Category: Racecourses

Chester is the oldest racecourse in England that is still in use. It is also known as the Roodee. Near the centre of the field lies a raised mound that is decorated with a small cross called a ‘rood’, which explains the name. Chester racecourse lies on the banks of River Dee.

Horse racing

The Chester Racecourse field was used for the Goteddsday, which was a famous and bloody event until its abolishment and replacement with horse racing in 1533. With the permission of Mayor Henry Gee, the first race took place in 1539. The name of the Mayor led to ‘gee-gee’ being used to refer to horses. After horse racing began, the races followed the Goteddsday routine of Shrove Tuesdays .The routine went on until the races dates were moved to St George’s day early 17th century. In 1824, the May festival, which still takes place, premiered in the Tradesmen’s Cup. That’s when the current Chester Cup was inaugurated. Any event at Chester Racecourse is a must-attend for serious connoisseurs due to its list of longest running race events in the UK.

 

Important races at Chester Racecourse

Chester racecourse has staged some of the brilliant tracks that are impossible to forget like;

– The Chesire Oaks which has been an open event since 1950 for fillies running a 1 mile, 3 furlongs, and 79 yards distance. This game acts as a warm up for the Epsom Oaks race.

– The Chester Cup, which takes place during the May festival and is open for thoroughbreds of four years and above running a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 147 yards.

– The Huxley Stakes that is a Group 3 with a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 75 yards open for thoroughbred horses of four years and above

– The Chester Vase which is open for three-year-old colts and geldings.

– The Dee Stakes named in honor of River Dee which is a Group 3 race open for three-year-old colts and geldings.

Chepstow is one of Wales’ three horseracing course, located in the south eastern county of Monmouthshire, close to the border with England. It is a dual-race type course owned by the Arena Racing Company.

History

 

There has been racing in the Chepstow area since around 1892, but this particular course was first used in 196. It was set up by a group of businessmen, but then suffered a financial crisis during its first decade due to unforeseen costs that arose. Initially, it had a flat ace track only, before jumping was introduced in 1927.

One standout feature since its inception was the attractive purse it carried, which earned the course a reputation in Wales as the ‘Welsh Goodwood.’

 

The course

Chepstow has a track for flat and National Hunt racing. The course is left handed, gently undulating with a one-kilometer straight at the finish. This makes it an ideal course for horses and jockeys who count acceleration as one of their strengths. The course has also been praised for its gentle turnings, which attract jockeys due to their safety.

In jumping races, the course has eleven fences that horses go over, upping the challenge of balancing acceleration and power.

The course is also available for conferences, concerts and other personal events.

 

Races

Flat races are run in the summer and jump races in winter. In total, Chepstow hosts 32 racing fixtures in a calendar year. Most popular among these races is The Welsh Grand National, slotted right after Christmas. The 27th December date makes it a perfect family event, and it records one of the highest viewer turnout in most years.

The Totepool Jumps Festival, Silver Trophy Handicap, Persian War Novices’and Finale Juvenile Hurdles are other popular races run at the course. Photography and filming of races is done only officially, but these images are available for sale in the course’s website.

Cheltenham is located in a town by the same name, inside Gloucestershire County, South West England. The Jockey Club Racecourses-owned course sits on the Prestbury Park, and underwent a redevelopment worth £45m in 2013. Its main claim to fame is the annual Cheltenham Festival held in March.

History

The course has been used for horse racing purposes since 1831, when flat races were moved to Prestbury from Nottingham Hill to evade the church’s violent opposition to horse racing. Most modelling and development was done in the 1920s, but works have been done over the years to accommodate dynamic crowds and racing trends.

The venue

Cheltenham is regarded a natural amphitheatre because it attracts many other events besides horse racing. It can hold 67,000 spectators across the sections, with a grandstand and Royal Box to catch all the action from.

There are two racing courses, the Old and New, with slight variations from each other. One particular downhill fence is a source of interest for spectators, as it is tricky and requires horses and their riders to be at their best.

There are also member areas and bar facilities within the course, all upgraded during the 2013 redevelopment.

Notable races

During the annual festival, Grade I Races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle, and Stayers’ Hurdle take place. Many notable races have taken place in these events, among them the five races won by Golden Miller in the 1930s.

Horses who ran there

Golden Miller remains the most legendary horse to run here, with five consecutive Gold Cup wins. L’Escargot in 1975, Arkle in 1996, Best Mate in 2004 and Kauto Star in 1999 also deserve a mention.

Other events

Inside the Cheltenham is Centaur, an auditoria with a 2000 sitting/4000 standing capacity for conferences and concerts. Major events held here include the Greebelt faith, arts and justice festival, Wynchwood Music Concert and Gloucestershire University’s graduation and summer ball.