| Wetherby | |
| Website: | http://www.wetherbyracing.co.uk |
| Location: | Wetherby, West Yorkshire |
| Opened: | 1891 |
| Channel: | Racing TV |
| Coursetype: | Flat National Hunt |
| Notableraces: | Castleford Chase Charlie Hall Chase |
| Prev: | Warwick |
| Next: | Wincanton |
Wetherby Racecourse is a racecourse situated near the market town of Wetherby in West Yorkshire, England, located 12miles from Leeds city centre. For most of its history the course has hosted only National Hunt racing but staged its first Flat racing fixture on 26 April 2015.
The Racecourse is located on the B1224 York Road, directly adjacent to the A1(M). It is situated opposite Wetherby (HM Prison). There are new access roads between North and East Wetherby and the A1(M). The racecourse can also be accessed from Walton Road at the rear of the stands.
Horse racing in Wetherby was first took place on Scaur Bank (now officially known as King George V playing fields, although still most commonly referred to as 'Scaur Bank' or 'The Ings'). At Easter 1891 racing moved to a new site situated off York Road.
When the lease expired in 1920, a company was formed comprising the remaining members of the race committee (Mr. Crossley, Mr. Long and Mr. Atkinson) who joined the board, and Mr. R.F. (Rowland) Meyrick became clerk of the course. It was around this time that Wetherby races became more important. The course and facilities improved, and the prize money increased to encourage better quality horses to race at Wetherby. The improvements continued when Major W.T. Lipscomb took over as clerk. The race company bought the freehold of the course in 1953. In 1958 a block of buildings, including restaurants, bars, the weighing room and the jockeys' changing room, burnt down. Repairs took two years. [1]
From 1924 until 1959 the racecourse was served by Wetherby Racecourse railway station. In the 1930s the first terraces were erected. A new club stand was opened in 1967 followed by a new two-tier stand in the 1970s, and then in 1999 the new Millennium Stand was opened, providing the racecourse with executive banqueting and conference facilities. Up until 1963, Racecourse Specials ran to Wetherby railway station from Bradford Exchange on race days. As the station on York Road had closed many years before, for decades the only rail access was via the station on Linton Road at the other end of Wetherby from the racecourse.
The steeplechase course is a little under 1 mile 4 furlongs round, with easy bends. Apart from a climb past the winning post and a downhill run to the back straight, the track is flat until the slightly uphill run from the last fence. There are nine fences, four in the home straight and five, including two open ditches, down the back straight.
The hurdles' course has similar characteristics. There are six flight of hurdles, three in each straight.
Flat races are run on the hurdles' course, with a home straight of about half a mile. There is no straight course; races over 5 furlongs 110 yards start on a spur near the end of the back straight.
TodayWetherby Racecourse was the last racecourse in Yorkshire that hosted only National Hunt jump meetings, but it now stages Flat racing as well. The course announced early in 2014 that they were investigating staging summer Flat racing[2] and were granted four fixtures when the 2015 list was released in October 2014.[3] The first Flat racing fixture took place on 26 April 2015.[4]
| DOW | Race Name | Type | Grade | Distance | Age/Sex | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Each-Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Chase | Chase | Premier Handicap | 4yo+ | |||
| Friday | Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle | Hurdle | Listed | 3yo | |||
| Saturday | Wetherby Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Listed | 4yo+ m | |||
| Saturday | West Yorkshire Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 2 | 4yo+ | |||
| Saturday | Charlie Hall Chase | Chase | Grade 2 | 5yo+ | |||
| Boxing Day | Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase | Chase | Premier Handicap | 4yo+ | |||
| 27th | Castleford Chase | Chase | Handicap | 4yo+ | |||
| Saturday | Towton Novices' Chase | Chase | Grade 2 | 5yo+ |
The Racecourse features the following facilities, areas and amenities:
Premier Enclosure This is housed within the Millennium Stand. Although there is no dress code, the management advise a smart-casual attire.[5] Spectators in this enclosure have access to the most luxurious bars and restaurants, including the White Horse Restaurant and Mezzanine Bar.
Paddock Enclosure The largest of the three enclosures is the mid spec, Paddock Enclosure. This is set within the two older stands and has access to the A1 Bar as well as most of the book makers including the large Tote betting shop.
Course Enclosure The cheapest of the enclosures is situated in the centre of the course. It has its own bar, cafe, Tote Betting Shop, Bookmakers stands and 'big screen'; however, it lacks many of the facilities the other enclosures benefit from.
Admittance pricing varies from £2 to £27.[6] This pricing is only general and may vary depending on the race meeting.