The racecourse is a left-handed oval track of 1 mile 4 furlongs and 25 yards, with a run-in of nearly half-a-mile.[1] The home straight is 4 furlongs, with a steady rise and turn. It is the highest flat racecourse in the country and has no watering facility, so the going can become very firm during a dry summer.[2]
At 780 feet (238 m) above sea level, Bath is Britain's highest flat racecourse, although National Hunt courses Hexham and Exeter are higher.[3]
Racing was first recorded at Bath in 1728.[4] In 1811, the first major meet at Bath Racecourse was held, under the auspices of a local family, the Blathwayts. Originally there was just one meet a year at the course, lasting for two days, but gradually over the years, the number of meets increased to its present level of twenty-two. In the early years, the Somerset Stakes was the major race of the calendar, and this race is still held annually. In 1844 this race was a sweepstake of 25 sovereigns each with £100 added by the committee. It was won by the Duke of Richmond's Red Deer, a three-year-ol carrying 4st 11ibs, who went on to win the Chester Cup. The owner of the second got his £25 back, but the winner had to pay £10 for preparing the course and £5 for weights and scales.[5]
There were a number of grandstand buildings in those days and people used to watch the races from their carriages, lined up beside the track.[6]
In 1953, Bath Racecourse was the site of a criminal plot surrounding the "Spa selling plate". Having two horses that looked almost identical, the gang substituted a good horse for a poor one. They bet heavily on the substituted horse and damaged the power supply to the racecourse, which prevented the bookmakers from changing the odds which remained at 10-1. The horse won the race and the gang would have profited highly had not racing officials become suspicious and called in Scotland Yard. The gang were subsequently brought to justice.[8]
In 2015/16 the racecourse facilities underwent a significant redevelopment and investment programme, funded by the Arena Racing Company. The racetrack has a new look with bands of buttermilk and French grey, the parade ring is revamped and the Beckford Bar opened. The new Langridge Grandstand opened in July 2016 and has various new facilities including a canopied roof garden from which races can be watched. It is also available as a venue between race days for corporate events, dinners and weddings.[6]
^"Bath Racecourse Guide". British Racecourses. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
^. At the races. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
^Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Racing. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN0-354-08536-0.
^Rickman, John (1952). Homes of Sport - Horse Racing. London: Peter Garnett. p. 22.
^ ab"About Bath Racecourse". Bath Racecourse. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
^Berryman, David (2006). Somerset airfields in the Second World War. Newbury: Countryside Books. pp. 124–126. ISBN1-85306-864-0.
^Andrew Ward (2015). Horse-Racing Strangest Races: Extraordinary but true stories from over 150 years of racing. Pavilion Books. pp. 123–126. ISBN978-1-910232-32-3.
Further reading
Beavis, Jim (2011). The history of Bath Racecourse. Bath. ISBN9780954332228.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bath Racecourse.
bath, racecourse, thoroughbred, horse, racing, venue, lansdown, hill, about, miles, northeast, bath, somerset, england, owned, operated, arena, racing, company, bath, logolocationbath, somersetowned, byarena, racing, companyscreened, onsky, sports, racingcours. Bath Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue on Lansdown Hill about 3 1 4 miles 5 2 km northeast of Bath Somerset England It is owned and operated by Arena Racing Company BathBath Racecourse logoLocationBath SomersetOwned byArena Racing CompanyScreened onSky Sports RacingCourse typeFlatOfficial websiteThe stands The racecourse is a left handed oval track of 1 mile 4 furlongs and 25 yards with a run in of nearly half a mile 1 The home straight is 4 furlongs with a steady rise and turn It is the highest flat racecourse in the country and has no watering facility so the going can become very firm during a dry summer 2 At 780 feet 238 m above sea level Bath is Britain s highest flat racecourse although National Hunt courses Hexham and Exeter are higher 3 Contents 1 History 2 Notable races 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory EditRacing was first recorded at Bath in 1728 4 In 1811 the first major meet at Bath Racecourse was held under the auspices of a local family the Blathwayts Originally there was just one meet a year at the course lasting for two days but gradually over the years the number of meets increased to its present level of twenty two In the early years the Somerset Stakes was the major race of the calendar and this race is still held annually In 1844 this race was a sweepstake of 25 sovereigns each with 100 added by the committee It was won by the Duke of Richmond s Red Deer a three year ol carrying 4st 11ibs who went on to win the Chester Cup The owner of the second got his 25 back but the winner had to pay 10 for preparing the course and 5 for weights and scales 5 There were a number of grandstand buildings in those days and people used to watch the races from their carriages lined up beside the track 6 During World War II the racecourse was used as a landing field by the Royal Air Force and named RAF North Stoke 7 In 1953 Bath Racecourse was the site of a criminal plot surrounding the Spa selling plate Having two horses that looked almost identical the gang substituted a good horse for a poor one They bet heavily on the substituted horse and damaged the power supply to the racecourse which prevented the bookmakers from changing the odds which remained at 10 1 The horse won the race and the gang would have profited highly had not racing officials become suspicious and called in Scotland Yard The gang were subsequently brought to justice 8 In 2015 16 the racecourse facilities underwent a significant redevelopment and investment programme funded by the Arena Racing Company The racetrack has a new look with bands of buttermilk and French grey the parade ring is revamped and the Beckford Bar opened The new Langridge Grandstand opened in July 2016 and has various new facilities including a canopied roof garden from which races can be watched It is also available as a venue between race days for corporate events dinners and weddings 6 Notable races EditMonth DOW Race Name Type Grade Distance Age SexApril Saturday Lansdown Fillies Stakes Flat Listed 5f 11y 3 amp 4yo fOctober Wednesday Beckford Stakes Flat Listed 1m 6f 3 fDick Hern Fillies Stakes now run at Haydock Park References Edit British Racing and Racecourses ISBN 978 0 9501397 2 2 by Marion Rose Halpenny Page 77 Bath Racecourse Guide British Racecourses 18 December 2019 Retrieved 2 December 2020 Bath At the races Archived from the original on 7 July 2011 Retrieved 14 September 2008 Mortimer Roger Onslow Richard Willett Peter 1978 Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Racing London Macdonald and Jane s ISBN 0 354 08536 0 Rickman John 1952 Homes of Sport Horse Racing London Peter Garnett p 22 a b About Bath Racecourse Bath Racecourse Retrieved 30 August 2016 Berryman David 2006 Somerset airfields in the Second World War Newbury Countryside Books pp 124 126 ISBN 1 85306 864 0 Andrew Ward 2015 Horse Racing Strangest Races Extraordinary but true stories from over 150 years of racing Pavilion Books pp 123 126 ISBN 978 1 910232 32 3 Further reading EditBeavis Jim 2011 The history of Bath Racecourse Bath ISBN 9780954332228 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bath Racecourse Bath Racecourse Official website Course guide on GG COM Course guide on At The RacesCoordinates 51 25 N 2 25 W 51 417 N 2 417 W 51 417 2 417 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bath Racecourse amp oldid 1137650655, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
