Newton Abbot Racecourse is a

thoroughbred horse racing Thoroughbred racing is a sport and Horse industry, industry involving the Horse racing, racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter know ...

venue located on the north bank of the

River Teign The River Teign is a river in the county of Devon, England. It is long and rises on Dartmoor, becomes an estuary just below Newton Abbot and reaches the English Channel at Teignmouth. Toponymy The river-name ''Teign'' is first attested in a ...

in the parishes of

Kingsteignton Kingsteignton ( ), is a town and civil parish in south Devon, England. It lies at the head of the Teign Estuary to the west of Teignmouth in the Teignbridge district. It is bypassed by the A380 and is also on the A383, A381, B3193 and B31 ...

and Teigngrace just north of

Newton Abbot Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the River Teign in the Teignbridge, Teignbridge District of Devon, England. Its population was 24,029 in 2011, and was estimated at 26,655 in 2019. It grew rapidly in ...

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

, England. The course is a tight, flat left-handed oval of about 1 mile 1 furlong. There are seven relatively easy fences to a circuit and a very short run in to the finish.

History

The course was first established in 1866 when the site was purchased. The main grandstand was built in 1969 and opened by the Queen Mother, while the corporate facilities were opened in 1990.

Corporate hospitality

The racecourse has a variety of corporate meeting, conference rooms, suites and private boxes as well as cafeterias, bars and two restaurants: 'The Winning Post' and 'The Paddock'. Many of the rooms have views across the racecourse, whilst there is parking in and around the venue for 5,000 cars.

Other events at the racecourse

The racecourse holds monthly car boot sales and regular antiques fairs. Ladies Day is held in June and there are a series of evening races.

Greyhound racing

greyhound racing Greyhound racing is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around an oval track. The sport originates from Hare coursing, coursing. Track racing uses an artificial lure (usually a form of windsock) that travels ahead of th ...

track was constructed on the final turn inside the racecourse in 1974 following the closure of the Halfway Greyhound Track in Kingskerswell. The opening night was 2 May 1974 and races featured regularly until 2005. The track featured a grandstand that could be dismantled when horse racing took place, it was all-sand circuit and had an 'Inside Sumner' hare system. The greyhound racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the

National Greyhound Racing Club The National Greyhound Racing Club was an organisation that governed Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom Greyhound racing is a sport in the United Kingdom. The industry uses a parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course be ...

) and was known as a flapping track which was the nickname given to independent tracks. The track circumference was 437 yards and the race distances were 325, 482, 525 and 762 yards with the main events being the Newton Abbot Derby and Newton Abbot St Leger. Facilities included five on-course

bookmaker A bookmaker, bookie, or turf accountant is an organization or a person that accepts and pays out bets on sporting and other events at agreed-upon odds In probability theory, odds provide a measure of the probability of a particular outco ...

s and a forecast only primitive ticket machine totalisator.

Notable races

* Lord Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase

References

External links

Newton Abbot Racecourse (Official website)Course guide on GG.COMCourse guide on At The Races
{{English greyhound tracks Horse racing venues in England Buildings and structures in Devon Sports venues in Devon Newton Abbot Sports venues completed in 1866 1866 establishments in England Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom Kingsteignton