Lanark Racecourse facts for kids
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The old odds/results board at Lanark
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| Location | Lanark, Scotland |
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| Coordinates | 55°39′45″N 3°44′31″W / 55.6624°N 3.7420°W |
| Date closed | October 1977 |
| Course type | Flat |
| Notable races | Lanark Silver Bell |
Lanark Racecourse was a famous place in Scotland where horse racing used to happen. It was located in the small town of Lanark, about 25 miles from Glasgow. People say it was started a very long time ago by King William the Lion of Scotland, who lived between 1165 and 1214. The racecourse closed in October 1977.
About the Racecourse and Its Races
The Lanark Racecourse was shaped like an oval and horses raced around it going to the right. The track was about 10 furlongs (which is about 2,012 meters) long. The final stretch where horses sprinted to the finish line was about 3.5 furlongs (around 704 meters).
This racecourse was home to Britain's oldest horse race, called the Lanark Silver Bell. After the racecourse closed, this special race stopped for 30 years. But now, it's held again at Hamilton Park Racecourse, which is nearby. The very first Silver Bell is said to have been a gift from King William the Lion in the 12th century. The original bell is gone, but the one used today is from the 17th century.
Another important race held at Lanark was the William the Lion Handicap. This was the longest handicap race in Scotland, covering about 2.5 miles (around 4,023 meters). A handicap race means that horses carry different weights to make the competition fair. This race was always the last one of the Scottish flat racing season.
First Aviation Meeting in Scotland
Lanark Racecourse was not just for horses! It also hosted the very first aviation (airplane) meeting in Scotland. This exciting event took place from August 6 to 13, 1910. The racecourse was chosen because it had flat land, and it already had facilities for people to watch. There were also stables that could be used as hangars to keep the airplanes safe.
It was easy to get to the racecourse by road and by train. The Caledonian Railway Company even built a new train station near the main entrance just for the event. The airplanes themselves were brought to the meeting by train because they weren't advanced enough to fly long distances safely yet.
This aviation meeting happened shortly after a similar event in Bournemouth, where a pilot named Charles Rolls sadly died. Because of this, the organizers at Lanark decided that no aircraft would fly closer than 300 yards (about 274 meters) to the spectators. This was to keep everyone safe.
For the first time ever, airplanes were accurately timed as they flew over a measured distance. This allowed the first world records for flights over 1 mile (about 1,609 meters) to be set. The Aero magazine, which was a big aviation magazine at the time, called the Lanark meeting 'the most successful yet held in Britain'.
Why Lanark Racecourse Closed
The horse races at Lanark were usually not the biggest or most famous events. They were mostly attended by loyal Scottish horse racing fans. Sadly, the racecourse had money problems and had to close down in October 1977. Even today, you can still see parts of the old racecourse if you visit the area.
