Towcester Racecourse

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Towcester

Towcester Racecourse Logo
Location	Watling Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire
Owned by	TRC Events & Leisure Ltd.
Date opened	1973
Screened on	Sky Sports Racing
Course type	National Hunt
Official website

Towcester Racecourse was a horse racing course at Towcester (pronounced "Toh-ster") in Northamptonshire, England. It has staged the English Greyhound Derby in 2018, 2021 and has won the contract for the next 5 years from 2022.

Greyhound Racing[]

A new greyhound racing track has been built inside the racecourse, which opened in December 2014.^[1]

Towcester Racecourse races every Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday with gates opening at 5pm, Thursday with the gates opening at 10am and on Sunday at 1pm. This is a great time out with family and friends. S

Although many greyhound tracks have been lost to housing, the sport remains hugely popular in Britain and accounts for around a fifth of all betting shop turnover. But it is for the excitement of live racing under lights when ‘a night at the dogs’ really comes into its own.

Towcester Racecourse will be hosting the most anticipated and greatest Greyhound competition of the year, as the Star Sports And TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby comes to Towcester Racecourse, from the 19th May 2022.

Buy your tickets at there website.

The action is fast and furious with a typical meeting featuring around a dozen races spread over three to four hours. The stars are the hounds themselves, each with a pedigree tracing back hundreds of years, and all capable of breaking the 40 mph barrier.

Towcester Racecourse operates to the highest possible levels of integrity and animal welfare.

English Greyhound Derby[]

The English Greyhound Derby is the absolute pinnacle of the sport in both the UK and Ireland especially with the winner's prize money confirmed as a whopping £175,000 for the next 5 years at Towcester. The competition dates all the way back to 1927 when Entry Badge was the inaugural winner and Towcester is just the 5th venue to host the prestigious competition in its 95 years history.

Starting from May 19, 2022, 192 greyhounds will take their place in the 1st Round and start a six weeks journey culminating in 6 greyhounds lining up in the Final on Saturday 25 June all trying to win the £175,000 prize money and call themselves English Greyhound Derby Champion!

2022 Dates include the following:

1st Round – 19/20/21 May

2nd Round – 27/28 May

3rd Round – 4 June

Quarters – 11 June

Semis – 18 June

Final – 25 June

Facilities[]

With race nights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday, there is plenty of opportunities to join us in our hospitality, creating memories and experiences with friends and family.

There range of hospitality caters for all needs with large and small parties, as well as being available for private hire.

Boothby Suite[]

For the ultimate experience they have the Boothby Box that seats 36 people in 6 tables of 6 with a soft seating area, private balconies, tote facilities and table service or buffet This is the ideal choice for wining and dining with an outstanding view of all the action and will ensure you and your friends, family or colleagues will have an unforgettable experience.

For this bespoke dining experience which is tailored to your needs, there is no cost on application, therefore only available for private hire at request, by calling 0800 304 7700.

Shared & Private VIP Boxes[]

The prestigious VIP boxes are located on the 2nd floor, which also has a viewing balcony, there's 4 VIP Boxes are ranging from in size 20 guests to 50 guests, all with their own private balconies, table service or buffet, tote facilities and a perfect view of the track, all perfect for corporate entertaining or a private celebration experience.

Prices range from £29.95.

To book a shared VIP Box go to the website or call in to book, though for a private box, you must contact them directly on 0800 304 7700.

They give bespoke pricing depending on the number of people, as well as food and beverage requirements.  

Empress Restaurant[]

On the 1st Floor of this building, accessed by both stairs and lifts, is the Empress Restaurant with its panoramic view of the racecourse and an atmospheric balcony. This facility offers an extensive seating of  220 people, catering for small and large groups in a shared restaurant setting over-looking the track with a shared balcony access, table service or buffet and tote facilities.

Prices range from £20

We give bespoke pricing depending on the number of people, as well as food and beverage requirements.  

Bar 4000[]

Our Bar 4000 and bar marquee has an capacity of 300, and an is the ideal choice for a bar & drinks experience with TV's in every corner of the Bar giving you a great view of the action, as you enjoy yourself with your friends and family, all part of the general admission package, from FREE entry!

They also have our FAB5 packages that include general admission, racecard, burger & chips and a £2 tote bet, starting from £12.95.

Coming soon we have a Trap to Line Café, with delicious food, from sandwiches and cakes to burgers and chips.

To book any of these packages you have to go to Towcester Racecourse website.

Champagne Bar[]

This is a luxurious suite, with a beautiful seating and dining experience, offering an extensive seating of 60 people. The champagne bar is fitted with the best facilities with its own bar, kitchen and toilet having many functions, all available to hire at a bespoke price, must be contacted them directly for more information.

Conferencing

There are a wide range of suites, restaurants and conference rooms available to book at Towcester Racecourse.

There are two purpose built grandstands and marquees that have large areas of outdoor space, both hard standing with grass, and with also extensive car parking.

For your occasion you can book either:

• Empress Room
• Bar 4000 & Marquee
• VIP Box 1-4
• Boothby Suite

They do bespoke prices to fit your needs, including food and beverages, with many opportunities for when you have finished your meeting to come and watch the Greyhound racing and hospitality in the suites!

Greyhound Racing Welfare[]

After the race, there is cooling down equipment next to the track, including buckets, towels, and water which are provided to cool down the dogs, keeping the temperature down, especially in the summer.

By the kennels, there is also a swimming pool in case a Greyhound overheats, allowing us to bring their temperature down immediately. Swimming is also used, as a good way to build up a Greyhound after an injury.

Towcester have been fortunate to secure the services of Polly as our main vet. The Towcester Racing team has over 100 years greyhound racing experience between them and knows that a large kennel strength is essential to avoid over racing the greyhounds or placing greyhounds in unsuitable trap positions due to insufficient availability.

Dr. Polly Smith, said, “Throughout my time here at Towcester, and more latterly at other tracks, I have continued to enjoy my role as a track vet but have also expanded my work to assist with various welfare initiatives”

“Greyhound welfare is, as it should be, at the center of this sport and everyone in the industry has a part to play to ensure that all of our greyhounds receive a high level of care during their racing careers and enjoy a smooth transition into a forever home once they have retired from racing”.  

Patrons of Towcester Racecourse can rest assured that the Greyhounds they watch receive the highest levels of care during their racing careers and throughout retirement.

When our Greyhounds retire, if they don't return to their owners they go into an independent charity, such as Crossing Cottage Greyhound Sanitary. John and Judith Morton from the charity, have been rehoming Greyhounds since 1999 and are ‘CEVA National Award’ winners. As well as GBGB approved Greyhound Rehoming Centre.

They also work closely with Whittingham Kennels in Waltham Abbey, to ensure all Greyhounds receive the best life throughout retirement. The Greyhound Trust was founded in 1975, since then they have found over 100,000 loving homes for greyhounds.

2018 administration[]

In August 2018 the future of Towcester racecourse was put in doubt. A statement released by the racecourse on 16 August read: "Towcester Racecourse Company Limited, proprietors of Towcester Racecourse, are currently experiencing trading difficulties and are in discussions with key stakeholders and professional advisers on the way forward. However, the directors have concluded that they have no alternative in the short term but to seek court protection and are now taking steps to place the company into administration. As a result, it is with regret that the greyhound meetings on this Friday, 17 August, and over the weekend at Towcester Racecourse have been cancelled.

"Whilst inevitably there will be considerable interest from customers, supporters and suppliers, the directors ask that they be given time to focus on exploring other options for the business and they anticipate there will be a further update in the next few days.

"The directors remain hopeful that despite the current situation, given the significant history of horseracing and more recently greyhound racing at Towcester, there will be significant interest from potential acquirers".

On 23 August KPMG were appointed as administrators and 134 out of 137 members of staff at the racecourse were made redundant, many having to claim statutory redundancy from the government.^[2] On 13 November it was announced by the administrators that the racecourse's assets were being sold to a company called Fermor Land LLP.^[3][4] This company was formed on 18 October (26 days before the sale) and is headed by Lord Hesketh's brother-in-law Mark Westropp, a trustee of the Hesketh Family trusts.^{[3][5] [6]}

In late October 2019 Kevin Boothby signed a 10-year lease deal for Towcester Racecourse.

New Lease Deal[]

In October 2019 the racecourse was successfully leased, with Greyhound Racing returning each week and the prospect of Horse Racing returning in the very near future. Post-Covid and the most recent Government announcements, Towcester will once again open its doors to the public from May 18, 2021, and will be racing every Monday, Tuesday and Saturday from 5pm and on Sunday from 1pm.^[7]

Horse Racing[]

The first meeting took place in 1928. The Towcester Racecourse Company was formed under the direction of Lord Hesketh, and it was there on his estate of Easton Neston, that the course was sited, and the first grandstand built.

Towcester was highly popular among the racing fraternity, mostly because of the sharp bends in the course, and the final gallop to the finishing post was uphill, which tested the horses and results in some unexpected finishes.

In 2004, the Easton Neston estate, including the race course was put up for sale. Hesketh later decided to retain ownership of the course and sold only a portion of the estate to a Russian-born businessman.

Entry was free from 2002 until 2006, during which time the course saw attendance grow significantly. In mid-2006, it was announced that from the 26th of December 2006, Towcester would be charging for entry to their two most popular annual meetings; Boxing Day and Easter Sunday. Selected other meetings were free.

In 2008, Lord Hesketh decided to sell the course which was offered as a going concern.

On 7 November 2013, jockey Tony McCoy got his 4,000th career win at Towcester, riding Mountain Tunes to win the Weatherbys Novices' Hurdle.^[8]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Towcester Racecourse & Leisure Health & Hygiene
• Course guide on GG.COM
• Towcester Live Race

Coordinates: 52°7′41″N 0°58′22″W / 52.12806°N 0.97278°W / 52.12806; -0.97278