Horse Racing
A trip to a horse race not only provides groups with hours of suspense-fuelled entertainment, but also a place to eat, drink and socialise. Kerry Bailey investigates racecourses that are particularly geared up for group visits.
Horse racing has been a popular sport for centuries and with 59 racecourses in the UK – many of which offer discounts, free places and varied entertainment – GTOs can be sure of a good time with their groups.
Getting to know racing
For groups that are new to horse racing and a little unsure of which course to visit, it is advisable to contact The Racecourse Association, which represents 58 racecourses in the UK. The Association offers a central booking service and can also provide detailed information on up-coming fixtures and special events.
Place your bets
To the very north of Scotland, Perth Racecourse is situated in the grounds of historic visitor attraction Scone Palace and offers race meetings from April to September. These include various special events throughout the year with particular highlights including the City of Perth Gold Cup. Pre-booked groups of 16 or more are offered discounted admission.
Also in Scotland, in Ayr, the Ayr Racecourse holds both flat and jump racing all year-round including the Scottish Grand National in April. These meetings also include a range of themed races such as ‘Ladies Day’ throughout the year. Groups of 20 or more receive a 20% discount.
Staying in Scotland and just six miles east of Edinburgh city centre, Mussleburgh Racecourse hosts both flat and jump racing and holds 26 meetings a year. Groups receive discounted admission.
In Wales, meanwhile, Bangor on Dees Racecourse offers both jump and National Hunt racing with 19 fixtures throughout the year. Groups receive discounted admission and, during the annual September Dee Festival, can also purchase a Dee Festival badge, which allows entry to both the Bangor on Dees Racecourse and its sister racecourse County Concourse at Chester.
Moving to the north of England, Hexham Racecourse in Northumberland has a National Hunt course with fixtures starting in March and running through to December. Discounted entry is offered to groups of 20 or more with free entry for GTOs.
Also in this area are the Carlisle Racecourse in Cumbria and Sedgefield Racecourse in County Durham, which offers 20 jump race meetings every year, pre-booked behind the scenes tours for an additional charge and free entry for GTOs.
Groups of 15 or more are welcomed with discounts at the Newcastle Racecourse, meanwhile, where they can pre-book meal packages at one of the various on-site eateries. Here, race meetings are held all year-round with two courses for both flat and National Hunt racing.
In Yorkshire, Ripon Races, also known as ‘Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse’, has held race meetings for over 300 years. There are around 14 flat race fixtures between April and September and groups of 20 or more benefit from discounted admission. GTOs are offered free entry and a complimentary £5 William Hill betting voucher. Meal packages can also be arranged for groups.
Ripon Races is a member of the Go Racing in Yorkshire Consortium. The eight further racecourses in the consortium are located at Beverley, Catterick, Doncaster, Pontefract, Redcar, Thirsk, Wetherby and York. Group discounts are offered at all of these venues.
GTOs heading to Merseyside have the choice of two racecourses.
The first, Aintree Racecourse, is home to The John Smith’s Grand National, which is held in April each year.
Haydock Park, meanwhile, situated between Liverpool and Manchester, offers both jump and flat racing throughout the year with discounted admission offered to six or more people. Groups can also pre-book meal packages at one of the many on-site restaurants.
Nottingham Racecourse is set within 260 acres of Colwick Country Park and offers 21 race fixtures from April to November. Here, groups of 15 or more are offered discounted admission.
Hereford Racecourse, in Worcestershire hosts 15 flat races every year. Here, groups can take advantage of the ‘Fancy a Flutter’ package, which offers admission to the racecourse, a burger meal, a drink and a Tote £2 betting voucher.
Also in Worcestershire, groups are welcome at various venues including Worcester Racecourse, which runs race meetings from March to October and holds a variety of themed events including ‘Miss Worcestershire Race Night’, and ‘Irish Night’.
Market Rasen Racecourse in Lincolnshire, Ludlow Racecourse in Shropshire, Warwick Racecourse and Uttoxeter Racecourse also cater for groups.
Moving to Leicester, Leicester Racecourse offers year-round National Hunt and flat racing with discounted admission available for pre-booked groups on a sliding scale.
Wolverhampton Racecourse, meanwhile, offers two free places for every 10 people and the option of The Grandstand Value Package, which entitles group members to free entry to the Grandstand enclosure, a race card, two free drinks and a £2 Ladbrookes betting voucher.
Arena Leisure operates both the Worcester and the Wolverhampton Racecourses. The company’s other racecourses are Lingfield in Sussex, Royal Windsor in Windsor, Southwell near Newark and Folkestone in Kent.
In Norfolk, Fakenham Racecourse offers nine jump race fixtures every year with groups of 20 or more offered a 15% discount on entry and a variety of meal packages. For a more lighthearted event, groups can pre-book tickets to watch the Racecourse’s ‘Amateur Night’, which takes place in February and allows amateur jockeys to race for charity.
For a very full day out, groups can head to Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk, which dates back to 1174 and is believed to have been the first course to hold horse racing with rules. Discounted admission is offered to 20 or more people. Also on-site is The National Horse Racing Museum, which displays a variety of historic artefacts and also offers discounted admission for groups. For something special, visitors can also enjoy exclusive guided tours of the Equine School, Jockey Club and the Saddlery. Tours can be pre-booked through the Museum and are offered for a small charge.
Moving to Chelmsford, a new £40 million racecourse called Great Leighs is currently under construction and is due to open in February offering 51 race meetings in its first year. Group discounts will be available.
Heading towards London, Epsom Downs Racecourse dates back to 1661 and is currently undergoing a two-year redevelopment that will see the Entrance Pavilion and the Grandstand rebuilt. Work will be completed in Spring 2009 however the racecourse will open for various race meetings and the Vodaphone Derby Festival, which takes places in June. Pre-booked groups of 12 or more receive discounted entry.
Kempton Park is located in Middlesex and hosts a variety of flat and jump races throughout the year. Groups of six or more receive a 20% discount.
Travelling to the west country, groups will find several racecourses on offer such as Bath Racecourse, which hosts 19 flat race meetings a year and offers discounted admission to groups of 15 or more.
In Bristol, meanwhile, Wincanton Racecourse offers 16 jump race meetings every year from October to May. These include various themed events such as ‘Ladies Day’, which takes place in April. Discounts are offered to pre-booked groups.
Also in the west country, Exeter Racecourse is home to a variety of race meetings throughout the year.
Not far from here in Wiltshire, pre-booked groups receive discounted admission to Salisbury Racecourse, which stands within view of the nearby Salisbury Cathedral.
Also, Ascot Racecourse, meanwhile, in Berkshire was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 and is still held by the Crown Estate. The course hosts 21 race fixtures a year encompassing both flat and jump racing whilst, for something extra special, groups of 10 or more are offered discounted admission to Royal Ascot, a major event on the race meeting calendar, which is attended every year by the Royal Family.
Moving along to the south coast, Brighton Racecourse is set to host 18 race fixtures next year with groups able to take advantage of the Fancy a Flutter package, which offers free coach parking, admission to the Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure, a welcome drink, a race day programme and a £5 tote betting voucher for each member.
Also in the south of England, Goodwood Racecourse near Chichester in Sussex will hold 21 flat race fixtures next year as well as its annual Glorious Goodwood festival in July whilst Fontwell Park Racecourse, also in West Sussex, offers various jump fixtures throughout the year.
For details on these events please visit Horse Racing listings