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.