List of British racecourses
This List of British racecourses gives details of both current and former horse racing venues in Great Britain. There are, as of 15 September 2021, 59 racecourses operating in Great Britain (excluding Point-to-Point courses). In addition, there is a former racecourse, Folkestone, which is mothballed pending a decision over its future. There are currently no plans for Folkestone to operate fixtures although the basic racecourse infrastructure remains intact. Hereford racecourse reopened in October 2016 having been closed since 2012. Towcester racecourse is currently in administration and the future of racing at the venue is uncertain.
Current[]
The following British horse racing courses are in operation as of 15 September 2021:
Racecourse | County | Country | Code | Opened | Surface | Owner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aintree | Merseyside | England | National Hunt[a] | 1829 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Ascot | Berkshire | England | Mixed[b] | 1711 | Turf | Independent |
Ayr | Ayrshire | Scotland | Mixed | 1907 | Turf | Independent |
Bangor | Clwyd | Wales | National Hunt | 1859 | Turf | Chester Race Company |
Bath | Somerset | England | Flat | by 1728 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Beverley | East Riding of Yorkshire | England | Flat | by 1767 | Turf | Independent |
Brighton | East Sussex | England | Flat | 1783 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Carlisle | Cumbria | England | Mixed | 1904 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Cartmel | Cumbria | England | National Hunt | by 1856 | Turf | Independent |
Catterick | North Yorkshire | England | Mixed | 1783 | Turf | Independent |
Chelmsford | Essex | England | Flat | 2008 | Polytrack | Independent |
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | England | National Hunt | 1831 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Chepstow | Gwent | Wales | Mixed | 1926 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Chester | Cheshire | England | Flat | 1539 | Turf | Chester Race Company |
Doncaster | South Yorkshire | England | Mixed | by 1595 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Epsom Downs | Surrey | England | Flat | by 1661 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Exeter | Devon | England | National Hunt | by 1804 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Fakenham | Norfolk | England | National Hunt | 1905 | Turf | Independent |
Ffos Las | Dyfed | Wales | Mixed | 2009 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Fontwell Park | West Sussex | England | National Hunt | 1924 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Goodwood | West Sussex | England | Flat | 1802 | Turf | Independent |
Great Yarmouth | Norfolk | England | Flat | 1810 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Hamilton Park | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Flat | 1782 | Turf | Independent |
Haydock Park | Merseyside | England | Mixed | 1899 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Hereford | Herefordshire | England | National Hunt | 1771 | Turf | Herefordshire Council |
Hexham | Northumberland | England | National Hunt | c.1740 | Turf | Independent |
Huntingdon | Cambridgeshire | England | National Hunt | 1886 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Kelso | Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale | Scotland | National Hunt | 1822 | Turf | Independent |
Kempton Park | Surrey | England | Mixed | 1878 | Turf & Polytrack | Jockey Club |
Leicester | Leicestershire | England | Mixed | 1883 | Turf | Independent |
Lingfield Park | Surrey | England | Mixed | 1890 | Turf & Polytrack | Arena Racing |
Ludlow | Shropshire | England | National Hunt | by 1725 | Turf | Independent |
Market Rasen | Lincolnshire | England | National Hunt | 1924 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Musselburgh | East Lothian | Scotland | Mixed | 1816 | Turf | Musselburgh Joint Racing Committee |
Newbury | Berkshire | England | Mixed | 1905 | Turf | Independent |
Newcastle | Tyne and Wear | England | Mixed | 1882 | Turf & Tapeta | Arena Racing |
Newmarket | Suffolk | England | Flat | 1667 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Newton Abbot | Devon | England | National Hunt | 1866 | Turf | Independent |
Nottingham | Nottinghamshire | England | Flat | 1892 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Perth | Perth and Kinross | Scotland | National Hunt | 1908 | Turf | Independent |
Plumpton | East Sussex | England | National Hunt | 1884 | Turf | Independent |
Pontefract | West Yorkshire | England | Flat | 1801 | Turf | Independent |
Redcar | North Yorkshire | England | Flat | 1870 | Turf | Independent |
Ripon | North Yorkshire | England | Flat | 1900 | Turf | Independent |
Salisbury | Wiltshire | England | Flat | 1500s | Turf | Independent |
Sandown Park | Surrey | England | Mixed | 1875 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Sedgefield | County Durham | England | National Hunt | by 1732 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Southwell | Nottinghamshire | England | Mixed | 1850 | Turf & Fibresand | Arena Racing |
Stratford | Warwickshire | England | National Hunt | 1755 | Turf | Independent |
Taunton | Somerset | England | National Hunt | 1927 | Turf | Independent |
Thirsk | North Yorkshire | England | Flat | 1923 | Turf | Independent |
Uttoxeter | Staffordshire | England | National Hunt | 1907 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Warwick | Warwickshire | England | National Hunt | 1707 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Wetherby | West Yorkshire | England | Mixed | 1891 | Turf | Independent |
Wincanton | Somerset | England | National Hunt | 1867 | Turf | Jockey Club |
Windsor | Berkshire | England | Flat | 1866 | Turf | Arena Racing |
Wolverhampton | West Midlands | England | Flat | 1887 | Tapeta | Arena Racing |
Worcester | Worcestershire | England | National Hunt | by 1718 | Turf | Arena Racing |
York | North Yorkshire | England | Flat | 1709 | Turf | Independent |
- ^ Aintree Racecourse: has two left-handed courses. Grand National circuit, 2m2f, is flat and has big fences with drop on landing side and a long run-in. Mildmay Course, 1m3f, flat with conventional fences, is sharper than hurdles course.
- ^ Ascot Racecourse is a right-handed triangular-shaped, galloping and stiff track. It has a steep climb out of Swinley Bottom from the back-straight and is just over 1mile 6 furlongs on the round course, with 2 and a 1/2f furlong run-in. There is both a straight mile and also a round mile course. All races run between 5 furlongs and 7 furlongs are run on the straight course.[1]
Closed[]
There are two further racecourses in Britain that still exist, but are currently closed and do not operate any thoroughbred racing fixtures.
- Folkestone Racecourse, Kent; closed in December 2012.[2]
- Towcester Racecourse, Northamptonshire; closed in October 2019.[3]
Former[]
Through the centuries, racing has taken place at various courses throughout Britain which have since closed down. Some were very significant in their day and held major races which persist to this day. For example, the flat season's traditional curtain raiser, the Lincolnshire Handicap was once held at the racecourse that gave it its name in Lincoln but is now held at Doncaster.
20th century[]
Between 1900 and 1981, 97 racecourses closed their doors.[4]
Racecourse | Location | Country | Code | Opened | Closed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hampshire | England | 1927[5] | ||||
Alexandra Park Racecourse | North London | England | Flat | 30 June 1868 | 8 September 1970 | |
Anglesey | Wales | 1903[5] | ||||
Warwickshire | England | |||||
Oxfordshire | England | |||||
Lancashire | England | 1915[5] | ||||
Bogside Racecourse | Ayrshire | Scotland | Mixed | 7 June 1808 | 10 April 1965 | |
Bournemouth Racecourse | Hampshire | England | 1928[5] | |||
Lincolnshire | England | 1935[5] | ||||
Bromford Bridge Racecourse | Birmingham | England | Mixed | 1894 | 21 June 1965 | |
Buckfastleigh Racecourse | Devon | England | 21 June 1883 | 27 August 1960 | The dilapidated main grandstand survives, and is a well known local landmark, and the fields around it are still in use for point-to-point races.[6] | |
Cardiff Racecourse | Glamorgan | Wales | 1939[5] | Also known as Ely Racecourse[5] | ||
Chelmsford Racecourse | Essex | England | Bef. 1840 | April 1935 | An oval course, just under 2 miles in circumference[7] | |
Derbyshire | England | |||||
Colwall Park Racecourse | Worcestershire | England | 1949[5] | |||
Leicestershire | England | |||||
Derby Racecourse | Derbyshire | England | by 1707 | 9 August 1939 | Three different venues, the last of which opened in 1848. Still open parkland known as the Racecourse Playing Fields. The County Cricket Ground, located within the track, is still in use. | |
Durham Racecourse | County Durham | England | Bef. 1840 | Held three day meeting at beginning of May[8] | ||
Eglinton Racecourse | County Londonderry | Northern Ireland | ||||
Sussex | England | |||||
Gatwick Racecourse | Sussex | England | 1891 | 1940 | The land is now part of Gatwick Airport. | |
Northamptonshire | England | 1928[5] | ||||
Yorkshire | England | 1911[5] | ||||
Berkshire | England | 1939[5] | ||||
Hertfordshire | England | Bef. 1914 | The land is now the site of Bamville Cricket Club. | |||
Norfolk | England | 1939[5] | ||||
Cheshire | England | 1915[5] | ||||
East Riding of Yorkshire | England | 1909[5] | ||||
Hurst Park Racecourse | Surrey | England | 1890 | 1962[5] | ||
Ipswich Racecourse | Suffolk | England | Mixed | 1710 | 29 March 1911 | In 1840 it was holding a two-day meeting in early July, highlights of which were a 100gs Queen's Plate (dating from at least 1727) and a Town Members' Plate for 50 sovs[9] |
Staffordshire | England | 1906[5] | ||||
Lanark Racecourse | Lanarkshire | Scotland | c. 1100s | October 1977 | ||
East Sussex | England | Bef. 1727 | September 1964 | Situated on the chalk downs near the town, it was also home to the East Sussex Hunt. Held a Royal Plate Race for 6 year olds from 1727 at the latest. A stand was erected in 1772. In 1840, the course was "one of the finest four mile courses in the kingdom". Races took place in mid-August.[10] | ||
Staffordshire | England | |||||
Lincoln Racecourse | Lincolnshire | England | Flat | 1773 | 1965 | |
Lancashire | England | |||||
Manchester Racecourse | Lancashire | England | Mixed | 1681 | 7 November 1963 | There was racing at three successive sites in Manchester, the last being at Castle Irwell. Various plans to create a new racecourse on rural land such as Kersal Moor have been touted in recent years.[11][12] |
Leicestershire | England | |||||
Monmouthshire | England | 1948[5] | ||||
Northampton Racecourse | Northampton | England | Bef. 1840 | 1904[5] | A one and a half mile oval, with a straight half mile run in. In 1840 was holding a two-day meeting at the end of August. | |
Middlesex | England | 1940[5] | ||||
Worcestershire | England | 1939[5] | ||||
Devon | England | c. 1827 | 4 September 1930 | A spring meeting was held in May, and a grand two-day meeting in August[13] | ||
at Farlington |
Hampshire | England | 1891 | 1914 | Closed at the outbreak of World War I and turned into an ammunition dump for the War Office. | |
at Paulsgrove |
Hampshire | England | 1920s | c. 1946 | The land was redeveloped as a housing estate. | |
Rothbury Racecourse | Northumberland | England | Bef. 1759 | 1965[5] | Held one meeting a year. | |
at Clifton-upon-Dunsmore |
Warwickshire | England | Still used annually for point-to-point races | |||
Durham | England | 1895 | 1914[5] | |||
Warwickshire | England | 1940[5] | The land is now the home of Shirley Golf Club | |||
Devon | England | |||||
Essex | England | 1931[5] | ||||
Lincolnshire | England | 1909[5] | ||||
Stockbridge Racecourse | Hampshire | England | 1839 | 1898 | Dates given are for most significant incarnation of the course. There had been racing at another site in Stockbridge from 1775 or earlier[14] | |
Stockton Racecourse | Durham | England | September 1855 | 16 June 1981 | This was the third course in Stockton. The first dated from 1724[15] | |
Pembrokeshire | Wales | 1936[5] | ||||
Devon | England | |||||
Devon | England | 1939[5] | Requisitioned by the Admiralty, it was sold in the early 1950s. At this course long distance steeplechases involved crossing the River Dart and the Totnes-Newton Abbot road. Sometimes called the Totnes and Bridgetown races[16] | |||
Cumberland | England | 1852 | ||||
Wrexham Racecourse | Denbighshire | Wales | In 1840, it was holding a two-day October meeting which included a 100 sovereign Gold Cup[17] | |||
Woore Racecourse | Shropshire | England | 1963[5] | |||
Wye Racecourse | Kent | England | 29 May 1849 | 2 May 1974 |
19th century[]
Many courses that were prominent in earlier times did not survive into the modern era. The list below is a selection of these, taken from Whyte's History of the British Turf. Where dates are not given for closure, it is possible they were still extant in the 20th century. No distinction has been made between enclosed courses of the type that are familiar now and those that were run over unenclosed courses, more akin to point-to-point racing. Indeed, some of these racecourses or parts of them are still used for that purpose.
Racecourse | Location | Country | Code | Opened | Closed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[18] | Cardiganshire | Wales | not known | not known | A mid-August meeting was well and fashionably attended on a meadow near Gogerddan about three miles from the town. | |
[19] | Berkshire | England | 1767 | 1875 | Early records show that racing took place at Abingdon as early as 1767.The flat, oval racecourse had a circumference of 10 furlongs and a separate 6 furlong section for sprint races. | |
[20] | Kent | England | not known | not known | Held a one-day meeting in September, with a £50 town plate being the principal race | |
Bedford Racecourse[21] | Bedfordshire | England | not known | not known | Two annual meetings recorded in 1840 | |
[22] | Northumberland | England | not known | not known | Run at a course one mile south-west of the town, on the site of what is supposed to have been a Danish camp. Formerly at Beadnell. | |
[7] | Gloucestershire | England | not known | not known | ||
[23] | Oxfordshire | England | not known | not known | Held a day-long meeting at the end of September, including a Town Plate of £50 | |
Birmingham Racecourse[24] | Warwickshire | England | not known | not known | Held a 'poorly-attended' two-day meeting in early October | |
[25] | Shropshire | England | not known | not known | Near Ludlow, it held a day's 'inferior' racing in mid-July | |
[26] | Dorset | England | not known | not known | Held a meeting towards the end of August which included the 100 sovereign Dorsetshire Gold Cup | |
[27] | Cornwall | England | not known | not known | Held one day's racing in September | |
[28] | Brecknockshire | Wales | not known | not known | A course near the town, with a 'commodious' stand held races for two days in late September | |
[29] | Staffordshire | England | not known | not known | Held two days' racing at the end of September | |
[25] | Shropshire | England | not known | not known | Held a two-day meeting at the start of August; the course was in bad repair in 1840 | |
[30] | Herefordshire | England | not known | not known | Held a day long race meeting in mid-August | |
[31] | Lancashire | England | not known | not known | Held two days' racing in the middle of August, including a Gold Cup of 100 sovs | |
[29] | Staffordshire | England | 1838 | 16 October 1839 | Held one day's racing in mid-October. Held the 'Ordinaries' at The Star Inn, Burntwood. | |
[29] | Staffordshire | England | From 'a very early period' | not known | Held a two-day meeting at the end of August which included the Bretby Cup, given by the Earl of Chesterfield | |
[32] | Worcestershire | England | not known | not known | A small hunter racecourse | |
Buxton Racecourse[27] | Derbyshire | England | not known | not known | Held two days' racing in June | |
[20] | Kent | England | not known | not known | Held on Barham Downs, within 3 miles of the city. Had a 'commodious stand'. Was awarded a King's Plate by George II in 1729.[33] | |
[34] | Glamorganshire | Wales | not known | not known | Held mid-July meetings for two days. | |
[35] | Staffordshire | England | not known | not known | Held one day's 'inferior racing' at the beginning of September | |
[36] | Derbyshire | England | not known | not known | Held two days' racing at the start of October | |
[7] | Gloucestershire | England | not known | not known | Held two days' racing at the beginning of May | |
[37] | Lancashire | England | 1821 | not known | The first record of racing was 1617 http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Clitheroe%20Racecourse.html the link has a map too. | |
[24] | Warwickshire | England | not known | not known | Two-day race meetings were held in March with a Silver Cup and £100 in prize money | |
[38] | Leicestershire | England | not known | not known | Held amateur races at the beginning of April | |
Surrey | England | 1871 | not known | Site now occupied by Long Lane Estate and Ashburton Playing Fields. | ||
[39] | Dorset | England | not known | not known | Held two days' racing in the middle of September | |
at Harrow-on-the-Hill[40] | Middlesex | England | 1836 | not known | Held in mid-August | |
[41] | Worcestershire | England | not known | not known | Held two days racing at the end of June | |
[42] | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | not known | not known | Alternately held the Caledonian Hunt meeting, along with Ayr, Edinburgh and Musselburgh | |
[43] | Surrey | England | not known | not known | Situated on the plain of Runnymede where King John signed the Magna Carta, Egham races were often attended by royalty. The course was a two mile flat oval. | |
[44] | Ayrshire | Scotland | not known | not known | ||
[40] | Middlesex | England | not known | By 1836 | Replaced by Dove House meeting | |
[45] | Gloucestershire | England | not known | not known | A mile and a half oblong course in a meadow on the banks of the River Severn, with a straight, 400 yard run-in | |
[46] | Hertfordshire | England | 1838 | not known | Had four courses ranging in length from 5 furlongs 136 yards to two miles | |
[47] | Buckinghamshire | England | not known | not known | ||
[40] | Middlesex | England | not known | not known | Three-day meetings held in the middle of June on Moulsey Hurst next to the river | |
[48] | Sussex | England | 1827 | not known | Held a two-day meeting at the end of September which included the Town Plate and St. Leonard's Plate, both of 50 sovereigns | |
[49] | Pembrokeshire | Wales | not known | not known | Situated on a common near the town called Portfield or Poorfield. Two-day meetings were held at the beginning of August. | |
Heaton Park Racecourse[37] | Lancashire | England | not known | not known | Held three days 'excellent' racing in late September | |
[35] | Staffordshire | England | 1835 | Monday 30 October 1871 | Races were held on the 'heathy downs' at Cannock Chase which had long been famed for racehorses. A day long meeting was held in early July and again in October and November. These races did not run from 1835 to 1871 consecutively. The first meeting was on Tuesday 27 October 1835 and ran for seven years until Tuesday 8 November 1842. Another meeting was held on Tuesday 26 November 1850 with the final meeting being on Monday 30 October 1871. | |
[50] | Hertfordshire | England | not known | not known | Races took place at the beginning of August for two days | |
, Bayswater, London[51] | Middlesex | England | 3 June 1837 | not known | A 'vast establishment' also called the Metropolitan Racecourse | |
[52] | Flintshire | Wales | 9 November 1769 | 20 October 1852 | Hunt races took place in the middle of October for two days. | |
[50] | Hertfordshire | England | 1821 | not known | Racing, mainly hunter chases, took place at the end of April and for a short time in the 1820s and 1830s the course was very fashionable | |
(Kington)[53] | Herefordshire | England | not known | not known | An 'inferior' racecourse, with meetings at the end of July | |
[49] | Pembrokeshire | Wales | not known | not known | Held two-day race meetings in mid-June. | |
[54] | Lancashire | England | not known | not known | Held a two-day meeting in late July | |
[55] | Kent | England | not known | not known | Held races that were only 'of local interest' in 1840 | |
Leith Races[56] | Lothian | Scotland | 1504 (or earlier) | 1816 | Races were held on the sands at low tide in late July or early August for four or five days, until the events were moved to Musselburgh. A 4 mile King's Plate was run at Leith from at least 1728[57] | |
[53] | Herefordshire | England | not known | not known | Held meetings at the end of August | |
[35] | Staffordshire | England | not known | not known | The course was on the Tamworth road, about two miles from the city and raced at the end of March and in mid-September. Was awarded a King's Plate for 5 year olds by George II in 1748.[33] | |
Nottinghamshire | England | 21 August 1734 | 13 July 1874 | The course was situated just over a mile east of the town, the area between the straights (which crossed both Eakring Road and Southwell Road) is still used for recreational purposes.[58] | ||
[59] | Staffordshire | England | not known | not known | Races were held annually in November on Middleham Moor, but in 1840 they were deemed 'of little interest'. Middleham is still home to many racing stables. | |
[60] | Monmouthshire | Wales | not known | not known | Situated on the banks of the River Wye near the junction with the River Monnow on Chippenham meadow. A two-day meeting was held in mid-October. | |
[61] | Northumberland | England | not known | not known | Races took place over two days at the beginning of September at Cottingwood to the north of the town. | |
[62] | Shropshire | England | Mixed | not known | not known | Held a two-day meeting in early August |
[63] | Shropshire | England | Mixed | not known | not known | Held a two-day meeting at the end of July |
[64] | Buckinghamshire | England | not known | By 1840 | ||
[63] | North Riding of Yorkshire | England | Mixed | not known | not known | Racing took place in mid-October for two days, and included a £100 Gold Cup and £50 Silver Cup. |
Oswestry Race Course | Shropshire | England | early 1700s[citation needed] or 1804[63] | 1848 | Racing started on the common west of the town over a unique figure-of-eight course. A grandstand was built at the start of the 19th century. but the last meeting was held in 1848. Its regular meeting was two days in September and included the Shropshire Stakes and a Gold Cup. | |
Oxfordshire | England | not known | not known | An oval of two miles, quite flat | ||
[60] | Monmouthshire | Wales | not known | not known | Situated between the River Avon and the canal to Newport, Wales. A two-day meeting was held at the start of August. | |
[62] | Staffordshire | England | not known | not known | Held a two-day meeting at the start of August including a Stewards' Plate of 100 sovs. | |
Richmond Racecourse[65] | Yorkshire | England | Mixed | not known | not known | Racing took place for two days in mid-September on Whitcliffe Meadow, an area of common ground, which was "an excellent course". The link below provides a wonderfully detailed description of the course and plans to transform it into a conservation area:-
https://www.richmondshire.gov.uk/media/4936/richmond-racecourse-conservation-area-study.pdf |
[55] | Kent | England | not known | not known | Held a two-day meeting at the beginning of September | |
[50] | Hertfordshire | England | not known | not known | Held a one day meeting in the middle of May, for 'half-bred horses' of local interest only | |
[66] | Shropshire | England | not known | not known | Held two days of 'inferior racing' at the end of May | |
[66] | Shropshire | England | 1730 | 5 November 1886 | Situated on Bicton Heath, 2 miles west of Shrewsbury. It was 1 mile 185 yards round. Races took place in mid-September for 3 or 4 days and included a Queen's Plate of 100gs. In Chris Pitt's book, A Long Time Gone, he states the meetings began in 1774 but there is evidence on John Slusar's website, The Greyhound Derby, that shows it was 1730. | |
[67] | Hampshire | England | not known | not known | Situated on Southampton common on land given by the corporation. Held a two-day meeting at the beginning of August. | |
[68] | Staffordshire | England | not known | not known | A one mile course, almost completely oval except for a quarter mile straight run-in. Held 'very inferior' races at the start of October. | |
[69] | Lincolnshire | England | not known | not known | A mile in circumference on Wittoring Heath near the town, held a three day mid-June meeting. | |
[30] | Wiltshire | England | not known | not known | A meeting of merely local interest was held at the end of April | |
[68] | Staffordshire | England | not known | not known | Held a two-day meeting in early October. | |
[41] | Warwickshire | England | not known | not known | Held two days of racing at the end of August. Had a Cup Stakes of £100 in value. | |
[70] | Hertfordshire | England | not known | c. 1838 | Held at a place called Noman's Land. Home to the St. Albans' Steeple Chase. Racing ceased on the establishment of Gorhambury Park. | |
[34] | Glamorganshire | Wales | not known | not known | Commonly called 'Swansea and Neath races', the course was on Cremlyn Burrows on the Neath Road. Meetings were held at the end of August. | |
[16] | Devon | England | not known | not known | An oval, hilly, two mile course with a one day meeting at the beginning of May | |
[41] | Warwickshire | England | not known | not known | Racing of a 'very inferior' nature, with the principal race being a £50 plate. | |
[16] | Devon | England | not known | not known | Held a two-day meeting at the end of August | |
[55] | Kent | England | not known | not known | Held a well attended two-day meeting at the end of August on the common | |
[41] | Warwickshire | England | not known | not known | Races took place at the end of August | |
[71] | Staffordshire | England | 1755 | 13 August 1876 | The majority of race meetings were held over two days at the end of September although some years the meeting was held in October and towards the end, in August. | |
[72] | Shropshire | England | not known | not known | Held a 'very inferior' race meeting at the beginning of October | |
[72] | Shropshire | England | not known | not known | Held one day's racing at the end of July | |
[39] | Dorset | England | 1821 | not known | Well attended meeting held at the end of August. The course was considered 'very good' | |
[73] | Hampshire | England | Bef. 1727 | Circa 1914 requisitioned during WW I and remains in military ownership | Races were held on Worthy Down, 4 miles from Winchester for two days in the middle of July. Held a Royal Plate race for 6 year olds from at least 1727.[33] |
18th-19th century amount[]
Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Ireland | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1727[a] | 112 | 5 | unknown | unknown | 117[b] | |
1800[75] | 66[c] | 5 | 4 | 75 | ||
1816[75] | 84[d] | 9 | 8 | 101 | ||
1839[76] | 132 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 153 |
18th century[]
Whyte's History of the British Turf (1840) lists 48 places where racing was discontinued in the latter half of the 18th century:[75]
NB Racing is recorded at various of these places after 1840. There is also reference to a Royal Plate race being held at Guilford (sic) from 1727 at the latest and Burford from 1755.[33]
Other sites[]
Race results from places not listed by Whyte can also be found in the historical record. These include:
References[]
- ^ "List of British Racecourses". British Racecourses. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "Folkestone Racecourse holds 'last' horse racing meeting". BBC News. 18 December 2012.
- ^ "Towcester Racecourse closed and remaining fixtures sold". BBC Sport. 1 October 2019.
- ^ "Courses for horses". BBC News. 21 July 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab BBC News, "Racecourses of yesteryear", 8 July 2008
- ^ BBC Devon gallery
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 234.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 233.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 309.
- ^ Whyte 1840, pp. 332, 402.
- ^ Herbery, Ian (14 April 2004). "Racing: Manchester aims to revive glorious racing history". The Independent. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ "Salford racecourse on track". Manchester Evening News. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 228.
- ^ "Stockbridge Racecourse". greyhoundderby.com. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- ^ "Stockton Racecourse". greyhoundderby.com. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 230.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 359.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 357.
- ^ Whyte 1840, pp. 194–195.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 255.
- ^ Whyte 1840, pp. 190–191.
- ^ Whyte 1840, pp. 252.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 286.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 334.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 287.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 231.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 224.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 356.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 299.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 337.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 257.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 342.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Whyte 1840, p. 402.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 362.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 302.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 225.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 258.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 271.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 232.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 273.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Whyte 1840, p. 338.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 367.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 309-310.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 379.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 241.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 250-252.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 205.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 332.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 364.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 253.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 274.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 360.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 249.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 259.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 256.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 366-368.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 403.
- ^ "Nottinghamshire history > The History of Mansfield (1894)". www.nottshistory.org.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 349.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 277.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 283.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 304.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 289.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 204.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 350.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 291.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 245-246.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 306.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 272.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 250.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 307.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Whyte 1840, p. 294.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 247.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 386.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Whyte 1840, p. 189.
- ^ Whyte, 1840 & p-190.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 308.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 363.
- ^ "Allsop (sic), Fred". Jockeypedia. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Racing Calendar". The Sporting Magazine; Or Monthly Calendar of the transactions of the Turf, the Chace, And every other Diversion Interesting to The Man of Pleasure and Enterprize. London. October 1792.
- ^ Mortimer, Onslow & Willett 1978, p. 431.
- ^ "Racing Calendar". The Sporting Magazine; Or Monthly Calendar of the transactions of the Turf, the Chace, And every other Diversion Interesting to The Man of Pleasure and Enterprize. London. November 1792.
- ^ "Racing Calendar". The Sporting Magazine; Or Monthly Calendar of the transactions of the Turf, the Chace, And every other Diversion Interesting to The Man of Pleasure and Enterprize. London. December 1792.
Bibliography[]
- Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- Whyte, James Christie (1840). History of the British turf, from the earliest period to the present day, Volume I. London: H. Colburn. OL 6544990M.
- Horse racing venues in England