Chester Racecourse is also called the Roodee. It’s the oldest racecourse in the world that still has horse races! The first recorded races at the venue date all of the way back to the early days of the 16th century.
The official date for the first racing is 1539. Another claim to fame is that it is now the shortest racecourse in England that is a significant venue. That’s because the total distance of the track is just a mile and a furlong in length.
History of Chester Racecourse
According to the record books, Chester Racecourse is the oldest racetrack in the world that still hosts racing. The first recorded date of a race taking place at Chester Racecourse is 1539. The track is located on the River Dee. In fact, it was previously was a settlement for Romans in the midst of the Dark Ages.
There is a small cross in the middle of the raised ground at the track. Actually, that cross is called a “rood”. Hence, the name Roodee. As per legend, the cross marks the burial location. It is apparently the resting place of a very famous woman whose death was the base of some controversy.
There were numerous racing festivals at Chester Racecourse in the following years. The first recorded race was in February 1539. That was after the local mayor gave his approval for this event to take place. It was usually on major festival days during medieval times that racing would take place. In 1744, Chester hosted the first Grosvenor Gold Cup, with a solid gold small tumbler. Then, in 1745, the first four-day race meeting took place at Chester Racecourse.
The May Festival began in 1766. During the years, Chester Racecourse was just an open field. However, it got a grandstand during 1817. There was no entrance fee for the races up until 1897. Then, the owners reconstructed the stand in 1900. However, an arsonist started a fire at the stand in 1985 that meant it needed further work done. In recent years, the venue has played host to a lot of concerts and music acts.
The Racecourse
Chester Racecourse is the smallest significant track in all of England. The total length is only one mile and a furlong.
The track itself is left-handed and is very sharp. It is also short and circular, with there being almost constant turning throughout the races. The run-in is just less than two furlongs. And a low draw will always be a big advantage for horses in all distances of races.
Notable Races
There are many notable races that take place at Chester Racecourse each year. These include:
The May Festival is usually the main meeting for races at the venue. This is a three-day festival and it plays host to the Chester Cup. This is a handicap race over two and a quarter miles.
The Ormonde Stakes and Huxley Stakes are prestigious races for some of the older horses.
Ticket Prices
The ticket prices for racing at Chester Racecourse will vary depending on the popularity of the given race meeting. You will be best-served buying tickets online in advance if you are looking to get the best price possible. If you do so, you can get tickets normally starting at £12.
Tactics to Consider
Horses that race to the fore will do well at Chester Racecourse as horses further back can find it hard to make up ground. Lower draws are preferred, with large fields this being an almost vital requirement for a horse to do well at Chester Racecourse. There are only two opportunities to really change positions during the race due to the small size of the track.
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