Yarmouth Racecourse, also known as Great Yarmouth Racecourse, was established on an expanse of low sand dunes, known as the North Denes, on the outskirts of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk in 1920. The racecourse was owned for a long time by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, under the auspices of the Arena Racing Company (ARC), which became the majority shareholder in 2001, the facilities have improved markedly in recent years. Yarmouth stages 24 Flat fixtures throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Yarmouth Racecourse is a narrow, left-handed oval, approximately one mile and five furlongs in circumference, with a five-furlong home straight. Despite sharp bends and a slight descent at the top of the home straight, the course is essentially galloping in character. The straight course, on which races up to a mile are run, favours horses drawn high, especially in large fields. Unlike many other racecourses, the soft, sandy soil at Yarmouth is not unlike Fibresand or Polytrack, so Yarmouth form is often transferable to all-weather tracks and vice versa.

Track Facts

Yarmouth racecourse was awarded a plaque by the national tourist board, VisitEngland, in 2010.

Dubai Millenium won on his racecourse debut at Yarmouth in October 1998.

The John Musker Fillies’ Stakes, run over 1 mile 2 furlongs in September, is the most valuable race, and the only Pattern race, of the season at Yarmouth.

Racing first took place on Worcester Racecourse, at Pitchcroft, Worcestershire on the banks of the River Severn, since 1718. The racecourse has the distinction of being one of the oldest in the country but, although originally a dual-purpose course, became a National Hunt only venue in 1966.Since the turn of the century, Worcester Racecourse has operated under the auspices of the Arena Racing Company (ARC) and, today, plays host to 17 National Hunt fixtures throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

The course at Worcester consists of left-handed, flat, galloping oval, approximately a mile and five furlongs around. There are nine easy fences, or six flights of hurdles, per circuit and a run-in of 220 yards. The level racing surface and easy, sweeping bends mean that Worcester presents a fair test for all types of horses.

Track Facts

Worcester racecourse applied to the Jockey Club, now the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), for the reintroduction of Flat racing in 1984, but its application was rejected.

The high water table and the proximity of Worcester racecourse to the River Severn mean that the conditions can become extremely testing and flooding is commonplace.

The rather inelegantly named Ladbrokes Download The App Handicap Chase, run over an extended two miles in May, is the most valuable race on the Worcester calendar.

Wolverhampton Racecourse has stood in Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton, just a mile from the city centre, since 1888. However, the racecourse has been reincarnated as an all-weather Flat racing venue in recent years, on Fibresand in 1993 and, more recently, on Polytrack in 2004 and on Tapeta in 2014.The new racecourse, which is equipped with floodlights, has the distinction of being the busiest in the country, with 110 fixtures throughout the year.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Wolverhampton is a left-handed, flat oval, less than a mile in circumference with a short, two-furlong home straight. There is no straight course; races over five, six, and seven furlongs are run around two bends, with a slight bias towards horses drawn low. The sharp bends and short straight tend to favour agile, handy types who race on, or close to, the pace.

Track Facts

The Lady Wilfruna Stakes, run over 7 furlongs in March, is the only Listed race run at Wolverhampton.

On April 29 2013, jockey Graham Gibbons rode a double at Wolverhampton, but was subsequently arrested by West Midlands Police having failed to appear at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on a charge of being drunk and disorderly the previous week.

Wincanton Racecourse was built in its current location, at Kingwell Farm, just north of Wincanton, Somerset, in 1927. The original owner, Lord Stalbridge, sold Kingwell Farm in 1945 and the course changed hands again in 1966, when it was acquired by the Racing Holdings Trust. More recently, under the auspices of Jockey Club Racecourses, Wincanton has received multi-million pound investment in its course and facilities and, today, plays host to 17 National Hunt fixtures throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

Wincanton Racecourse is a right-handed, galloping oval, a mile and a half in circumference. There are nine fairly stiff fences, or five flights of hurdles, per circuit and a run-in of 200 yards. The course is perfectly level, but the bends are fairly generous, making it less sharp than would otherwise be the case.

Track Facts

The Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase, run over 3 miles 1½ furlongs in February, is the most valuable race of the season at Wincanton.

Josh Gifford, champion National Hunt jockey in 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1968, rode his first ever winner at Wincanton in 1959.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis, refereed military boxing matches at Wincanton racecourse in 1944.

Jockey Steve Knight, who won the 1987 Grand National on Maori Venture, went to school in Wincanton.