Towcester is a jump-races course located in the market town of Towcester in Northamptonshire County of East Midlands, England. It is owned by the Towcester Racecourses Company, and televised on At The Races.
History
The course hosted its first race meeting in 1928, making it pretty young in the history of racecourses. The formation of its mother company happened at around the same time, and it had a grandstand as an early days’ investment. Its introduction at a point of much development in horse racing coupled with the affluence of its owners allowed it to borrow much from the years of history, allowing it to come up with advanced structures, some of which stand to date.
A second grandstand –The Grace-was completed in 1997 as investment to make the course more popular continued. It was briefly set up for sale in 2004, but the decision was soon rescinded and only a piece of the estate ended up being carved and sold.
In a bid to raise attendance, the course granted free entry to all races between 2002 and 2006. The management re-introduced charges for the Easter Sunday and Boxing Day meetings in 2006, but select meetings remained free.
The course
The course is a trapezium-shaped circuit, with narrow and wide sections within its length. It is right handed over a distance of one-mile six-furlongs, and widely regarded a punishing course with its sharp bends and a steep climb at the finish.
The course is relaxed regarding dress code, but diners at the restaurant are expected to wear a smart casual outfit. Access is possible by road, rail or air. The train station closest to the course is 11-miles off, with a taxi service across the distance. Helicopter landing is allowed with prior arrangement.
Races
The course plays host to around 18 Hunt fixtures in its calendar of events. The Boxing Day and Easter Fixtures remain most popular despite being charged, attracting fans in their number, up to 9,000.
Tony McCoy in 2013 got his 4000th career victory as a jockey here, atop Mountain Tunes in the Weatherbys Novices’ Hurdle.
At the close of 2014, the course introduced greyhound racing, with a track built for the same purpose.