Mainland Britain is home to a total of 59 racecourses, which are spread, more or less, throughout the length and breadth of the country. The most northerly of them, at a latitude of 56.42°, is Perth Racecourse, which is situated in Scone Palace Park, north of the city of Perth in central Scotland, on the banks of the River Tay. Perth Racecourse exclusively stages National Hunt racing, between April and September, with the three-day Perth Festival, in late April, being the seasonal highlight.

At the other end of mainland Britain, approximately 500 miles from Perth, at a latitude of 50.54°, Newton Abbot Racecourse, on the northern edge of the market town of the same name in South Devon, has the distinction of being the most southerly horse racing venue in the country. Like Perth, Newton Abbot is a summer jumps course, whose season lasts from April until October.

East of the International Reference Meridian (IRM), at a longitude of 1.73°, Great Yarmouth Racecourse, just north of the seaside resort town on the coast of Norfolk, East Anglia, is the most easterly racecourse in the country. Unlike Perth and Newton Abbot, Great Yarmouth is a Flat-only course but, like them, has a season designed primarily for holidaymakers and tourists, between April and October. The seasonal highlight is the three-day Eastern Festival, which features the John Musker Fillies’ Stakes, in September.

The most westerly racecourse on mainland Britain is a close call between two dual-purpose courses, Ayr, on the southwest coast of Scotland, and Ffos Las, in the former mining village of Trimsaran in Carmarthenshire, West Wales. Ayr, with a longitude of -4.62°, is marginally more westerly than Ffos Las, which has a longitude of -4.24°. Billed as ‘Scotland’s Premier Racecourse’, Ayr is best known for the Scottish Grand National and the Ayr Gold Cup.

I haven’t been to lots of racecourses. In fact, I can probably count them on one hand. Huntindon, Kempton (when it was still turf), Leicester, Fakenham and Yarmouth.

At least one of those resides at the seaside.

Great Yarmouth –

Situated on the Norfolk coast, looking over the North Sea. A few wind turbines, miles of sand, much covered with marram grass, a couple of piers, plenty of pubs and umpteen ice cream stalls. If you want a decent days racing then not only do you have a fantastic venue but you’re at the seaside so you win twice. Great Yarmouth racecourse dates back to 1715. However, it moved to its present North Denes site in 1920. This left-handed course, with a mile straight, has a circuit of one mile five furlongs. It is used for Flat racing only. The most valuable race is the John Musker Fillies Stakes, a Listed race over one and a quarter miles which takes place in September. The three-day Eastern Festival is very popular, especially Ladies Day on the Thursday.

Here are a few more coastal racecourses to take a closer look.

Bath –

Bath in Somerset. A city with a distinguished Roman history. This picturesque and elegant Flat racing course is the only location not to have its own watering system so ground conditions can be very firm when the sun shines. This left-handed oval track of just over one mile and four furlongs. It is the highest Flat racecourse in the country, some 238 metres above sea level. Racing dates back to 1728.

Brighton –

Enjoy the seaside atmosphere at Brighton. This course is known for its sharp bends and undulations. It originates back to 1783 and about one mile from the coastline. It hosts Flat racing from April – October. This left-handed course is unusual because it isn’t a full circuit, more of a horseshoe shape, one and half miles in length. It features an uphill finish. It has been attended by the great and the good including royalty.

Redcar –

I was surprised to learn Redcar was situated on the coast. Never travelled too far North (North Yorkshire) so that’s the reason for my lacking. In fact, back in the day, the horse races took part on the beach. However, the racecourse was built in 1872. This left-handed oval course just over one mile and four furlongs. Notable races include The Zetland Cup and Two Year Old Trophy.

Musselburgh –

Musselburgh is situated in East Lothian, Scotland. The second biggest racecourse in Scotland (behind Ayr). It used to be referred to Edinburgh Racecourse until 1996. The course features Flat and National Hunt racing. The racecourse dates back to 1816. It is close to the sea and also the Firth Of Forth, which is a large coastal inlet and opens into the North Sea.

Ireland features racecourses situated by the sea including Tramore, Wexford and Laytown, which sees races take part on the beach County Meath on the Irish Sea coast. A truly spectacular venue and distinctive racecourse.

On April 17, 2019, Chester Racecourse, on the banks of the River Dee in Cheshire, North West England, officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the ‘Oldest Racecourse Still In Operation’. Chester was established as a racecourse in 1539, when the Mayor of Chester, Henry Gee, decreed that a horse racing meeting should be held annually on Shrove Tuesday, as a replacement for the infamous Goteddsday football match, which had been banned some years earlier.

It would be fair to say that, even in the better part of half a millenium, Chester Racecourse has changed very little. Its nickname, the ‘Roodee’, is derived from the remnants of an ancient stone obelisk, which can still be seen in the middle of the course, but once stood on a small island in the River Dee. ‘Rood’ is the Old English word for ‘crucifix’, so ‘Rood Eye’ (hence ‘Roodee’) means ‘Island of the Cross’.

In addition to being the oldest racecourse in Britain, Chester is also the smallest. A flat, left-handed circular course, approximately nine furlongs in circumference, Chester is on the turn almost throughout and has a very short home straight, less than two furlongs long. Thus, horses that race prominently are heavily favoured, but the outlook for long-striding types is less promising.

Seasonal highlights include the Chester Cup, a ‘Heritage Handicap’ run over an extended two and a quater miles, and the Chester Vase, a Group 3 contest run over a mile and a half; the latter is a recognised trial for the Derby at Epsom. Both races are staged during the three-day May Festival.

The first purpose-built racecourse in Britain was, in fact, Sandown Park, which is situated in the town of Esher, Surrey, within the boundaries of Greater London. Obviously, Sandown Park is by no means the oldest racecourse in the country; Chester, established in 1539, Newmarket, established in 1636 and Ascot, established in 1711, to name but three, are all centuries older. Nevertheless, Sandown Park had the distinction of being the first racecourse to be designed and constructed specifically for the purpose, with a boundary fence, enclosures, a grandstand and – for the first time in the history of British racing – an admission fee, of two shillings and sixpence.

The brainchild of Lieutenant Colonel Owen Williams or, more specifically, his younger brother, Hwfa, the construction of Sandown Park was not without controversy. Nevertheless, as reported in ‘Bell’s Life in London, and Sporting Chronicle’, the weekly sporting newspaper of the day, the first meeting was staged on the newly-opened course on April 22, 1875. Any initial scepticism was soon dispelled and Sandown Park has continued to flourish ever since.

A right-handed, galloping course, Sandown Park stages top-class Flat and National Hunt racing throughout the year, but is characterised by a stiff, uphill finish, which places the emphasis on stamina under both codes. Seasonal highlights include the Bet365 Gold Cup, formerly the Whitbread Gold Cup, in April, the Coral-Eclipse Stakes in July and the Tingle Creek Chase in December. ‘Over the sticks’, Sandown Park is considered one of the toughest jumping tests in the country for steeplechasers, especially novices.