Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse (often known as simply Stratford 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 in

Stratford-on-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon ( ), commonly known as Stratford, is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is situated on the River Avon, north-west of ...

, Warwickshire, England.

History

Racing first took place near Stratford on Avon in July 1718, but the racecourse proper did not open until September 1755. The first race was won by Forrester. Racing continued through the 1700s and 1800s, including a horse named Lottery winning at Stratford in 1839 prior to success in the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

Aintree Racecourse Aintree Racecourse is a horse racing, racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England, near to Liverpool. The racecourse is the venue for the Grand National steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase, which takes place annually in April over three da ...

. In 1904, races were run under the title of "Stratford and Warwickshire Hunt Races" and continued to be known until racing ceased between 1914 and 1919 for

WWI World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting took place mainly in Europe and th ...

. On 31 January 1922, the Stratford Race Company was formed and continues to run the racecourse. In 1955, a new grandstand was opened and 10 years later a restaurant added. A feature race of the Stratford season is the Stratford Foxhunters Chase and is traditionally seen as the third jewel in the Hunter Chase crown alongside the races at

Cheltenham Cheltenham () is a historic spa town and borough adjacent to the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716, and claims to be the mo ...

and

Aintree Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. Historically in Lancashire, it lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, northeast of Liverpool city centre. In 2011 the parish had a p ...

Course and facilities

Stratford is a left handed course with eight fences per circuit and is notable for its speed. The course is triangular in shape with sharp bends. In 2008, a water jump was added on the home straight but is not jumped on the final circuit. Stratford Racecourse features a touring park within its grounds with around 100 pitches.

References

Horse racing venues in England Sports venues in Warwickshire Sports venues completed in 1755 Stratford-upon-Avon {{England-horseracing-venue-stub