The first official National Hunt meeting on Taunton Racecourse, in Orchard Portman, Somerset, took place in 1927, making the course the youngest of its kind in the country. Waste material created by the construction of the M5 Taunton Bypass in the 1970s was used to build up and extend the course and facilities for spectators have been similarly transformed over the years. Today, Taunton Racecourse plays host to 13 National Hunt meetings between November and April.

Course Characteristics

Taunton Racecourse is right-handed, sharp oval, about a mile and a quarter in around, with minor undulations throughout. There are seven fairly stiff fences, or five flights of hurdles, per circuit. On the steeplechase course, the ground falls away approaching the last fence, which can catch out the unwary, and the run-in is short. The clay soil drains well, so conditions rarely become testing, even in the depths of winter.

Track Facts

The Royal Box at Taunton was built in 1959 for the visit of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. However, the visit was cancelled due to illness and the Queen Mother didn’t visit Taunton until 1962.

Rooster Booster, winner of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2003, won his first race at Taunton in January 2000.

The much publicised Hunt Ball, formerly owned by Anthony Knott, ran his last race in Britain at Taunton in April 2013.

Beverley Racecourse has stood on Beverley Westwood, overlooking the market town of Beverley, since 1690. In recent years, Beverley Racecourse has invested nearly half a million pounds, including £300,000 on a new sprinkler system and £75,000 on solar panels on the roof of the grandstand, to improve its facilities and infrastructure. For racegoers on the East Coast of England, Beverley operates a subsidised coach service, known as the “Beverley Racebus”, with pick-up points in Filey, Bridlington, Nafferton, Driffied and Middelton on the Wolds.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Beverley is a right-handed oval, nearly a mile and a half around. Although primarily galloping in character, the downhill turn into the home straight and the length of the straight – just two and a half furlongs – add sharpness to the round course. The straight course, on which 5-furlong races are run, is uphill all the way to the winning post and presents a stiff test of stamina, especially on soft going. Furthermore, the straight course bends to the right at halfway, offering horses drawn low, against the inside rail, a massive advantage in 5-furlong races.

Track Facts

Rapid Lad, a handicapper trained by John Spearing, won 12 races at Beverley between 1983 and 1989, but never won anywhere else. Beverley stages the Rapid Lad Handicap annually in his honour and one of the Tattersalls’ bars also bears his name.

Caspar Netscher, who returned to the racecourse in July 2013 after suffering subfertility problems at stud, landed a monster gamble on his debut at Beverley in May 2011, after being backed from 20/1 to 100/30 favourite.

Bordelescott, who also, coincidentally, came out of retirement as an 11-year-old in July, won one of the principal races at Beverley, the Beverley Bullet, over 5 furlongs, in September 2012.

Stratford Racecourse, situated in Shottery Meadow, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, has staged regular race meetings since 1849. More recently, in 1969, the course was enlarged and the bends made easier by reincorporating land that was originally part of the racecourse. More recently still, in 1997, a glass-fronted grandstand was opened. Stratford Racecourse stages 19 National Hunt meetings throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

Stratford Racecourse is a left-handed, sharp, flat triangle, approximately a mile and a quarter around. There are eight easy, fences – just one of which is in the short home straight – or five flights of hurdles per circuit and a run-in of 200 yards.

Track Facts

One of the highlights of the season at Stratford is The Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters’ Chase, run over 3 miles 4 furlongs in June.

The late Aubrey Brabazon, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Cottage Rake in 1948, 1949 and 1950, rode his last winner at Stratford in 1960.

The late Fred Winter trained his last winner at Stratford in 1988.

Horse racing first took place on Sedgefield Racecourse, in its current location, on the former Sands Hill Estate in Durham, northeast England, in 1846. The racecourse closed between 1915 and 1920 because of World War I, but the number of annual fixtures started to increase from 1927 onwards, following the formation of the Sedgefield Racecourse Company. The late Frank Scotto, who became chairman in 1977, was instrumental in saving the course from closure and, under the auspices of Arena Racing Company (ARC), facilities for jockeys, owners, trainers and the racegoing public have continued to improve ever since. Sedgefield plays host to 18 National Hunt meetings throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

The Sedgefield course consists of a left-handed, sharp, undulating, testing oval about a mile and a quarter around. There are eight easy fences, or five flights of hurdles, per circuit and a run-in of 200 yards. The home turn is the highest point on the course, but some of the uphill sections, notably the last 150 yards, call for intensive effort and make races over three miles or more a thorough test of stamina.

Track Facts

The most valuable race run at Sedgefield, the John Wade Novices’ Hurdle Series Final, is sponsored by the leading owner at the track.

For several months in 2011, a stray collie, who became known locally as “Dwain the Dog”, remained at large on Sedgefield racecourse. A local bookmaker offered a £500 reward for his safe capture.