Jump to content

Hereford Racecourse: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 52°04′23″N 2°43′44″W / 52.073°N 2.729°W / 52.073; -2.729
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Added content.
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
External links: a racecourse isn't an area
 
(36 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{distinguish|Racecourse, Hereford}}
{{Infobox UK Racecourse
{{Infobox UK Racecourse
| Name = Hereford
| Name = Hereford
| Image = [[Image:Hereford Racecourse logo.png]]
| Image = Hereford Racecourse logo.png
| Caption = Hereford Racecourse logo
| Caption = Hereford Racecourse logo
| Website = http://www.hereford-racecourse.co.uk
| Website = http://www.hereford-racecourse.co.uk
| Location = [[Hereford]], [[Herefordshire]], [[England]]
| Location = [[Hereford]], [[Herefordshire]], [[England]]
| Coordinates = {{coord|52.073|-2.729|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| Coordinates = {{coord|52.073|-2.729|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| Owner = [[Herefordshire Council]]
| owner = [[Herefordshire Council]]
| Channel = [[At The Races]]
| operator = [[Arena Racing Company]]
| Channel = [[Sky Sports Racing]]
| CourseType = [[National Hunt]]
| CourseType = [[National Hunt]]
| Prev = [[Haydock Park Racecourse|Haydock Park]]
| Prev = [[Haydock Park Racecourse|Haydock Park]]
Line 13: Line 17:
}}
}}
[[File:Hereford Racecourse - geograph.org.uk - 11229.jpg|thumb|Hereford Racecourse]]
[[File:Hereford Racecourse - geograph.org.uk - 11229.jpg|thumb|Hereford Racecourse]]
'''Hereford Racecourse''' is a [[horse racing]] venue located in [[Hereford]], [[Herefordshire]], [[England]], owned by [[Herefordshire Council]]. [[Arena Racing Company]] held the lease for operating [[Thoroughbred]] racing fixtures there until December 2012.<ref name="RP060513">{{cite news |title=Arabian raceday draws decent Hereford crowd |author= |url= |newspaper=[[Racing Post]] |date=6 May 2013 |accessdate=6 May 2013}}</ref> National Hunt Racing resumed in October 2016.
'''Hereford Racecourse''' is a [[horse racing]] venue located in [[Hereford]], [[Herefordshire]], [[England]], owned by [[Herefordshire Council]] and operated by [[Arena Racing Company]].


The course is almost square in shape with a circuit of about a mile-and-a-half.<ref name=BRR-145 >''[[British Racing and Racecourses]]'' ({{ISBN|978-0950139722}}) by [[Marion Rose Halpenny]] - Page 145</ref> Opened in 1771<ref name= "BRR-145"/> the course was greatly modernised in the 1960s,<ref name= "BRR-145"/> with also in 1966 a photo-finish camera being installed.<ref name= "BRR-145"/>
The course is almost square in shape with a circuit of about a mile-and-a-half.<ref name=BRR-145 >''[[British Racing and Racecourses]]'' ({{ISBN|978-0950139722}}) by [[Marion Rose Halpenny]] - Page 145</ref> The first recorded race meeting was held in August 1771.<ref name=BBC161006>{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/37573642 |title=Hereford: Horse racing returns after four-year absence following closure |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=6 October 2016 |access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref> The course was greatly modernised in the 1960s,<ref name= "BRR-145"/> with also in 1966 a photo-finish camera being installed.<ref name= "BRR-145"/>


Having failed to obtain a new lease from the [[Herefordshire Council]], [[Arena Racing Company]] ceased operations there in December 2012.<ref>Telegraph Sport, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/9431790/Hereford-and-Folkestone-racecourses-forced-to-close-down.html "Hereford and Folkestone racecourses forced to close down"] ''The Telegraph'', 27/07/2012</ref> Hereford staged its final Thoroughbred race meeting on 16 December 2012,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-20742439 |title=Hereford Racecourse stages its final meeting |publisher=BBC News |date=16 December 2012}}</ref> but continued to be used for [[Arabian horse|Arabian]] racing.<ref name="RP060513"/> It was used by the North Herefordshire Hunt for a [[Point to point (steeplechase)|Point to point]] in May 2014 and was the venue for two point to points in 2015, and also in 2016 when point to points were staged by the North Ledbury in April and the North Herefordshire Hunt at the end of May.
Having failed to obtain a new lease from the [[Herefordshire Council]], [[Arena Racing Company]] ceased operations there in December 2012.<ref>Telegraph Sport, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/9431790/Hereford-and-Folkestone-racecourses-forced-to-close-down.html "Hereford and Folkestone racecourses forced to close down"] ''The Telegraph'', 27/07/2012</ref> with the final Thoroughbred race meeting being held on 16 December 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-20742439 |title=Hereford Racecourse stages its final meeting |publisher=BBC News |date=16 December 2012}}</ref> This ended over 240 years of racing at the course.<ref name=BBC161006/> It continued to be used for [[Arabian horse|Arabian]] racing.<ref name="RP060513">{{cite news |title=Arabian raceday draws decent Hereford crowd |newspaper=[[Racing Post]] |date=6 May 2013 }}</ref> It was also used by the North Herefordshire Hunt for a [[Point to point (steeplechase)|point to point]] in May 2014, two point to points in 2015, and also in 2016 when point to points were staged by the North Ledbury in April and the North Herefordshire Hunt at the end of May.


The course reopened for National Hunt racing on 6 October 2016, with 3 more fixtures in 2016 scheduled.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hereford racecourse: Owners ARC to reopen venue|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/35377729|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=21 January 2016}}</ref>
The course reopened for National Hunt racing on 6 October 2016, with 3 other fixtures also scheduled.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hereford racecourse: Owners ARC to reopen venue|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/35377729|website=BBC Sport|access-date=21 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=BBC161006/> The reopening fixture was attended by a crowd of 4,500, with Rather Be, trained by [[Nicky Henderson]] winning the first race, ridden by Andrew Tinkler.<ref name=BBC161006/>


In 2017 the course will stage 11 National Hunt Fixtures spread between January and March and October to December. The North Herefordshire Hunt and Ledbury Point to Points were due to be staged at the course in the spring 2017 but both were abandoned after an exceptionally dry spring led to unsafe hard ground.
In 2017 the course staged 11 National Hunt Fixtures spread between January and March and October to December. The North Herefordshire Hunt and Ledbury Point to Points were due to be staged at the course in the spring of 2017 but both were abandoned after an exceptionally dry spring led to unsafe hard ground. Two National Hunt meetings in the autumn of 2017 were transferred to [[Worcester Racecourse|Worcester]] after a dry late summer and autumn coupled with an inability to sufficiently water the course meant the ground was too hard to ensure safe racing ground.


In 2018 the track was allocated 11 days racing and picked up an extra day in April after several meetings around the country were cancelled due to the exceptionally wet and cold spring. The North Ledbury Point to Point was held in April. That was the only Point to Point held at the course following the decision of the North Herefordshire Hunt to switch venues after the cancellation of their 2017 meeting. The North Ledbury Hunt did use the course again in 2019 however no Point to Point Racing now takes place at the racecourse and both Hunts no longer hold a Point to Point meeting. {{citation needed|date=June 2021}}{{update inline|date=June 2021}}
2 National Hunt meetings in the autumn of 2017 were transferred to Worcester after a dry late summer and autumn coupled with an inability to sufficiently water the course meant the ground was too hard to ensure safe racing ground.


In August 2018 construction of a reservoir in the centre of the course commenced. This will enable the track to be watered without relying on a limited supply from a shared borehole. Use of the reservoir commenced in 2019.
In 2018 the track was allocated 11 days racing and picked up an extra day in April after several meetings around the country were cancelled due to the exceptionally wet and cold spring. The North Ledbury Point to Point was held in April. This is now the only Point to Point held at the course following the decision of the North Herefordshire Hunt to switch venues after the cancellation of their 2017 meeting.


Hereford's racing season runs from October to April. There are 15 fixtures in 2024.
In August 2018 construction of a reservoir in the centre of the course commenced. This will enable the track to be watered without relying on a limited supply from a shared borehole.


==Other Sporting Events==
==Other sporting events==
In 1978 the racecourse hosted the final of Motorcycle's [[European Grasstrack Championship]]
In 1978 the racecourse hosted the final of Motorcycle's [[European Grasstrack Championship]].{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} A [[Racecourse Ground, Hereford|cricket ground]] which has hosted [[first-class cricket]] lies within the racecourse.<ref>{{cite book|last=Powell|first=William|year=1989|title=The Wisden Guides To Cricket Grounds|publisher=[[Stanley Paul|Stanley Paul & Co. Ltd]]|location=London|pages=354–7|isbn=009173830X}}</ref>

There is a sports centre on the east side of the course accessed off the A49 and some of the outdoor sports facilities are in the centre of the track.

There is a golf course located in the centre of the track.


==References==
==References==
Line 38: Line 46:
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.hereford-racecourse.co.uk Hereford Racecourse (Official website)]
*[http://www.hereford-racecourse.co.uk Hereford Racecourse (Official website)]
*[http://www.gg.com/hereford Course guide on GG.COM]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051214004034/http://www.gg.com/hereford Course guide on GG.COM]
*[http://www.attheraces.com/course.asp?CID=11 Course guide on At The Races]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070202114040/http://www.attheraces.com/course.asp?cid=11 Course guide on At The Races]


{{Horse racing in Great Britain}}
{{Horse racing in Great Britain}}
Line 47: Line 55:
[[Category:Horse racing venues in England]]
[[Category:Horse racing venues in England]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1771]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1771]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hereford]]


{{Herefordshire-struct-stub}}
{{England-horseracing-venue-stub}}

Latest revision as of 09:39, 1 September 2024

Hereford
Hereford Racecourse logo
LocationHereford, Herefordshire, England
Coordinates52°04′23″N 2°43′44″W / 52.073°N 2.729°W / 52.073; -2.729
Owned byHerefordshire Council
Operated byArena Racing Company
Screened onSky Sports Racing
Course typeNational Hunt
Official website
Hereford Racecourse

Hereford Racecourse is a horse racing venue located in Hereford, Herefordshire, England, owned by Herefordshire Council and operated by Arena Racing Company.

The course is almost square in shape with a circuit of about a mile-and-a-half.[1] The first recorded race meeting was held in August 1771.[2] The course was greatly modernised in the 1960s,[1] with also in 1966 a photo-finish camera being installed.[1]

Having failed to obtain a new lease from the Herefordshire Council, Arena Racing Company ceased operations there in December 2012.[3] with the final Thoroughbred race meeting being held on 16 December 2012.[4] This ended over 240 years of racing at the course.[2] It continued to be used for Arabian racing.[5] It was also used by the North Herefordshire Hunt for a point to point in May 2014, two point to points in 2015, and also in 2016 when point to points were staged by the North Ledbury in April and the North Herefordshire Hunt at the end of May.

The course reopened for National Hunt racing on 6 October 2016, with 3 other fixtures also scheduled.[6][2] The reopening fixture was attended by a crowd of 4,500, with Rather Be, trained by Nicky Henderson winning the first race, ridden by Andrew Tinkler.[2]

In 2017 the course staged 11 National Hunt Fixtures spread between January and March and October to December. The North Herefordshire Hunt and Ledbury Point to Points were due to be staged at the course in the spring of 2017 but both were abandoned after an exceptionally dry spring led to unsafe hard ground. Two National Hunt meetings in the autumn of 2017 were transferred to Worcester after a dry late summer and autumn coupled with an inability to sufficiently water the course meant the ground was too hard to ensure safe racing ground.

In 2018 the track was allocated 11 days racing and picked up an extra day in April after several meetings around the country were cancelled due to the exceptionally wet and cold spring. The North Ledbury Point to Point was held in April. That was the only Point to Point held at the course following the decision of the North Herefordshire Hunt to switch venues after the cancellation of their 2017 meeting. The North Ledbury Hunt did use the course again in 2019 however no Point to Point Racing now takes place at the racecourse and both Hunts no longer hold a Point to Point meeting. [citation needed][needs update]

In August 2018 construction of a reservoir in the centre of the course commenced. This will enable the track to be watered without relying on a limited supply from a shared borehole. Use of the reservoir commenced in 2019.

Hereford's racing season runs from October to April. There are 15 fixtures in 2024.

Other sporting events

[edit]

In 1978 the racecourse hosted the final of Motorcycle's European Grasstrack Championship.[citation needed] A cricket ground which has hosted first-class cricket lies within the racecourse.[7]

There is a sports centre on the east side of the course accessed off the A49 and some of the outdoor sports facilities are in the centre of the track.

There is a golf course located in the centre of the track.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c British Racing and Racecourses (ISBN 978-0950139722) by Marion Rose Halpenny - Page 145
  2. ^ a b c d "Hereford: Horse racing returns after four-year absence following closure". BBC. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  3. ^ Telegraph Sport, "Hereford and Folkestone racecourses forced to close down" The Telegraph, 27/07/2012
  4. ^ "Hereford Racecourse stages its final meeting". BBC News. 16 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Arabian raceday draws decent Hereford crowd". Racing Post. 6 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Hereford racecourse: Owners ARC to reopen venue". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  7. ^ Powell, William (1989). The Wisden Guides To Cricket Grounds. London: Stanley Paul & Co. Ltd. pp. 354–7. ISBN 009173830X.
[edit]