Sedgefield Racecourse: Difference between revisions
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Racing has been taking place at Sedgefield since at least 1732, but little is known of these early meetings. In 1804 Ralph Lambton, an ancestor of the [[Earls of Durham]], formed a club based at the Hardwicke Arms and Sedgefield became the headquarters of the Ralph Lambton Hunt. The Sedgefield course was part of the [[Sands Hall]] Estate, home of the Ord family. Racing may not have been staged every year and it was not until 1846 that officially recognised meetings were held. |
Racing has been taking place at Sedgefield since at least 1732, but little is known of these early meetings. In 1804 Ralph Lambton, an ancestor of the [[Earls of Durham]], formed a club based at the Hardwicke Arms and Sedgefield became the headquarters of the Ralph Lambton Hunt. The Sedgefield course was part of the [[Sands Hall]] Estate, home of the Ord family. Racing may not have been staged every year and it was not until 1846 that officially recognised meetings were held. |
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Until [[World War I]] the Sedgefield Hunt staged an annual two day fixture in March. When racing resumed the number of meetings soon increased to three. |
Until [[World War I]] the Sedgefield Hunt staged an annual two day fixture in March. When racing resumed the number of meetings soon increased to three. A new Racecourse Company was founded in 1927, and has seen the fixtures gradually increase to the current level. |
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Facilities improved slowly, and in the 1960s [[Clement Freud]] famously described the course as “all field and not much sedge”. When Frank Scotto was appointed as chairman in 1977 the course was rumoured to be on the verge of closure. He instigated a series of improvements, getting rid of primitive tin huts and building the new Sedgefield Pavilion in 1991 and additional corporate hospitality suites. After his death in 1996 the course’s future was uncertain until its purchase by Northern Racing was completed in 2001. Since then they have invested around £600,000 on the racecourse. Improvements have included a brand new stable yard, investment in bars and stands and upgrades to the drainage system. |
Facilities improved slowly, and in the 1960s [[Clement Freud]] famously described the course as “all field and not much sedge”. When Frank Scotto was appointed as chairman in 1977 the course was rumoured to be on the verge of closure. He instigated a series of improvements, getting rid of primitive tin huts and building the new Sedgefield Pavilion in 1991 and additional corporate hospitality suites. After his death in 1996 the course’s future was uncertain until its purchase by Northern Racing was completed in 2001. Since then they have invested around £600,000 on the racecourse. Improvements have included a brand new stable yard, investment in bars and stands and upgrades to the drainage system. |
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Revision as of 13:42, 23 June 2012
| Location | Sedgefield, County Durham |
|---|---|
| Owned by | Northern Racing plc |
| Screened on | At The Races |
| Course type | National Hunt |
| Official website | |
Introduction
Sedgefield racecourse is an English horse racing course located twenty minutes’ drive from the city of Durham, close to the village of Sedgefield, with easy access from the A19 and A1. Darlington and Durham are the nearest railway stations. The track is a roughly oval circuit of just over one and a quarter miles. It is a left-handed course, used for jump racing only. The finishing straight is about three furlongs in length, with a steep descent followed by a climb to the winning post after the last fence. There are 18 fixtures in the 2012 season. It is also used as a venue for numerous other indoor and outdoor events, such as weddings and conferences.
History
Racing has been taking place at Sedgefield since at least 1732, but little is known of these early meetings. In 1804 Ralph Lambton, an ancestor of the Earls of Durham, formed a club based at the Hardwicke Arms and Sedgefield became the headquarters of the Ralph Lambton Hunt. The Sedgefield course was part of the Sands Hall Estate, home of the Ord family. Racing may not have been staged every year and it was not until 1846 that officially recognised meetings were held.
Until World War I the Sedgefield Hunt staged an annual two day fixture in March. When racing resumed the number of meetings soon increased to three. A new Racecourse Company was founded in 1927, and has seen the fixtures gradually increase to the current level.
Facilities improved slowly, and in the 1960s Clement Freud famously described the course as “all field and not much sedge”. When Frank Scotto was appointed as chairman in 1977 the course was rumoured to be on the verge of closure. He instigated a series of improvements, getting rid of primitive tin huts and building the new Sedgefield Pavilion in 1991 and additional corporate hospitality suites. After his death in 1996 the course’s future was uncertain until its purchase by Northern Racing was completed in 2001. Since then they have invested around £600,000 on the racecourse. Improvements have included a brand new stable yard, investment in bars and stands and upgrades to the drainage system.
For many years the run from the last fence to the winning post was 525 yards, even longer than the run-in on the Grand National course. This was because the obstacle nearest the finishing line was a water jump, which cannot be the first or last fence in a race. In 1994 it was replaced by an ordinary plain fence, and it is now jumped on the final circuit, making a run-in of conventional length. It is known as the Johnny Ridley fence as a result of the brewer’s long sponsorship of it.
Notable Races
The Durham National is a steeplechase run at the April meeting over the extreme distance of three and three quarter miles. One of the most popular winners in recent years was Fatehalkhair, a cast-off from one of the major flat race stables, who went on to win twenty races. Thirteen of them were over jumps, and they were all at Sedgefield.
Local businessman and racehorse owner John Wade has sponsored a series of hurdle races throughout the season at Sedgefield for a number of years, culminating in a final on the same day as the Durham National.
Other Events
The course is also an established all-year-round venue for exhibitions, conferences, trade shows, circuses, firework displays, caravan rallies, car boot sales, wedding receptions and other private parties. It is described as “The Friendly Racecourse” for offering a more personal service.
References
Gill, James. 1975. Racecourses of Great Britain.
Sedgefield racecourse website.
The Sporting Life website.
Brian Ellison (racehorse trainer) website.
External links
54°38′46.92″N 1°27′58.87″W / 54.6463667°N 1.4663528°W
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