List of British racecourses

This List of British racecourses gives details of both current and former horse racing venues in Great Britain. As of , there are 59 racecourses operating in Great Britain (excluding Point-to-Point courses). Hereford racecourse reopened in October 2016 having been closed since 2012. Towcester racecourse is not operating as a horse racing venue as of 2024 and the future of racing there is uncertain.

Current

The following British horse racing courses are in operation as of : RacecourseCounty Country Code Opened Surface OwnerAintree Merseyside National Hunt 1829 Turf Jockey ClubAscot Berkshire Mixed 1711 Turf IndependentAyr Ayrshire Mixed 1907 Turf IndependentBangor-on-Dee Clwyd National Hunt 1859 Turf Chester Race CompanyBath Somerset Flat by 1728 TurfArena RacingBeverley East Riding of Yorkshire Flat by 1767 Turf IndependentBrighton East Sussex Flat 1783 Turf Arena RacingCarlisle Cumbria Mixed 1904 Turf Jockey ClubCartmel Cumbria National Hunt by 1856 Turf IndependentCatterick North Yorkshire Mixed 1783 Turf IndependentChelmsford City Essex Flat 2008 Polytrack IndependentCheltenham Gloucestershire National Hunt 1831 Turf Jockey ClubChepstow Gwent Mixed 1926 Turf Arena RacingChester Cheshire Flat 1539 Turf Chester Race CompanyDoncaster South Yorkshire Mixed by 1595 Turf Arena RacingEpsom Downs Surrey Flat by 1661 Turf Jockey ClubExeter Devon National Hunt by 1804 Turf Jockey ClubFakenham Norfolk National Hunt 1905 Turf IndependentFfos Las Dyfed Mixed 2009 Turf Arena RacingFontwell Park West Sussex National Hunt 1924 Turf Arena RacingGoodwood West Sussex Flat 1802 Turf IndependentGreat Yarmouth Norfolk Flat 1810 Turf Arena RacingHamilton Park Lanarkshire Flat 1782 Turf IndependentHaydock Park Merseyside Mixed 1899 Turf Jockey ClubHereford Herefordshire National Hunt 1771 Turf Herefordshire CouncilHexham Northumberland National Hunt c.1740 Turf IndependentHuntingdon Cambridgeshire National Hunt 1886 Turf Jockey ClubKelso Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale National Hunt 1822 Turf IndependentKempton Park Surrey Mixed 1878 Turf & Polytrack Jockey ClubLeicester Leicestershire Mixed 1883 Turf IndependentLingfield Park Surrey Mixed 1890 Turf & PolytrackArena RacingLudlow Shropshire National Hunt by 1725 Turf IndependentMarket Rasen Lincolnshire National Hunt 1924 Turf Jockey ClubMusselburgh East Lothian Mixed 1816 Turf Musselburgh Joint Racing CommitteeNewbury Berkshire Mixed 1905 Turf IndependentNewcastle Tyne and Wear Mixed 1882 Turf & Tapeta Arena RacingNewmarket Suffolk Flat 1667 Turf Jockey ClubNewton Abbot Devon National Hunt 1866 Turf IndependentNottingham Nottinghamshire Flat 1892 Turf Jockey ClubPerth Perth and Kinross National Hunt 1908 Turf IndependentPlumpton East Sussex National Hunt 1884 Turf IndependentPontefract West Yorkshire Flat 1801 Turf IndependentRedcar North Yorkshire Flat 1870 Turf IndependentRipon North Yorkshire Flat 1900 Turf IndependentSalisbury Wiltshire Flat 1584 Turf IndependentSandown Park Surrey Mixed 1875 Turf Jockey ClubSedgefield County Durham National Hunt by 1732 Turf Arena RacingSouthwell Nottinghamshire Mixed 1850 Turf & TapetaArena RacingStratford Warwickshire National Hunt 1755 Turf IndependentTaunton Somerset National Hunt 1927 Turf IndependentThirsk North Yorkshire Flat 1923 Turf IndependentUttoxeter Staffordshire National Hunt 1907 Turf Arena RacingWarwick Warwickshire National Hunt 1707 Turf Jockey ClubWetherby West Yorkshire Mixed 1891 Turf IndependentWincanton Somerset National Hunt 1867 Turf Jockey ClubWindsor Berkshire Mixed 1866 Turf Arena RacingWolverhampton West Midlands Flat 1887 TapetaArena RacingWorcester Worcestershire National Hunt by 1718 Turf Arena RacingYork North Yorkshire Flat 1709 Turf Independent

Former Through the centuries, racing has taken place at various courses throughout Britain which have since closed down. Some were very significant in their day and held major races which persist to this day. For example, the flat season's traditional curtain raiser, the Lincolnshire Handicap was once held at the racecourse that gave it its name in Lincoln but is now held at Doncaster.

21st century Two racecourses have closed in the 21st century. Closed date refers to the last date on which racing took place at the venue. Racecourse Location Country Code Opened Closed Notes Folkestone Kent England Mixed 1898 Towcester Northamptonshire National Hunt 1928 Greyhound racing still takes place at the course

20th century Between 1900 and 1981, 98 racecourses closed their doors. Opened and closed dates refer to the first and last dates on which racing took place at the venue. Racecourse Location Country Code Opened Closed Notes Aldershot Racecourse Hampshire England Staged military racing from 1928 to 1939 and point-to-point racing from 1948 to 2012. Also known as Tweseldown Racecourse. Alexandra Park Racecourse North London England Flat Anglesey Racecourse Anglesey Wales National Hunt 1757 Located first in Llangefni, then moved to Beaumaris Atherstone Racecourse Warwickshire England National Hunt 1905 Banbury Racecourse Oxfordshire England National Hunt Blackpool Racecourse Lancashire England National Hunt Also known as Clifton Park Racecourse, now the site of Blackpool Airport Bogside Racecourse Ayrshire Scotland Mixed Staged point-to-point racing until March 1994 Bournemouth Racecourse Hampshire England National Hunt Also known as Ensbury Park Racecourse Brocklesby Hunt Racecourse Lincolnshire England National Hunt BBC News, "Racecourses of yesteryear", 8 July 2008 Bona fide Hunt meetings were staged from 1937 to 1939 Bromford Bridge Racecourse Birmingham England Mixed Buckfastleigh Racecourse Devon England The dilapidated main grandstand survives, and is a well known local landmark, and the fields around it are still in use for point-to-point races.BBC Devon gallery Cardiff Racecourse Glamorgan Wales National Hunt Also known as Ely Racecourse. Staged Flat racing in the 19th century Chelmsford Racecourse Essex England National Hunt Bef. 1840 An oval course, just under 2 miles in circumference Colwall Park Racecourse Worcestershire England National Hunt Pony racing took place in 1949 and point-to-point racing was staged between 1960 and 1963 Croxton Park Racecourse Leicestershire England Mixed Bef. 1821 Only Flat and hurdle races were run Derby Racecourse Derbyshire England by 1707 Three different venues, the last of which opened in 1848. Still open parkland known as the Racecourse Playing Fields. The County Cricket Ground, located within the track, is still in use. Durham Racecourse County Durham England Bef. 1840 Held three day meeting at beginning of May Eglinton Racecourse County Londonderry Northern Ireland Eridge Racecourse Sussex England National Hunt At Eridge Park. Hosted military racing from 1921 to 1948 and point-to-point racing from 1947 to 1952. Gatwick Racecourse Sussex England Mixed The land is now part of Gatwick Airport. Grafton Hunt Racecourse Northamptonshire England 1928 Hambleton Racecourse Yorkshire England 1911 Harpenden Racecourse Hertfordshire England Flat The land is now the site of Bamville Cricket Club. Hawthorn Hill Racecourse Berkshire England National Hunt Used for Household Brigade racing. The course staged pony racing from 1947 to 1951 and in 1961, and Arab racing in 1979 Hethersett Racecourse Norfolk England National Hunt c1888 The course staged point-to-racing from 1953 to 1970 Hooton Park Racecourse Cheshire England National Hunt Subsequently the site of RAF Hooton Park and Vauxhall Ellesmere Port Hull Racecourse East Riding of Yorkshire England 1883 Also known as Hedon Racecourse Hurst Park Racecourse Surrey England Mixed Ipswich Racecourse Suffolk England Mixed 1710 In 1840 it was holding a two-day meeting in early July, highlights of which were a 100 guineas Queen's Plate (dating from at least 1727) and a Town Members' Plate for 50 sovereigns Keele Park Racecourse Staffordshire England National Hunt Now the site of Keele services Lanark Racecourse Lanarkshire Scotland Flat c. 1100s Lewes racecourse East Sussex England Flat Bef. 1727 Situated on the chalk downs near the town, it was also home to the East Sussex Hunt. Held a Royal Plate Race for 6 year olds from 1727 at the latest. A stand was erected in 1772. In 1840, the course was "one of the finest four mile courses in the kingdom". Races took place in mid-August. Lichfield Racecourse Staffordshire England Lincoln Racecourse Lincolnshire England Flat 1773 Used for point-to-point races from 1967 to 1991 Maghull Racecourse Lancashire England Manchester Racecourse Lancashire England Mixed 1681 There was racing at three successive sites in Manchester, the last being at Castle Irwell. Various plans to create a new racecourse on rural land such as Kersal Moor have been put forward in recent years. Melton Racecourse Leicestershire England National Hunt Located at Burton Lazars Newport Racecourse Monmouthshire (Wales)National Hunt Bef. 1845 Also known as Caerleon Racecourse Northampton Racecourse Northampton England Bef. 1840 A one and a half mile oval, with a straight half mile run in. In 1840 was holding a two-day meeting at the end of August. Northolt Park Racecourse Middlesex England Pony racing Pershore Racecourse Worcestershire England National Hunt Staged one Flat meeting in 1847 and National Hunt racing from 1899 to 1939 Plymouth Racecourse Devon England c. 1827 A spring meeting was held in May, and a grand two-day meeting in August Portsmouth Racecourseat Farlington Hampshire England Mixed Closed during World War I and turned into an ammunition dump for the War Office.Also known as Portsmouth Park Racecourse. Portsmouth Racecourseat Paulsgrove Hampshire England Pony racing 1920s Also known as Wymering Park.The land was redeveloped as a housing estate. Rothbury Racecourse Northumberland England Bef. 1759 Held one meeting a year. Rugby Racecourseat Clifton-upon-Dunsmore Warwickshire England National Hunt Still used annually for point-to-point races Seamer Moor North Yorkshire England Used for point-to-point races until 1935 Shincliffe Racecourse Durham England National Hunt Shirley Racecourse Warwickshire England National Hunt Staged pony racing from 1947 to 1953. The land is now the home of Shirley Golf Club South Brent Racecourse Devon England National Hunt Southend Racecourse Essex England 1931 South Wold Racecourse Lincolnshire England National Hunt At Brackenborough, near Louth. Racing also took place at Horncastle from 1892 to 1903. Stockton Racecourse Durham England This was the third course in Stockton. The first dated from 1724. Known as Teesside Park from 1967 to 1979 Tenby Racecourse Pembrokeshire Wales National Hunt Torquay Racecourse Devon England National Hunt At Petitor. Racing took place at other venues from 1854 Totnes Racecourse Devon England National Hunt Bef. 1799 The scheduled 1939 meeting was cancelled due to the outbreak of war. Requisitioned by the Admiralty, it was sold in the early 1950s. At this course long distance steeplechases involved crossing the River Dart and the Totnes-Newton Abbot road. Sometimes called the Totnes and Bridgetown races Whitehaven Racecourse Cumberland England 1852 Wrexham Racecourse Denbighshire Wales In 1840, it was holding a two-day October meeting which included a 100 sovereign Gold Cup Woore Racecourse Shropshire England National Hunt Wye Racecourse Kent England National Hunt

19th century Many courses that were prominent in earlier times did not survive into the modern era. The list below is a selection of these, taken from Whyte's History of the British Turf. Where dates are not given for closure, it is possible they were still extant in the 20th century. No distinction has been made between enclosed courses of the type that are familiar now and those that were run over unenclosed courses, more akin to point-to-point racing. Indeed, some of these racecourses or parts of them are still used for that purpose.