downhill section, before coming up again to present a level finish over the last 100 yards. The ground is stable on the left-handed track, and the gradient and shape contribute to earn it a place among the fastest sprint racing tracks in England.

Brighton lies not more than five-minute drive from the City Center. There I a courtesy bus service between the racing venue and the Brighton station two hours before racing starts and immediately after the final race.

Races

There are 17 race meetings at the track in a calendar year, running between April and October. The Brighton Mile Challenge Trophy Handicap is the track’s headline race, run during the early August Brighton Festival. It is among the courses that offer lower prize money, and is thus considered a small course.