Fontwell Park racecourse is nestled in the Sussex countryside. The racecourse has been hosting horse races since 1924 and is now owned by ARC Racing. In Fontwell, West Sussex, the oval hurdles course has always spurred a lively atmosphere in the village of Fontwell.
Beginings
The founder of the racecourse, Alfred Day, had come to train horses at The Hermitage. After acquiring enough land he opened the racecourse and named it Fontwell. Since the first meeting in May 1924, the racecourse has carved a reputation for itself as the Best Small Racecourse in the South East, a title it has held 12 years running. Fontwell Park is the course where Queen Elizabeth II, at the time still princess Elizabeth, won her first race as an owner in the Chichester Handicap Race in 1949.
History
Fontwell Park is also notable for hosting 5 of the 85 starts in which National Spirit went on to win. The most notable of his wins was the Rank Challenge Cup that he retained for 3 years consecutively. The hurdles race National Spirit has been hosted on Fontwell Park in his honour since 1965. The race has attracted many prominent names such as Comedy of Errors, Baracouda and most recently My Way de Solzen.
ARC Racing has made lots of improvements to the racecourse, including a new grandstand which shot up attendance numbers by 23%. The venue is also hosts other events when none of the 24 meetings in its calendar are on and has wonderful catering and enough space for all types of events.
Races
There are a number of notable races such as Easter Extravaganza Raceday, St. Patrick’s Raceday and Ladies Evening which is a day filled with glamour, horse racing, live music, and of course the ladies.
The racecourse has an Annual Badge that goes for £230 and gives you access to all fixtures. The badge allows you incentives that come with a Premier Enclosure ticket plus free parking.