Kempton Park Racecourse facts for kids
Section of tracks with finishing line
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| Location | Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, England |
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| Owned by | Jockey Club Racecourses |
| Date opened | July 1878 |
| Screened on | Racing TV |
| Course type | Flat National Hunt |
| Notable races | King George VI Chase BetBright Chase Sirenia Stakes |
Kempton Park Racecourse is a famous place for horse racing in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England. It's about 16 miles southwest of London. The racecourse is also a fun place for events and meetings.
The area covers 210 acres of flat grassy land. It is surrounded by trees and has two lakes in the middle. Right next to the entrance is Kempton Park railway station. This station was built especially for people coming to the races.
Kempton Park has two main tracks, one inside the other. These are used for different types of horse racing. One of its most famous races is the King George VI Chase. This big race happens every Boxing Day. It's a Grade 1 race for horses aged four years or older.
Contents
History of Kempton Park Racecourse
How Kempton Park Started
The idea for Kempton Park Racecourse came from a businessman named S. H. Hyde. He was driving in the countryside in the 1800s. He saw Kempton Manor and Park for sale and thought it would be a great spot for races.
Hyde rented the land in 1872. Six years later, in July 1878, Kempton Park officially opened as a racecourse. This land was once part of a very old estate. It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086.
Changes to the Racecourse Tracks
Kempton Park closed for a short time from 2005 to 2006. It reopened with a new, special track made of synthetic material called polytrack. This new track also had floodlights. This meant races could happen at any time of day. It also allowed racing in almost all weather conditions.
Since 2006, flat races are run on this new synthetic track. An older track called the "Jubilee Course" was no longer used for racing. It was a mile long and very important in the past. Now, it's part of the green areas around the park.
Future Plans for Kempton Park
In 2017, the Jockey Club, which owns Kempton Park, announced big plans. They decided to close the racecourse by 2021. The land would then be used to build new homes. This plan was part of a large investment program.
Some of Kempton Park's important races, like the King George VI Chase, would move. They would go to other racecourses owned by the Jockey Club. A new artificial track would also be built at Newmarket.
Exciting Races at Kempton Park
Kempton Park hosts two main types of horse racing. These are National Hunt racing, which involves horses jumping over fences, and flat racing, where horses run on a flat track.
The King George VI Chase
The most famous race at Kempton Park is the King George VI Chase. It is held every Boxing Day, December 26th. This is a very important Grade 1 race.
Other Key Races
On Boxing Day, another Grade 1 race called the Kauto Star Novices' Chase also takes place. Famous horses like Kauto Star and Long Run have won both of these big races. The day after Boxing Day, the Desert Orchid Chase, a Grade 2 race, is held.
Kempton Park also hosts the Close Brothers Handicap Chase in late February. In early September, the course stages the September Stakes race day.
Other Activities and Facilities
Besides horse racing, Kempton Park is a busy place with many other events.
- It has a weekly market every Thursday.
- An antiques market is held on the second and last Tuesday of each month.
- Seasonal wedding fairs also take place here.
The venue has reception areas and two restaurants. These can be rented for private parties or celebrations. There are also special boxes that are used for meetings and on race days.
Racecourse Layout and Features
The Tracks
- All-weather Track: This track opened in 2006. It's a right-handed oval shape. It can be 8 or 10 furlongs long, depending on which part of the track is used. It has floodlights for racing at night.
- National Hunt Track: This track is shaped like a triangle. It's about 1 mile and 5 furlongs long and is mostly flat.
The Lake Incident
Kempton Park has a lake in the middle of its course. In 2009, a horse named Blue Warrior accidentally fell into the lake. This happened before a race. Rescuing the horse caused the race to be delayed. Luckily, the horse was saved with only a small cut.
How to Get to Kempton Park
By Train
Kempton Park has its own train station, built just for the racecourse. You can get there on the train line that runs from London Waterloo to Shepperton. If you're coming from other places, you can change trains at Clapham Junction. You can also change at Twickenham or Teddington for services from Reading and Windsor.
By Car
The racecourse is located near the A308 and A316 roads. The A316 turns into the M3 motorway. There is free parking available for visitors.
Images for kids
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Section of tracks with finishing line
