Category Archives: Racecourses

Aintree is known worldwide as a premier horse racing venue.
The racecourse is located in Merseyside, England and was opened on 7th
July 1829. Aintree racecourse has made a name for itself for holding the most
demanding steeplechase race in the world famously known as the Grand National.

 

The racecourse, now known for its most famous steeplechase
race, started out hosting flat races. Steeplechasing started in 1836. The race meeting
is held in April and offers some scintillating action. Every year in April
jockeys meet in the heart of Liverpool for a race meeting that brings
Merseyside to a standstill.

 

Aintree is one of the most revered British National Hunt
racecourses and for good reason. With 16 fences, the course is jam-packed with
all the obstacles jockeys fear having to come across from Foinavon, to Canal
Turn, the Chair and Becher’s Brook. The final 494 yards have always provided a
frenzied finish as horses change places relinquishing the lead and claiming it
again. The race is so grueling that in 1928 only two out of 42 horses were able
to reach the finish. The record for the most wins on this tough course was set
in the 1970’s by Red Rum who won three races and also came second a couple
times.

 

The course at Aintree is surrounded by three Grandstands
namely, The Lord Sefton Stand, The Earl of Derby Stand and the Princess Royal
Stand. It also has two smaller stands; the Queen Mother and the Lord Daresbury
Stand. Aside from these, fans can also enjoy horseracing from the modern Aintree
Pavilion with VIP treatment and excellent views of the proceedings.

 

Apart from the Grand
National, which draws crowds of horse racing lovers from across the globe,
Aintree racecourse holds 4 other race meetings going all the way to December.
The venue is also loved for its conference facilities and golfing. Aintree has
also hosted some of the biggest music concerts featuring world-renowned
artists.

Thirsk Racecourse was first opened in 1923 even though racing started much earlier. The left handed course had a finishing straight three furlongs long and a chute of 6 furlongs. The racecourse is situated in the town of Thirsk in North Yorkshire, England.

 

The racecourse has a rural feel to it which makes for the perfect plan for the weekend away from the bustling cities. One of the most loved features about the racecourse is the well-maintained paddock. The lush green that surrounds the course provides for a scenic view while enjoying some spectacular flat racing.

 

The main event in the racecourses calendar is the Hunt Cup, which has forever endeared previous winners such as Egg Sauce and Lady Bird to the hearts of race goers from around. The Hunt Cup is known to draw crowds from all across the country as people come to experience the sport of kings at its best and also enjoy some family fun with the kids.

The race calendar starts in April as horse racing fans warm up for the popular Irish Day held on 19 May. The action
continues in the summer with the Summer Cup Day and at the climax of events comes the Thirsk Ladies Day in September. As one of the most anticipated race days of the year, the Thirsk Ladies Day never disappoints. There is plenty of fanfare as the fans step out in style. On such a day, fans can enjoy, live music, exhilarating horseracing, good food and fun competitions as well. Family fun days are also part of the programme. Families can come and enjoy the carnival atmosphere complete with all the games to keep the kids entertained.

 

Aside from the racing calendar, Thirsk Racecourse is also a wonderful venue for events of all kinds from weddings, to
music concerts, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate functions. The facilities at Thirsk are right up there with the best countrywide and globally.

 

 

The official recognition of Brighton as a racecourse took place in 1783 but there are unofficial accounts of it having races conducted by members of the army at a garrison in the town. The Duke of Cambridge organised the first race but then Prince of Wales (George IV) arrived at the town the next year and from there it gained popularity. He managed this by attracting a number of his aristocratic friends who he knew were big betters.

 

Horseracing led to thedevelopment of the town. When racing, jockeys jumped over sheep pens, and thisled to the concept of hurdles. In 1788, a grand stand was erected but it burnt down on August 23rd 1796. In the 1800s, the place became a playground for the rich but fell down the pecking order after the prince and his friends stopped attending. The railway arrived in Brighton in 1850 and the racecourse became popular again. Renovations were made and a new stand was built. This led to the initiation of the Brighton Cup and it has been running ever since.

 

The racecourse is in Freshfield Road, East Sussex and is situated on Whitehawk Hill . It sits in 20 acres of countryside and is one mile from the ocean, so it offers great ocean views. The track has a horseshoe look that helps it stand out. It has 18 meeting rooms.

 

The racecourse has 21 fixtures every year and the major notable event is the 3-day August Festival. The first day focuses on the Brighton Mile Challenge trophy, the second day is all about the Brighton Challenge Cup and the third is reserved for the Ladies Day, a competition for the best dressed lady.

 

In 2012, Stuart Kittow’s 4-year-old horse won the Brighton Mile Challenge. On Ladies Day, with a fog that brought visibility levels to almost zero, Darryl Holland won the Brighton Challenge cup.

Redcar racecourse is located in Redcar, North Yorkshire, England. The racecourse divides the town right down the middle, which makes it one of the important landmarks around. On a typical race day, fans are treated to action packed racing with the best amenities for a fun family day out.

The racecourse was opened in 1875 prior to which horseracing was held at Coatham in the sands. The oval-shaped track is a left handed, thoroughbred racetrack. The course can get challenging at the bends which are tight. A chute of 3 furlongs leads you to the top bend after which there is a straight course one metre long. This one-metre straight is said to be the only straight in all of UK that is a legitimate ‘Straight Mile.’ The straight is said to be perfectly level.

Race goers can enjoy all the action from the outdoor sitting, which is well organized and recently upgraded to give the whole place an upmarket feel that blends well with the picturesque view of the Cleveland hills. The entire racecourse is well kept with the winners enclosure and the parade ring the most impressive to look at. Sunny days make for splendid racing with the final straight always provides for an enlivening finish to the races.

The racecourse hosts 18 race meetings starting from April and running through October. Each race meeting is an
opportunity for locals and racing fans at large to enjoy the festivities that come with a good race day. Some of the prominent races include the Zetland Gold Cup, Two-Year-Old Trophy and the Guisborough Stakes.

Apart from horseracing, Redcar racecourse also doubles up as a fine venue for all kinds of events. You can always book the facilities for weddings, graduation parties, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events. Guests cannot run out of food choices when they come to Redcar racecourse. The catering at the racecourse is first-rate and the service staff are pleasant and fast.