Wetherby Racecourse, on the outskirts of Wetherby, West Yorkshire, staged its first fixture in 1891. The first grandstand was completed in 1906, but it wasn’t until after World War I and the expansion of the passenger railway network that the popularity of the course started to increase. The railway line serving the course closed in 1959, but Wetherby remains a popular racing venue, staging 20 Flat and National Hunt fixtures throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

The National Hunt track at Wetherby Racecourse is a left-handed, galloping oval, a mile and a half in circumference. There are nine stiff fences, or six flights of hurdles, per circuit and a short, uphill run-in. Jumping ability is at a premium, but the easy bends mean that Wetherby is a fair test for all types of horses, including long-striding, galloping types.

The Flat track at Wetherby is a fairly recent addition, with the first Flat racing fixtures being held as recently as April, 2015. The Flat course shares the hurdles course so, unsurprisingly, has the same characteristics. Wetherby Racecourse has no straight course, so sprint races over 5 furlongs 110 yards start on a chute at the end of the back straight. Statistics suggest that horses ridden prominently do best on the Flat track at Wetherby.

Track Facts

The Millenium Stand, which cost £4 million, was opened in February 2000.

The highlight of the National Hunt season at Wetherby is the Charlie Hall Chase, run over 3 miles 1 furlong in November. The 2012 winner, Silviniaco Conti, looked like being involved in the finish of the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following March until falling at the third last fence.

Warwick Racecourse, on Hampton Street, Warwick, less than a mile from the town centre, staged its first fixture in 1707. However, the racecourse and its facilities have changed out of all recognition in recent years, with a new six-furlong start, a new grandstand and a new weighing room among a raft of improvements. Warwick Racecourse plays hosts to 21 Flat and National Hunt fixtures throughout the year.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Warwick is a left-handed, sharp oval, a mile and threequarters in circumference with a two-furlong home straight. There is no straight course. The five furlong course has a left-handed elbow at its junction with the round course and races over six and seven furlongs start on the back straight. The five furlong course shows a pronounced bias towards horses draw low, but there appears to be no appreciable bias over six or seven furlongs. Overall, the emphasis is on speed rather than stamina and big, long-striding, galloping types are at a disadvantage.

The National Hunt course is similar in character to the round course. There are ten stiff fences, or six flights of hurdles, per circuit and a run-in of 250 yards. On the steeplechase course, the five fences that come in rapid succession along the back straight present a thorough test of jumping ability.

Track Facts

Jockey Daryll Holland rode his first winner, Sinclair Boy, at Warwick in May 1990.

Tony McCoy beat Sir Gordon Richards’ record of 269 winners in a single season when winning on Valfonic at Warwick in 2002.

The Eternal Stakes, run over 7 furlongs in June, was the first Listed race to be run at Warwick when it was inaugurated in 2003.

The most valuable race on the Warwick calendar is the Classic Chase, currently sponsored by Betfred and run over 3 miles 5 furlongs in January.

Towcester Racecourse, situated just south of Towcester, Northamptonshire, on the A5 London Road, staged its official National Hunt fixture in 1928. Although still one of the lesser National Hunt venues in country, Towcester has invested heavily in the racecourse and its facilities in recent years and, today, stages 19 National Hunt fixtures throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

Towcester is a right-handed, undulating, testing square, approximately a mile and three quarters around, with a run-in of 200 yards. There are ten easy fences, or five flights of hurdles, per circuit, but what really distinguishes Towcester is the punishing climb throughout the last half mile, which makes the course the stiffest of its kind in the country.

Track Facts

Towcester is pronounced “toaster”, not “tow-chess-ter”.

Apart from selected meetings, admission to Towcester Racecourse is free.

The Towcester Racecourse Company, which still exists, was formed in 1928.

The 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander worked at Towcester in November 2012 in preparation for the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Towcester Racecourse was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Tripadvisor in 2013.

Thirsk Racecourse is situated to the west of the town of Thirsk, North Yorkshire, in the direction of the village of Carlton Miniott. The first meeting was staged at the course, in its current location, in 1855 and the racecourse has continued to flourish ever since. Thirsk plays host to 14 Flat meetings throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Thirsk is left-handed, fairly sharp oval, a mile and quarter in circumference, with a four furlong home straight. Perhaps surprisingly, for a perfectly level course with wide, easy bends, Thirsk tends to favours agile, handy types.The straight course, on which races up to six furlongs are run, starts on a chute that joins the round course at the top of the home straight. Horses drawn high, against the stands’ side rail, are massively favoured in races over five and six furlongs when the going is good or faster.

Track Facts

The Thirsk Hunt Cup, run over a mile in May, is the most valuable race on the Thirsk calendar.

Thirsk racecourse hosted the St. Leger, for the one and only time, in 1940.

Terimon, who finished second in the 1989 Derby at odds of 500/1, had just been touched off in the now defunct Thirsk Classic Trial earlier in the season.