Nottingham Racecourse is nestled in the leafy green of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire, England. It is located 3 km away from the city just close to River Trent in Colwick Park. The venue actually has two racecourses, with one inside the other. They are both left handed and are about 1.5 miles round. The outer course has a straight stretching for 6 furlongs and is used through the summer. The inner course is meant for spring and autumn and has a straight running for 5 furlongs.
The course hosts thoroughbred horseracing and is easy to ride on with trouble-free turns and a small gradient. The last turn as you come into the homestretch is, however, much sharper. It is the kind of racecourse that suits well-balanced horses rather than those with long strides.
History of the racecourse
The racecourse had already begun operating as far back as 1773. Back then it was located at Nottingham Forest Recreation Ground. It was during this time when it held a Royal Plate race granted by the monarch.
The racecourse was moved to its present location in Colwick Park in 1892 and later on in 1965 the entire 293 acre venue was bought by a local corporation. The corporation then leased the racecourse to Racecourse Holdings Trust as it seemed to be in jeopardy of closing. Today it is owned by Jockey Club Racecourses and has undergone so many improvements that it won the Gold Standard from the Racehorse Owners Association in 2014.
Until 1996, the racecourse held National Hunt racing but abandoned it to focus only on flat course racing and also improve ground conditions. The racecourse hosts 23 meetings each year.
Notable races
The two races that are known to draw crowds are the Further Flight Stakes and Kilvington Fillie’s Stakes- which runs on the Ladies’ Day. Aside from these, there is a host of other themed events that provide excellent entertainment and of course the thrill of racing.
Other events
The beautiful scenery of Colwick Park is inviting and the venue offers lots of treat for an afternoon out at the races. The rooftop restaurant offers a scenic view of the racecourse and the park coupled with good food. The hospitality is great and various packages are available for private events.
The racecourse has come a long way from the tumultuous early days to a sprawling venue with excellent facilities. Visitors can now enjoy two magnificent stands; the grandstand and the Centenary stand as well as good parking.