Sandown Racecourse was established in its current location, in Esher, Surrey, on the outskirts of London, in 1875. It was, in fact, the first racecourse to be designed and constructed specifically for the purpose and the first to be enclosed. The racecourse was closed for refurbishment in 1972 and, under the auspices of Jockey Club Racecourses, which bought it in 1994, has continued to flourish. Today, Sandown hosts 30 Flat and National Hunt fixtures throughout the year.

Course Characteristics

Overall, Sandown Racecourse can be described as a right-handed, galloping, testing track. The round course is an oval, thirteen furlongs in circumference, with a four furlong home straight. The last half mile is uphill until a hundred yards before the winning post, so an abundance of stamina is a prerequisite. The straight five furlong course rises steadily throughout and tends to favour horses drawn low, especially on soft ground. On the National Hunt course, there are eleven, stiff fences – including the three so-called railway fences, which come in quick succession at the end of the back straight – or six flight of hurdles per circuit and a run-in of 220 yards.

Track Facts

The first live televised horse race came from Sandown in 1947.

The Eclipse Stakes, nowadays sponsored by Coral and often referred to as the Coral-Eclipse, was first run in 1886.

The Eclipse Stakes is the first chance of the season for three-year-olds to take on older horses at the highest level.

The most successful trainer in the history of the Bet365 Gold Cup, formerly the Whitbread Gold Cup, was the late Fulke Walwyn with seven wins between 1958 and 1984.

The Tingle Creek Chase is named after a popular steeplechaser who won his last race at Sandown in 1978.

Salisbury Racecourse was established, just outside the cathedral city of Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1584 and has the distinction of being one of the oldest racecourses in the country. For all its rich heritage, Salisbury is very much a modern racecourse, combining extensive, up-to-date facilities with high quality racing. Salisbury Racecourse stages 16 Flat fixtures throughout the season, including four evening fixtures in May, July and August.

Course Characteristics

Salisbury Racecourse is a right-handed, galloping, testing track. Races up to a mile are run on the straight course, which rises steadily all the way to the winning post and kinks slightly to the right at the three furlong marker. Races over a mile and a half and further start on the home straight and horses travel away from the winning post, around a right-handed loop and back towards the winning post. In sprint races, low drawn horses appear to be slightly favoured.

Track Facts

The Bibury Club, founded in 1681, has been associated with Salisbury since 1899. The Bilbury Handicap is run over a mile and a half at the course in June each year.

In 1970, future Derby winner Mill Reef won the Salisbury Stakes and Brigadier Gerard won the Champagne Stakes at Salisbury.

American jockey Steve Cauthen made a winning British debut at Salisbury in April 1979 on Maquee Universal, trained by Barry Hills.

Lester Piggot had his first ride in public at Salisbury in April 1948, aged just 12.

The Sovereign Stakes, run over a mile in August, is the most valuable race on the Salisbury calendar.

Ripon Racecourse, situated between the Ripon Canal and the River Ure in North Yorkshire, was established in its current location in 1900. However, horse racing had taken place on Bondgate Green, less than a mile away, since 1664. Nowadays, Ripon Racecourse stages 16 Flat fixtures between April and September, including five evening fixtures during the summer months.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Ripon is a right-handed, fairly sharp oval, a mile and five furlongs around, with an undulating five furlong straight. The bends are sharp and the course favours horses that like to race on, or close to, the pace. On the straight course, on which races up to six furlongs are run, there is a definite bias towards horses drawn high, against the stands’ side rail, especially on fast ground.

Track Facts

Ripon is sometimes known as the “Garden Racecourse”, because of its idyllic setting.

Ripon won the “Best Small Racecourse in the North” award from the Racegoers’ Club in 1996, 2003, 2009 and 2011.

The most valuable race run at Ripon is the Great St. Wilfrid Stakes, a handicap run over 6 furlongs, in August. The race is named after St. Wilfrid, the patron saint of Ripon.

The 25-acre lake in the centre of the course is popular for fishing, but fishing is not allowed on racedays.

Set in 72 acres just off the high street in Redcar, North Yorkshire, Redcar Racecourse was established in its current location in 1872. The racecourse fell into disrepair during the war years, but began a period of rapid improvement in 1946 under the auspices of new Clerk of the Course, Major Leslie Petch. A new grandstand was completed in 1964 and, today, the course hosts 18 Flat meetings throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Redcar is a left-handed, flat, galloping oval, approximately a mile and three quarters around, with a five furlong home straight. The bends are sharp but, overall, Redcar provides a fair test for all types of horses. Races up to a mile start on chute that joins the round course between the six and five furlong markers. Over five furlongs, there appears to be an appreciable bias towards low drawn runners although, mystifyingly, the bias is reversed over six furlongs.

Track Facts

Redcar was the first racecourse in the country to install furlong markers.

In 1984, Provideo, trained by Bill O’Gorman, set the modern day record of 16 wins in a juvenile season at Redcar.

Anne, the Princess Royal rode her first winner, Gulfland, at Redcar in 1986.

The Zetland Gold Cup, run over 1 mile 2 furlongs in June, is named after the Zetland family, who have supported Redcar from the beginning. The 1^st Marquis of Zetland became chairman in 1884 and, today, the 4^th Marquis carries out the same role.

Lord Zetland was responsible for introducing the most prestigious race run at Redcar, the Two-Year-Old Trophy, in 1989.