The history of horseracing in the vicinity of Leicester can be traced back to 1603, but the racecourse in its current location, in Oadby, three miles south of Leicester city centre, staged its first fixture in 1883. The Belvoir Stand, which is tagged onto the old wooden grandstand, now houses a spacious members’ club lounge, offering excellent viewing straight down the course. Leicester is one of the busiest turf racecourses in the country with 21 Flat and 12 National Hunt fixtures throughout the year.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Leicester is a right-handed, galloping, testing oval, about a mile and threequarters around, with a home straight over half a mile long. The straight seven-furlong course falls for the first three furlongs or so, but rises again for the next quarter of a mile before levelling out before the winning post. High numbers are best on the straight course.

The National Hunt course features ten easy fences, or eight flights of hurdles per circuit and a run-in of just over a furlong. Once again, the last three furlongs are uphill, creating a stiff test of stamina.

Track Facts

An audacious betting coup was attempted at Leicester on March 29 1982, when Good Turn, a three-year-old, was substituted for Flockton Grey, a two-year-old, and duly won the Knighton Auction Stakes by 20 lengths under Kevin Darley.

In 2012, with funding from the Levy Board, the Leicester racecourse executive created a new bend on the far side of the course to solve some of the problems with providing fresh ground on such a narrow course.

The steeplechase course at Leicester maintains a healthy covering of grass all year round, despite having no irrigation system.

Kempton Racecourse, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, staged its first fixture in 1878 under the auspices of businessman Samuel Henry Hall. The National Hunt course is synonymous with the King George VI Chase, run on Boxing Day each year. Since 2006, Flat racing at Kempton has taken place on a Polytrack surface, which was constructed inside the existing National Hunt course. Today, Kempton is one of the busiest racecourses in the country, staging nearly a hundred Flat and National Hunt fixtures all year round.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Kempton is a right-handed, flat Polytrack oval, approximately a mile and a quarter around. Races over five furlongs, nine furlongs and ten furlongs are run around the inner bend at the top of the home straight, favouring horses that like to lead or race close to the pace.

The National Hunt course is a right-handed flat, fairly sharp triangle, approximately one mile five furlongs around with a run-in of 175 yards. There are ten, fairly stiff, fences, or six flights of hurdles, per circuit, but Kempton rarely causes problems for horses with at least average jumping ability.

Track Facts

The Jubilee Handicap, still run at Kempton, rivalled the Cambridgeshire and the Stewards’ Cup in terms of popularity in the early years of the twentieth century.

The King George VI Chase is one of just four Grade 1 staying chases run during the National Hunt season, the others being the Betfair Chase at Haydock, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Betfred Bowl at Aintree.

The most successful horses in the history of the King George VI Chase were Desert Orchid, who won the race four times in five years between 1986 and 1990 and, more recently, Kauto Star, who won five times in six years between 2006 and 2011.

Kelso Racecourse was built in its current location, in Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1822. The original grandstand, evidence of which still exists, was built the same year. For the first 66 years of its existence, Kelso Racecourse was mainly used for Flat racing, but became exclusively a National Hunt venue when the United Border Hunt moved to the track in 1888. The Kelso programme was extended to include two meetings a year in 2012 and, nowadays, the Borders course stages 13 National Hunt fixtures throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

The steeplechase course at Kelso is a left-handed, sharp oval, approximately one mile one furlong around, with a run-in of two furlongs. There are nine, easy fences per circuit. The hurdle course, which runs inside the steeplechase course, is shorter and sharper, with five flights of hurdles per circuit. Despite the top of the home straight being the lowest point on the course and the run-in being relatively long, the finish at Kelso is still quite easy.

Track Facts

The 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Jodami, made a winning debut in a National Hunt Flat race at Kelso in 1990.

The 2011 Grand National winner, Ballabriggs, made an annual pilgrimage to Kelso for the Premier Chase, run over 2 miles 7 furlongs, at Kelso, prior to running in the National in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The chairman of Isle of Skye, the company that sponsors the leading jockey, owner and trainer awards throughout the season at Kelso, is Peter Russell, father of Scotland’s leading National Hunt trainer Lucinda Russell.

Huntingdon Racecourse was moved to its current location, in Brampton, Cambridgeshire, just over three miles west of the market town of Huntingdon, following the formation of the Huntingdon Steeplechase Group in 1920. Under the auspices of John Goodliff, Chairman of the Steeplechase Group between 1953 and 1973, the course flourished and, today, stages 18 National Hunt fixtures throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

Huntingdon Racecourse is a right-handed, fast, flat oval, approximately a mile and a half around, with a run-in of just under a furlong. The course has wide, sweeping bends, no distinct undulations and is, in fact, one of the fastest National Hunt courses in the country. The emphasis is very much on speed and horses than race on, or close to, the pace have an distinct advantage over those who need to be held up. There are nine, deceptively stiff, fences, or five flights of hurdles, per circuit. The two plain fences in the home straight and the open ditch immediately after the winning post can cause problems for inexperienced horses.

Track Facts

Rough Quest, winner of the 1996 Grand National and Speaker Weatherill, winner of the 1998 Great Yorkshire Chase, made winning debuts at Huntingdon.

The Mascot Grand National, which is now run at Kempton, was originally run at Huntingdon.

Trainer Henrietta Knight, now retired, won the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon eight times between 1998 and 2007 win four different horses, Edredon Bleu, Best Mate, Impek and Racing Demon.