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.