Most Iconic Racing Tracks in Yorkshire

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the world for its unique spectacle. Something is thrilling about seeing a unique mix of majestic and athletic animals galloping across the ground towards a finish. The tradition of the big day out also goes hand in hand with the social enjoyment built around the sport.

Horse racing is the second most watched spectator sport in the United Kingdom, only behind football in its pulling power. There are centuries of tradition in seeing the excitement of a race day which is affordable, easy to understand and has the air of a big event that brings the nation to a screen with the likes of the Grand National. Horse racing betting is at a peak with the latter.

While most of the public have heard of Aintree, the real heart and soul of UK racing lies in Yorkshire. Nine tracks overall host 180 days of racing every year. 

Doncaster Racecourse

The St. Leger is the oldest of Britain’s five Classic races and the oldest classic in the world, starting in 1776. It moved to Doncaster in 1778 and although it had other venues due to the outbreak of the two World Wars, it has continued in Yorkshire’s newest city. The course was also modernised with a £34 million redevelopment that resulted in a five-storey Grandstand and quality dining options.

Ripon Racecourse

Ripon may be the smallest city in Yorkshire, but it was recently ranked among the top 20 racecourses in the United Kingdom. Known as Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse for its scenic beauty and vibrant flower displays. It holds 17 flat meetings between April and September.

Ripon Races has been at the current Boroughbridge Road location for more than 125 years and is known as a very friendly family day out. It has also upgraded the facilities for the jockeys inside, especially within the weighing room.

York Racecourse

Horse racing in York goes a long way back to the Roman Empire. York Racecourse is ranked as one of the top five oldest international sporting equine establishments.

It is situated on a massive piece of common land at the edge of the city and combines a great respect for the past with the modern. It had the first sporting grandstand of any venue in the world and even housed the Ascot race meetings in 2005 when the latter was undergoing redevelopment.

Beverley Racecourse

Beverley Racecourse is another venue with centuries of history. The first grandstand opened there at the cost of £1,000 in 1767. Local resident Squire Watt owned and trained no less than four St.Leger winners in the early 19th century, but one of the course’s most famous winners, Attraction, went on to claim the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Beverley Racecourse was also part of the 2002 Golden Jubilee celebrations when the late Queen Elizabeth II visited. It is probably one of the friendliest venues for the sport.

Pontefract Racecourse

Horse racing in Pontefract in West Yorkshire goes all the way back to the time of Oliver Cromwell and the Civil War. The course itself is Britain’s most continuous circuit and is approximately two miles long. The Pontefract Castle Stakes was twice won by Brown Panther, a horse owned and bred by the former Liverpool and England football striker Michael Owen.

Wetherby Racecourse

 

Wetherby Racecourse is well-known for its National Hunt racing, but it also serves up flat racing now. The Charlie Hall Chase is the season highlight and draws large crowds, with runners from Aintree doing very well. It often has several Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders in the field, too.

Situated a dozen miles from Leeds, it is easily accessible and has excellent hospitality. Its menu ranges from simple fish and chips to suites for dining and drinks.

Catterick Racecourse

Catterick Racecourse is another blend of old and modern, with the framework of the old 1906 grandstand still present. This venue has 25 days of racing, including flat and National Hunt races. The course is one of the smaller, intimate venues, which allows spectators to get up close to see the action.

Redcar Racecourse

Redcar Racecourse is a seaside resort near the North Coast. It celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022 and was the first course to install furlong markers around the track.

The Zetland Gold Cup is a race run over a mile and two furlongs in June. It is named after the Zetland family, which has supported Redcar throughout its history.

The Derby and the Grand National may get more column inches, but the warmth of the North makes Yorkshire one of the heartlands of British horse racing.