Carlisle Racecourse was opened in its current location, at Blackwell, on the outskirts of the city of Carlisle, Cumbria in 1904. However, the history of horseracing in Carlisle goes back much further, with the first recorded meeting taking place on the racecourse in its previous location, known as “The Swifts”, in 1599. Carlisle stages 22 Flat and National Hunt fixtures throughout the year, with at least one fixture in every calendar month.
Course Characteristics
The round course at Carlisle is a right-handed, galloping, oval, approximately a mile and a half around. The course runs downhill for the first three furlongs, but levels out at the mile marker. Unusually, the six-furlong features two right-handed bends and climbs steeply for three out of the last four furlongs, making it a stiff test of stamina, especially on soft ground.
The National Hunt course at Carlisle is characterised by its undulations and a severe climb from the top of the home straight to the winning post. There are nine easy fences, or six hurdles, per circuit, but the course is extremely testing, with the emphasis firmly on stamina.
Track Facts
Carlisle racecourse is home to one of the oldest horse races in the country, the Carlisle Bell, which dates from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In 1929, Carlisle racecourse became the first in the country to launch a Tote betting facility.
Triple Grand National winner Red Rum won the Windermere Handicap Chase at Carlisle en route to victory at Aintree in 1973, 1974 and 1977.