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.
 The Berkshire Stand and The Grandstand | |
| Location | Newbury, Berkshire, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°23′40″N 1°18′2″W / 51.39444°N 1.30056°W |
| Date opened | 26 September 1905 |
| Screened on | Sky Sports Racing |
| Course type | Flat National Hunt |
| Notable races | Lockinge Stakes, Hennessy Gold Cup, Challow Novices' Hurdle |
| Official website | |
The racecourse is noted for its proximity to the Lambourn training centre, which means that the course is often home to locally-grown talent as well as attracting horses from further afield. Newbury's major races include the Lockinge Stakes and its most famous race, the Coral Gold Cup (formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup).[1]
History
editAlthough the racecourse on its current site was not established until 1905, the first recorded horse racing in 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.[2]
The course came into being in the early 20th century, and was the idea of a leading Kingsclere trainer, John Porter, who realised that the flat meadows beside the railway and the River Kennett at Newbury would be an ideal site for a course to serve the many training stables within a 30 mile radius of Newbury. These included Kingsclere, Weyhill, Wantage and Lambourn. The land which Porter wanted was owned by Mr. L. H. Baxendale, who lived at Greenham. Mr Baxendale liked Porter's idea and eventually became Chairman of the Newbury Racecourse Company.
In 1903 Porter took his plans to the Stewards of the Jockey Club, who turned them down because there were already enough racecourses. The story goes that a dejected John Porter left the Jockey Club and happened to bump into King Edward VII on Newmarket High Street, The king listened to Porter's story and gave his support to the proposal of a racecourse at Newbury. The Jockey Club changed its mind and granted a licence. In 1904 the Newbury Racecourse Company was founded, purchased the land and constructed the buildings and stables on the current site. The Great Western Railway Company built a station near the course. Many of the opening day's crowd of 15,000 would have travelled by train. [3]
On Tuesday and Wednesday, 26 and 27 September 1905, the first ever race meeting took place at Newbury Racecourse. Mr. D. V. Pullinger's Copper King, at 100-7, ridden by Charlie Trigg and trained by Charles Marnes, won the opening race, the Whatcombe Handicap at 2pm, worth £160, over five furlongs. There were twenty-eight runners. The racecourse's founder, John Porter, trained Zealous to win the 1m 4f Regulation Plate, worth £100, on 27 September.[2]
National Hunt racing followed shortly after Flat racing and in 1906, nine days racing were planned for Newbury – six on the Flat and three over Jumps. The course has been home to both Flat and Jump racing ever since, and celebrated its centenary in 2005.
During the First World War, the racecourse was used as a prisoner-of-war camp for German prisoners.[4][5]
During the Second World War, Newbury was occupied by the American Army. The turf was covered with twenty-two miles of sidings, which necessitated fresh grass being layed for the whole course. Racing resumed in April 1949, but until the early 1950s the straight course was restricted to six furlongs, rather than a mile. [3]
Sir Peter O'Sullevan's last broadcast commentary took place in November 1997 at Newbury, on the Hennessey Gold Cup, won by Suny Bay.
Elizabeth II was a regular attendee of race meetings at Newbury, most notably in 2012, when she celebrated her 86th birthday there.[6]
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.[7]
In January 2021 a COVID-19 vaccination centre was established at Newbury Racecourse.[8][9]
Course
editJames Gill wrote in 1975: "There is not a racecourse in the country more popular among both National Hunt and flat than Newbury. Riders appreciate the good ground they generally find on what is a fine, galloping track with long straights, easy left-handed bends and a racing surface of resilient, thickly-matted meadow turf. The course undulates slightly just below the seven furlong bend and inside the final furlong, and there is a gentle downhill run to the turn for home, but otherwise Newbury if pretty well flat, 80 feet wide on the round course, 90 on the straight and as fair a test of a racehorse as could be devised." [10]
The flat course is over 1 mile 6 furlongs round, with a straight mile which joins the round course to form a home straight of 5 furlongs. Races over 7 furlongs and one mile are also run on the round course, starting on a chute.
The national hunt course is over 1 mile 5 furlongs, with eleven fences: eight plain, two open ditches and the water jump. There are four fences in the home straight, the second of which is an open ditch.
Concerts
editNewbury Racecourse has increasingly played host to numerous live concerts in recent years. This has predominantly been through the Party in the Paddock, in which horse racing meets during the summer are accompanied by a live concert at the end of racing.
One of the first concerts held at the racecourse was by Welsh reggae-metal band Skindred in 2006,[11] followed by English reggae and pop band UB40 in July 2008.[12] The latter was one of two concerts held in 2008, with Irish boyband Boyzone performing in August as part of the Ladies Day horse racing meet.[13]
Since 2008, Newbury Racecourse has held between one and three concerts each year, mostly in support of horse racing meets. This has included three appearances by Madness, Tom Jones, Simply Red and Olly Murs.[14]
American singer Lionel Richie was forced to cancel a performance at Newbury Racecourse in September 2012 due to illness, which would have been his first performance in the UK since 2009.[15]
American girl group Pussycat Dolls were scheduled to perform at Newbury Racecourse as part of the Party in the Paddock on 15 August 2020, but was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]
However, the Party in the Paddock returned in 2021, when Olly Murs performed the first concert at Newbury Racecourse following the COVID-19 pandemic on 14 August, with an audience of 17,000. Murs had to perform with a leg brace following a serious knee injury. He returned to perform at Newbury Racecourse in August 2023, his third appearance at the venue.[17][18]
| Date | Performer | Tour | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 November 2006 | Skindred | Babylon Tour | |
| 11 July 2008 | UB40 | ||
| 16 August 2008 | Boyzone | Back Again... No Matter What Tour | |
| 30 May 2009 | Madness | ||
| 15 August 2009 | Simply Red | Greatest Hits Tour | |
| 9 July 2010 | Simply Red | Farewell - The Final Tour | |
| 14 Aug 2010 | Westlife | Where We Are Tour | |
| 21 May 2011 | The Wanted | ||
| 29 May 2011 | Rod Stewart | ||
| 13 August 2011 | Tom Jones | ||
| 18 August 2012 | Jessie J | ||
| 8 June 2013 | Rita Ora | Supported by Charlie Brown[19] | |
| 17 August 2013 | Meat Loaf | ||
| 19 July 2014 | The Beach Boys | ||
| 18 July 2015 | DJ Fresh | ||
| 19 September 2015 | Madness | Grandslam Madness | |
| 16 July 2016 | Simply Red | Big Love Tour | |
| 22 July 2017 | Jess Glynne | ||
| 19 August 2017 | Olly Murs | 2017 UK Summer Tour | |
| 21 July 2018 | Craig David | ||
| 18 August 2018 | Rudimental | ||
| 20 July 2019 | Tom Jones | ||
| 17 August 2019 | Madness | Madness XL | |
| 14 August 2021 | Olly Murs | ||
| 18 September 2021 | Rick Astley | ||
| 16 July 2022 | Craig David | Hold That Thought Tour | |
| 22 July 2023 | Tom Jones | Ages & Stages | |
| 19 August 2023 | Olly Murs | Marry Me Tour | |
| 20 July 2024 | Sigala | ||
| 17 August 2024 | Dizzee Rascal | ||
| Source: [20] | |||
Facilities
editThe 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.[21]
2011 incident
editOn 12 February 2011, two horses, Marching Song and Fenix Two, collapsed and died in the Paddock while parading for the first race of the day. Two others also appeared to have been affected, Kid Cassidy and The Merry Giant. The novice hurdle race went ahead, starting about 20 min late, but the rest of the day's racing was abandoned.[22][23]
On 17 February, the preliminary results of the investigation into the incident were released.
Professor Tim Morris, Director of Equine Science and Welfare for the British Horseracing Authority, reported that they had been informed that there had been leakage from an electrical cable running under the parade ring. Both the horses had been examined postmortem and sudden cardiac arrest, consistent with accidental electrocution, had been identified as the cause of death and no other cause of death was further investigated.
Professor Morris also stated:
I can also confirm that, contrary to speculation, no evidence of any burn marks around the mouth was found on post mortem examination, neither were such marks found by the veterinary surgeons on the horses at the start.[24]
Notable races
edit| Month | DOW | Race Name | Type | Grade | Distance | Age/Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | Saturday | Game Spirit Chase | Chase | Grade 2 | 2m ½f | 5yo + |
| February | Saturday | Betfair Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 3 | 2m ½f | 4yo + |
| February | Saturday | Denman Chase | Chase | Grade 2 | 2m 7½f | 5yo + |
| February | Saturday | Winter Bumper | N H Flat | Conditions | 2m ½f | 4yo-6yo |
| March | Saturday | Greatwood Gold Cup | Chase | Grade 3 | 2m 4f | 5yo + |
| April | Saturday | Fred Darling Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 3yo only f |
| April | Saturday | John Porter Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 4f 5y | 4yo + |
| April | Saturday | Greenham Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 3yo only c&g |
| May | Saturday | Fillies' Trial Stakes | Flat | Conditions | 1m 2f | 3yo only f |
| May | Saturday | Carnarvon Stakes | Flat | Conditions | 6f | 3yo only |
| May | Saturday | Aston Park Stakes | Flat | Conditions | 1m 4f | 3yo only f |
| May | Saturday | Lockinge Stakes | Flat | Group 1 | 1m | 4yo + |
| June | Thursday | Abingdon Stakes | Flat | Conditions | 1m 2f | 3yo only f |
| July | Saturday | Weatherbys Super Sprint | Flat | Conditions | 5f 34y | 2yo only |
| July | Saturday | Hackwood Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 6f 8y | 3yo + |
| August | Friday | St Hugh's Stakes | Flat | Conditions | 5f 34y | 2yo only f |
| August | Saturday | Geoffrey Freer Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 5f 61y | 3yo + |
| August | Saturday | Hungerford Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 7f | 3yo + |
| August | Saturday | Denford Stakes | Flat | Conditions | 7f | 2yo only |
| September | Friday | Haynes, Hanson and Clark Novice Stakes | Flat | Novice | 1m | 2yo only |
| September | Saturday | Legacy Cup | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 3f 5y | 3yo + |
| September | Saturday | Mill Reef Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 6f 8y | 2yo only |
| September | Saturday | World Trophy | Flat | Group 3 | 5f 34y | 3yo + |
| October | Saturday | St. Simon Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 4f | 3yo + |
| October | Saturday | Horris Hill Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 2yo only |
| November | Thursday | Gerry Feilden Hurdle | Hurdle | Handicap | 2m ½f | 4yo+ |
| November | Friday | John Francome Novices' Chase | Chase | Grade 2 | 2m 4f | 4yo + |
| November | Saturday | Long Distance Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 2 | 3m ½f | 4yo + |
| November | Saturday | Coral Gold Cup | Chase | Grade 3 | 3m 2f ½y | 4yo + |
| December | 29th | Challow Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m 4½f | 4yo + |
Image gallery
edit-
Crowds at Newbury Racecourse -
Cois Farraig jumps the last in front at Newbury -
-
Newbury Racecourse Road, view from the main corner with the main entrance -
Vaccination centre in January 2021
References
edit- ^ Dooley, James (11 February 2020). "Newbury Racecourse". British Racecourses. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ a b Ltd, Indzine. "About The Racecourse". Newbury Racecourse. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ a b Rickman, John (1952). Homes of Sport: Horse Racing. London: Peter Garnett. pp. 167, 172.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Newbury Racecourse POW Internment Camp - Great War Forum". Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2010. Great War Forum
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Royal Berkshire Regiment Great War Project - ^ "The Queen spends 86th birthday in Newbury". Newbury Today. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Newbury Racecourse Coronavirus impact". Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020. Racecourse 68% turnover drop
- ^ "Newbury Racecourse asks for coronavirus vaccination hub to be allowed to run on racedays". Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Here we go! It's V-Day launch today at Newbury Racecourse". Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Gill, James (1975). Racecourses of Great Britain. London: Barrie & Jenkins. p. 139. ISBN 0214200906.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Blabbermouth (3 November 2006). "SKINDRED To Embark On U.K. Tour". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Jul 11, 2008: UB40 at Newbury Racecourse". Concert Archives. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ getreading (7 August 2008). "Boyzone@ Newbury Racecourse". BerkshireLive. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Newbury Racecourse, Newbury, England Concert Setlists | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Lionel Richie cancels concert at Racecourse Newbury". BBC News. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Pussycat Dolls to perform at Newbury". Newbury Today. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Still time to buy tickets for Olly Murs at Racecourse". Newbury Today. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "https://twitter.com/ollymurs/status/1426813114557808643?lang=en". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 7 September 2023.
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ "Charlie Brown named as Rita Ora's supporting act". Newbury Today. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Newbury Racecourse, Newbury, England Concert Setlists | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Corporate events, race sponsorship and venue hire at Newbury Racecourse". Newbury Racecourse. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ "Electrocution blamed as two horses die at Newbury races". BBC Sport. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ J.A. McGrath and Adam Lusher "Horses drop dead in bizarre scenes at Newbury" Archived 31 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Telegraph website, 12 February 2011
- ^ Newbury Racecourse statement (retrieved 22 February 2011) Archived 21 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
External links
edit