About Worcester Racecourse Worcester Racecourse is a racecourse located in the city of Worcester, Worcestershire. It’s about ...
About Wolverhampton Racecourse Wolverhampton Racecourse is a racecourse just north of Wolverhampton, West Midlands. It’s only about ...
About Windsor Racecourse Windsor Racecourse is a racecourse located in the market town of Windsor, Berkshire. It’s ...
About York Racecourse York Racecourse is a racecourse located in the city of York, North Yorkshire. It’s ...
About Wincanton Racecourse Wincanton Racecourse is a racecourse located a few miles north of Wincanton, Somerset. It’s ...
About Wetherby Racecourse Wetherby Racecourse is a racecourse located in Wetherby, West Yorkshire. It’s about 12 miles ...
About Warwick Racecourse Warwick Racecourse is a racecourse located in the market town of Warwick, Warwickshire. It’s ...
About Uttoxeter Racecourse Uttoxeter Racecourse is a racecourse located in the market town of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. It’s ...
About Thirsk Racecourse Thirsk Racecourse is a racecourse located in the market town of Thirsk, North Yorkshire. ...
About Taunton Racecourse Taunton Racecourse is a racecourse located a few miles south of Taunton, Somerset. It’s ...
About Stratford Racecourse Stratford Racecourse is a racecourse located in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire. It’s about 30 miles south ...
About Southwell Racecourse Southwell Racecourse is a racecourse located just a few miles west of Southwell, Nottinghamshire. ...
About Sedgefield Racecourse Sedgefield Racecourse is a racecourse located a few miles south of Sedgefield, County Durham. ...
About Sandown Park Racecourse Sandown Park Racecourse is a racecourse located in the town of Esher, Surrey. ...
About Salisbury Racecourse Salisbury Racecourse is a racecourse just a few miles south of the city of ...
About Ripon Racecourse Ripon Racecourse is a racecourse located in the city of Ripon, North Yorkshire. It’s ...
About Redcar Racecourse Redcar Racecourse is a racecourse located in the town of Redcar, North Yorkshire. It’s ...
About Pontefract Racecourse Pontefract Racecourse is a racecourse located in the market town of Pontefract, West Yorkshire. ...
About Plumpton Racecourse Plumpton Racecourse is a racecourse located in the village of Plumpton, around 10 miles ...
About Perth Racecourse Perth Racecourse is a racecourse located just a few miles north of Perth, Scotland. ...
About Nottingham Racecourse Nottingham Racecourse is located in the city of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. It’s only a few ...
About Newton Abbot Racecourse Newton Abbot Racecourse is a racecourse just north of Newton Abbot, Devon. It’s ...
About Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket Racecourse is a racecourse located in the town of Newmarket, Suffolk. It’s around ...
About Newcastle Racecourse Newcastle Racecourse is a racecourse located in Goforth Park, around 6 miles north of ...
About Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse near the town of Newbury, Berkshire. It’s one of ...
About Musselburgh Racecourse Musselburgh Racecourse is a racecourse located in Musselburgh, East Lothian. It’s around 6 miles ...
About Market Rasen Racecourse Market Rasen Racecourse is a racecourse located in the town of Market Rasen, ...
About Ludlow Racecourse Ludlow Racecourse is a racecourse located near the market town of Ludlow, Shropshire. It’s ...
About Lingfield Park Racecourse Lingfield Park Racecourse is a racecourse located in Lingfield, Surrey. It’s only 40 ...
About Leicester Racecourse Leicester Racecourse is a racecourse located in the town of Oadby, just a few ...
Racecourses in the UK
Horse racing is the second largest spectator sport in the UK and has been ingrained in British culture now for centuries. The first-ever mention of horse racing in Britain dates back to Roman times. However, it wasn’t until the 16th century that these races became formal events. In 1512, somebody won the first horse racing trophy in Chester. While the winner is unknown, we do know they received a small wooden ball decorated in flowers. Because of this, it wasn’t long after that race meetings sprung up across the country.
Nowadays, fans of the sport have an impressive 60 racecourses to choose from up and down the country. These days, venues are about more than just the horse racing events too! There are bars, restaurants, music venues, and children’s play areas on offer at many of the UK’s prominent racecourses. This means racecourses don’t just appeal to horse racing fans anymore; they appeal to the whole family. Plenty of racecourses in the UK now sell themselves as family fun attractions for all to enjoy.
As a result, the variations between each racecourse in the UK is quite noticeable. Every course offers something a little different, and that includes on the track too. There are two primary forms of horse racing fans enjoy in the UK; Flat racing and National Hunt racing.
- Flat racing is horse racing without any obstacles which run over a distance between 1km and 4.3km.
- National Hunt racing, on the other hand, offers obstacles in the form of hurdles and fences. These are longer races with distances that reach up to 7.3km at the top-end.
Most of the UK tracks run on Turf, which many fans enjoy as horses can reach a higher top speed; however, there are a few Polytrack racecourses too!
