Carlisle Racecourse
Carlisle racecourse hosts both jumps and flat racing and is home to one of the UK’s oldest races – the Carlisle Bell.
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About Carlisle Racecourse
- About
- Course
- History
- Details
Carlisle Racecourse, situated in Blackwell near Carlisle in Cumbria, boasts a rich heritage dating back to 1559, when its first recorded races were held.
The racecourse relocated to its current site in 1904 and now hosts 22 fixtures each year, offering both flat and National Hunt racing. Carlisle was the first British racecourse to introduce Tote betting in 1929.
With a capacity for around 10,000 spectators, Carlisle Racecourse features a right-handed, galloping track that spans about one mile and four furlongs, culminating in a challenging uphill finish that demands strong stamina from competing horses.
The track hosts a variety of notable races, including the Windermere Handicap Chase, famously won multiple times by the legendary Red Rum. The historic Carlisle Bell, held annually in June, is recognized as one of Britain’s oldest horse races.
Carlisle Racecourse offers three distinct tracks to accommodate flat, hurdles, and steeplechase racing, each with its own unique characteristics:
Flat Course
The flat racing track at Carlisle is right-handed and covers a pear-shaped, galloping circuit about one mile and four furlongs in length. The track begins with a downhill run for the first three furlongs, followed by a gentle rise and a leveling out before entering a challenging uphill final stretch of more than three furlongs.
This layout is especially demanding for horses, as it requires both speed and stamina, with an emphasis on maintaining energy for the uphill finish. The flat course also includes wide turns that allow for ease of positioning but demand good balance from horses, especially over the undulating terrain.
Hurdles Course
The hurdles course runs parallel to the flat track but includes smaller obstacles that require a combination of agility and rhythm. With a right-handed direction and similar undulations, the hurdles course features the same uphill finish as the flat track, making stamina a significant factor in hurdle races at Carlisle.
Jockeys often take advantage of the wide turns to set up for each hurdle and ensure they are positioned well for the final sprint up the hill. The slower drainage of the clay-based subsoil also impacts the hurdles track, particularly in the wetter months, when the going can become heavier and require careful pacing and control.
Steeplechase Course
Carlisle’s steeplechase track is designed with a series of larger, more challenging fences compared to the hurdles track. Like the other courses, it is right-handed and follows the same undulating terrain, with wide turns that allow jockeys to prepare their horses for each jump.
The uphill finish is especially taxing in steeplechase races, as horses must clear the fences while conserving enough energy to tackle the demanding final climb. During wetter seasons, jockeys may steer towards the stand side for firmer ground to maintain better traction and balance as they navigate the larger obstacles and prepare for the challenging home stretch.
Address: Durdar Rd, Carlisle CA2 4TS, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1902 390000
Email: info.carlisle@thejockeyclub.co.uk
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