Newton Abbot Racecourse, on the banks of the River Teign, in Devon, is notable as the most westerly course in mainland Britain. The course was established in 1886 and, apart from interruptions for World War I and World War II, has been in constant use ever since. The main grandstand was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1969 and, nowadays, Newton Abbot Racecourse operates a rolling winter programme of improvements to its facilities. The course plays host to 19 National Hunt meetings throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

Newton Abbot consists of a left-handed, sharp oval, just nine furlongs in circumference, with a very short run-in. There are seven easy fences, or four flights of hurdles, per circuit and horses who race on, or close to, the pace hold a distinct advantage over those who need to come for behind.

Track Facts

In 2011, a Tote Jackpot pool worth £1.36 million was won at Newton Abbot. However, a series of favourable results meant that the dividend declared was only just over £5,000 to a £1 stake.

In 2013, Newton Abbot threatened to close the section of the cycle route, known as the Teign Estuary, which runs along the back of the racecourse, after incidents of vandalism.

Also in 2013, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) investigated the running of Planetoid, trained by Jim Best, at Newton Abbot. The 5-year-old gelding won a hurdle race, at odds-on, under champion jockey Tony McCoy, despite not having been placed, or started at shorter than 33/1, on his previous six starts.

Newmarket Racecourse, often referred to simply as “Headquarters”, is situated in Suffolk, East Anglia on the border with Cambridgeshire. The racecourse complex is actually home to two of the premier courses in the country, the Rowley Mile Course – named after its early patron, Charles II, popularly known as “Old Rowley” – and the July Course. Between them, the Newmarket racecourses play host to 36 Flat fixtures between April and early November, including the Guineas Festival in early May.

Course Characteristics

The Rowley Mile Course is a right-handed, galloping L-shape, two and a half miles long with a mile and a quarter home straight. From the two and a quarter mile start, the course falls until just before the turn in the home straight, where it rises sharply. The final two furlongs run downhill and then uphill, forming the Dip, which requires balance and stamina.

The July Course is similar in characteristics to the Rowley Mile and, in fact, shares it first mile and a furlong with the Rowley Mile Course. The final mile, known as the Bunbury Mile, also features an uphill final furlong, so the emphasis is, once again, on stamina.

Track Facts

Newmarket stages a quarter of the Group 1 races on the British Flat racing calendar.

The Guineas Festival, featuring the first two Classics of the season, the 2,000 Guineas and the 1,000 Guineas, takes place on the Rowley Mile on the first weekend in May each year.

The longest priced winner of the 2,000 Guineas was Rockavon (66/1) in 1961. The longest priced winner of the 1,000 Guineas was Billesdon Brook (66/1), although Jacqueline Quest (66/1) passed the post first in 2010 before being disqualified.

The Derby, the Oaks and the St. Leger were run at Newmarket during World War I and World War II.

Newcastle Racecourse was transferred to its current location, in High Gosforth Park on the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1882. The Tattersalls and Club stands were originally opened in 1965 but, more recently, under the auspices of Arena Racing Company (ARC) the course and its facilities underwent a multi-million pound facelift. In 2017 Newcastle played host to 62 Flat and National Hunt fixtures.

Course Characteristics

In 2016, the old turf course used for Flat racing at Newcastle was ripped up and replaced with an all-weather Tapeta track, around the outside of the existing National Hunt course. The round course is a left-handed, galloping, testing oval, approximately a mile and threequarters around. The last three furlongs of the round course, and of the straight mile course, rise steadily all the way to the winning post, placing the emphasis firmly on stamina.

The National Hunt course is testing, with ten stiff fences, or seven flights of hurdles, per circuit.

Track Facts

The Northumberland Plate, also known as the “Pitmen’s Derby”, was the highlight of a holiday for local mine workers until 1949.

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a recognised early season trial for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The last horse to win both races was Punjabi, trained by Nicky Henderson, in the 2008/09 season, although that year’s renewal of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle took place at Wetherby.

The “Fighting Fifth” was the nickname of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly the Fifth Regiment of Foot.

The Tapeta track at Newcastle Racecourse includes the only floodlit all-weather straight mile in the world.

Newbury Racecourse was built in its current location, in Berkshire, southern England, in 1905 after an application to build a racecourse by Kingsclere trainer John Porter was backed by King Edward VII. In 1906, Newbury staged six Flat fixtures and three National Hunt fixtures, but the course flourished in the post-war years and now plays host to 14 Flat fixtures and 8 National Hunt fixtures throughout the year.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Newbury is left-handed, galloping, oval, 1 mile and 5 furlongs around. The straight mile course, which joins the round course at the six-furlong marker, features gently rises and falls at various points.

The National Hunt course is approximately a mile and threequarters around, with eleven, stiff fences, or seven flights of hurdles, per circuit, and a run-in of 255 yards. The stiffness of the fences aside, the course is wide with long, sweeping bends and provides a fair test for all types of horses.

Track Facts

Five-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Golden Miller won on his debut over fences at Newbury in 1931, but was subsequently disqualified.

The Geoffrey Freer Stakes, run over 1 mile 5 furlongs and 61 yards in August, commemorates Geoffrey Freer, who became Clerk of the Course at Newbury in 1949.

The Hennessy Gold Cup, nowadays run at Newbury in late November or early December, was run at Cheltenham until 1960.

The Hennessy Gold Cup has never been abandoned.

Lester Piggott rode his 4,000^th career winner on Ardross at Newbury in 1982.