Carlisle racecourse is a right-handed thoroughbred horse racing track located at the heart of beautiful Blackwell village in Carlisle, England. It is famous for holding flat racing in the summer and National Hunt races during winter. The 2.41 kilometer racecourse is owned and managed by the Jockey Club Racecourses. It was founded in the year 1904, after being moved from another venue to its present site. On the 2nd of July 1929, the racecourse made history when it became the first British racecourse for the Totalisator Board (a betting club) to operate their betting system.
The racetrack has been holding a series of races annually, and the most notable of them all include; Carlisle Bell, Eternal Stakes and ApolloBet Mares’ Chase. Carlisle Bell was inaugurated in the year 1599, making it one of the most ancient races. It was named in relation to the bells given to the winners of the race as an award during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. The race is run over a distance of 1,609 meters on a turf surface, and is only open to horses aged three years and above. The Eternal Stakes is scheduled for June of every year, and was first run in 2015 at Carlisle racecourse. It is open to fillies aged three years and above, racing over a total distance of 1,383 meters. Just like the Eternal Stakes, ApolloBet Mares’ Stakes was first run in the racecourse in the year 2015. It is the longest of them all, with horses covering a distance of 4,023 meters as they jump over a total of 16 fences. It takes place every November and horses aged four years and above take part in it.
Besides racing, Carlisle is also a venue for events such as conferences, seminars, exhibitions, parties and even weddings. It has a maximum capacity of 470 people with an ample parking space making it convenient and comfortable.