Category: Racecourses

Market Rasen is situated at Market Rasen town in the Lincolnshire County of East England. It is a jump-type racecourse owned and run by the Jockey Club Racecourse.

History

Races in the town were run on different sites between 1828 and 1924, when they were moved to the current course. It was funded by four locals who raised funds to acquire the 50-acre property for a permanent site to avoid the perennial shifting.

A 2008 earthquake did affect the racecourse, but only minor renovations were required and no races were cancelled.

 

The course

Market Rasen is a right handed track, left handed over a length of 1  mile. It hosts National hunt races only, which run throughout the year despite the race type being associated with winter seasons. A point-to-point race formerly held in the left handed track was discontinued and the track is no longer used.

The course is famed for its family activity atmosphere. Children up to the age of ten are allowed free entry so long as they are accompanied by an adult. Group booking allows visitors to enjoy lower ticket prices, but the offer is in high demand and often requires early reservation.

Road and air access are the most convenient ways to get to market Rasen. Note that the market does charge a parking fee, which is waived for disabled racegoers. Air access can be made in three ways: landing by helicopter at the course with prior management approval, 5 miles off Wickenby Airfield landing for fixed-wing planes or Humberside Airport, 20 miles away, for larger planes.

Races

The Summer Plate is market Rasen’s foremost headline race. It is usually run on the third Saturday of July, the run-up to which creates a palpable buzz within the town. The Summer Hurdle is also held during this meeting. The Prelude Handicap Chase is also a popular race among the track’s loyal race goers.

Ludlow Racecourse is located within the market town of Ludlow in Shropshire County, West Midlands, England. It is a National Hunt course owned by the Ludlow Race Club Ltd, with meetings televised on Racing UK.

History

Racing records at Ludlow date back to August 1729, although popular legend claims that that soldiers did come here in the fourteenth century to match their horses’ and practice archery. It set out as a flat race type course, with the track used for flat races back then still existent to date. Hurdles were introduced at the course in phases over the 19th Century, and it eventually departed from flat racing and adopted the more challenging and more popular jump races.

Course

Ludlow has two tracks, one for jump races and another for chase competitions. The chase circuit is one mile four furlongs in length, with an almost square shape that has sharp bends at every turn. The hurdles circuit is of the same shape, but is more undulating and has much more friendlier bends.

There is an 18-hole 70-par golf course within the race tracks, existing since 1889. A major road- B4365- cuts through the track at three points, and normally traffic is stopped when races are in progress.

Upgrades have been made over the last few years to both the track and viewing areas, most notable the restaurant areas which make the place more attractive for the social racegoer.

Access is best by road or rail. There is a free bus service from the nearby train station, while road access takes the A49 for the two miles to the North of Ludlow town. Helicopter landing can also be arranged in advance with the course management.

Races

There are 16 races per year, spread across two periods per year in January to May and October to December. Most races are mid-week fixtures named after sponsors who pay for the honour.

Lingfield Park is located in Lingfield town of Tandridge district in Surrey County, South East England. It is a dual-race type arena owned by the Arena racing Company, mostly hosting races for three and four-year-old horses in intense competitions .

History

It’s racing story dates back to 1890, when it was officially opened by the Prince of Wales. Unlike most other courses that were flat type first, Lingfield was initially a jump type track until flat racing was introduced in 1894.

There was a flooding problem at the course since the end of World II, up until 1982 when Ladbrokes sold the estate and the new owners erected flood defences.

The course

The course has two racing tracks; the flat and the National Hunt. The tracks are synthetic/polytrack, allowing racing to continue in all weather. This is unlike most other courses in the UK which carpet their tracks with regular turf.

Several upgrades have been done at the course over the past two decades, starting with the replacement of the Equitrack surface with polytrack in 2001. Then came with the £5.5 in 2004. The Marriot Hotel at the course is also considered a part upgrade, as it has served to increase the number of patrons visiting for events .

Races

Most aces at Lingfield are either Group 3 or Listed. The all-weather racing feature makes Lingfield a popular winter racing destination. The Winter Derby in February is in many aspects the course’s main race. It is preceded by the Winter Derby Trials earlier within the same month.

Other flat trial races include the International, Linfield Oaks and Lingfield Derby. The Spring Cup, Quebec Stakes, Churchill Stakes, Golden Rose Stakes and The River Eden Fillies Stakes are also popular races at the Lingfield site.

Lingfield Park was featured in the movie Rainbow Jacket, a film centred on a corrupt racing jockey, which premiered in London in 1954.