Newbury Racecourse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Newbury Racecourse

The Berkshire Stand and The Grandstand
Location	Newbury, Berkshire
Coordinates	51°23′40″N 1°18′2″W
Date opened	26 September 1905
Screened on	Racing TV
Course type	Flat National Hunt
Notable races	Lockinge Stakes, Hennessy Gold Cup, Challow Novices' Hurdle

Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse and events venue in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps. It hosts one of Great Britain's 36 annual Group 1 flat races, the Lockinge Stakes.

Horserace finishing at Newbury

Newbury Racecourse Road, view from the Nuffield Health Gym

History

The racecourse held its first race meeting on 26/27 September 1905 at its current location, in the Greenham area on the south-east side of Newbury, West Berkshire.

The first recorded racing at Newbury took place in 1805 with "Newbury Races", an annual two-day race meeting at Enborne Heath. The meeting lasted until 1811 when it transferred to Woodhay Heath until 1815.

Newbury Racecourse didn't come into existence for another 90 years when Kingsclere trainer, John Porter proposed a new racecourse at Newbury. The Jockey Club had laid down strict qualifications for new racecourses and after Porter's plans were rejected several times, a chance meeting with King Edward VII brought about a further application which with the King's support was approved by the Jockey Club.

In April 1904 the Newbury Racecourse Company was formed and purchased the land and then construction began of the buildings and stables at a cost of £57,240.

On 26 and 27 September 1905 the first ever racemeeting took place at Newbury Racecourse with Copper King ridden by Charlie Trigg and trained by Charles Marnes winning the opening race, the Whatcombe Handicap. Marnes was presented with a Silver Cup (value £25) and Trigg received a gold mounted whip (value £10).

It was fitting that John Porter trained Zelis to win the Regulation Plate on 27 September, providing the only winner at Newbury for course's founder as he retired from training at the end of the 1905 season.

National Hunt racing followed shortly after Flat racing and in 1906, nine days racing were planned for Newbury in 1906 – six on the Flat and three over Jumps. A members badge which also covered the two days in 1905 was priced at 7 guineas.

During the First World War Newbury Racecourse was used as a prisoner-of-war camp for German prisoners.

In September 2020 it was reported that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Newbury Racecourse had experienced a 68% loss of turnover for the first 6 months of 2020.

In January 2021 a COVID-19 vaccination centre was established at Newbury Racecourse.

Notable events

On 14 August 2010, Irish vocal pop band Westlife held a concert for Where We Are Tour supporting their album Where We Are. The concert was sold-out and contributed to a record 30,000 attendance for the following day of racing.

Each year the racecourse hosts two music nights, with acts in recent years including: Jess Glynne, Olly Murs, Craig David, Rudimental and Sir Tom Jones.

Facilities

See also: Newbury Racecourse railway station

The racecourse has a dedicated railway station, which sees heavy traffic and additional trains on race days. It also acts as a venue for conferences, meetings, weddings and Hen and Stag parties.

Notable races

Month	DOW	Race Name	Type	Grade	Distance	Age/Sex
1 February	Saturday	Game Spirit Chase	Chase	Grade 2	3420 2m 1f	5yo +
2 February	Saturday	Betfair Hurdle	Hurdle	Grade 3	3319 2m 110y	4yo +
3 February	Saturday	Denman Chase	Chase	Grade 2	4828 3m	5yo +
4 February	Saturday	Winter Bumper	N H Flat	Conditions	3319 2m 110y	4yo-6yo
6 March	Saturday	Greatwood Gold Cup	Chase	Grade 3	4023 2m 4f	5yo +
7 April	Saturday	Fred Darling Stakes	Flat	Group 3	1408 7f	3yo only f
8 April	Saturday	John Porter Stakes	Flat	Group 3	2419 1m 4f 5y	4yo +
9 April	Saturday	Greenham Stakes	Flat	Group 3	1408 7f	3yo only
10 May	Saturday	Fillies' Trial Stakes	Flat	Conditions	2012 1m 2f	3yo only f
11 May	Saturday	Carnarvon Stakes	Flat	Conditions	1207 6f	3yo only
12 May	Saturday	Aston Park Stakes	Flat	Conditions	2414 1m 4f	3yo only f
13 May	Saturday	Lockinge Stakes	Flat	Group 1	1609 1m	4yo +
14 June	Thursday	Abingdon Stakes	Flat	Conditions	2012 1m 2f	3yo only f
15 July	Saturday	Weatherbys Super Sprint	Flat	Conditions	1037 5f 34y	2yo only
16 July	Saturday	Hackwood Stakes	Flat	Group 3	1214 6f 8y	3yo +
17 August	Friday	St Hugh's Stakes	Flat	Conditions	1037 5f 34y	2yo only f
18 August	Saturday	Geoffrey Freer Stakes	Flat	Group 3	2671 1m 5f 61y	3yo +
19 August	Saturday	Hungerford Stakes	Flat	Group 2	1408 7f	3yo +
20 August	Saturday	Denford Stakes	Flat	Conditions	1408 7f	2yo only
21 September	Friday	Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes	Flat	Conditions	1609 1m	2yo only
22 September	Saturday	Legacy Cup	Flat	Group 3	2217 1m 3f 5y	3yo +
23 September	Saturday	Mill Reef Stakes	Flat	Group 2	1214 6f 8y	2yo only
24 September	Saturday	World Trophy	Flat	Group 3	1037 5f 34y	3yo +
25 October	Saturday	St. Simon Stakes	Flat	Group 3	2414 1m 4f	3yo +
26 October	Saturday	Horris Hill Stakes	Flat	Group 3	1408 7f	2yo only
27 November	Thursday	Gerry Feilden Hurdle	Hurdle	Handicap	3319 2m 110y	4yo+
28 November	Thursday	John Francome Novices' Chase	Chase	Grade 2	4828 3m	4yo +
29 November	Friday	Berkshire Novices' Chase	Chase	Grade 2	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
30 November	Saturday	Long Distance Hurdle	Hurdle	Grade 2	4929 3m 110y	4yo +
31 November	Saturday	Ladbrokes Trophy	Chase	Grade 3	5331 3m 2f 110y	4yo +
32 December	29th	Challow Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Grade 1	4225 2m 5f	4yo +

Image Gallery

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  Crowds at Newbury Racecourse

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  Cois Farraig jumps the last in front at Newbury

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  Tony McCoy, Aigle D'or, J. P. McManus & Nicky Henderson

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  Newbury Racecourse Road, view from the main corner with the main entrance

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  Vaccination centre in January 2021