Taunton racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing track located at the heart of the rural Orchard Portman. It is only a few miles from Taunton, England. The track opened up in 1927. It is owned by Taunton Racecourse ltd. Having been opened in the early 90s, the track is the youngest of them all in England. It is well known for hosting National Hunt races right from January all through to May, after which it takes a break till October when the races resume. Right handed and oval in shape,Taunton consists of multiple tight bends. It is approximately a mile and 2 furlongs long, which is a common average.

The racetrack has been holding races since 18th century. Its first venue was located in Broomhay, West Monkton, and later relocated to a new site, which is now the King’s College. They however faced a major setback in 1838 when heavy rains destroyed its stables and buildings. This necessitated its transfer to Trull Moor about two years later. The racecourse remained functional for 15 years after which it closed down due to the outbreak of the World War 1. It was then revived in 1927, after the formation of Taunton Racecourse Company. That is when the racecourse was relocated to its current location, Orchard Portman. Shoreditch Selling Hurdle was its first meeting, having have taken place on the 21st of September, 1927. Since then, the racetrack has been hosting a significant number of fixtures every year.

The most anticipated activies start in the beginning of the year, with the famus Hndicap Hurdle being the peak of the events calendar. This event has recorded a good turnout number, with people flocking the Taunton racecourse
to watch the races. Another major event would be Audrey Chudleigh Memorial Handicap Hurdle, taking place every November. The racecourse has good hospitality facilities, guaranteeing a comfortable stay to anyone who visits.

Known and respected for a long and dominant career, Nashwan was an American-British thoroughbred horse and sire. Having won two of its first starts by the age of 2, Nashwan soon became one of the most dominant horses of its generation. It won the likes of the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and both the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Sadly, the horse lost its retirement race at the Prix Niel, retiring to become a successful sire of winners.

 

Known for its well-built form and its chestnut color, Nashwan was well-loved from its earliest days as a racehorse. It was trained by Major Dick Hern and also ridden around by Willie Carson for every race that it took part in. Apparently, the name of the horse was chosen because it’s supposed to be the Arabic word for joy.

 

Over its career, Nashwan made just short of £800,000 – not bad for a little over 7 races!

 

It ended its career with a Timeform rating of 135, which showcases just how impressive this horse was across what was a short and ultimately hugely successful career path. Indeed, it was rated as the third best British-trained horse at the age of three in the late 1980s. from there, it went on to become one of the most respected and beloved horses of its generation.

 

After its career was over, it became a breeding stallion at the Shadwell Stud. It was part of the likes of Swain – dual winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes – as well as Bago, who won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

 

Sadly, Nashwan died on July 19th, 2002, after minor leg injury complications became problematic and the horse was unable to recover, leaving behind a legacy worth remembering.

 

Wolverhampton racecourse is a horse racing track located in Wolverhampton, England. The racecourse is owned and operated by the Arena Leisure Plc., and hosts flat races. It is left-handed, measuring up to about 1,609 meters in circumference. It is seated on a 22 acre piece of land in the Dunstallpark, 15 miles from Birmingham. The course has a total of 1,500 free car parking spaces, thus making it convenient for racegoers to use their own cars. Wolverhampton was Britain’s first floodlit racecourse. It is among the busiest racecourses, staging a total of 80 fixtures each year.

Racing at Wolverhampton dates back to 1825, and its first venue was at West Park. In 1878, the venue was sold off to the Corporation, and it acquired a new land at Dunstall Park, its current venue. Racing at the new venue first took place on the 13th of August, 1888. In 1993, the racecourse made great improvements to its facilities. Floodlights were installed, and an all-weather track created alongside the turf track. A new grandstand was also built, increasing the racecourse’s carrying capacity. In 2004, a single polytrack was built to replace the turf track and the all-weather track. The hotel and conference facilities were also renovated.

The most notable race held at Wolverhampton is the Lady Wulfruna Stakes. The race first took place in 2002, and is meant for horses aged four years and above. It covers a total distance of 1,441 meters, and is scheduled for every March. It was named after Wulfruna, who is the granddaughter of King Ethelred 1. This year, Wolverhampton has a huge list of meetings lined up in their calendar. On the 18th of May the venue will host the Anthony Joshua Black Panther Ball. Anthony Joshua will be visiting the racecourse for the first time, giving the racegoers a chance to interact with him and know him better.