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Important British Race Courses Location and Description of Fortyeight Leading Tracks of England and Scotland There are probably close to one hundred race courses in Great Britain Nearly every one of the large cities are supplied with racing sport by one or more tracks London Manchester Liverpool and Birming ¬ ham have several None is as simple of formation or as simple to the eye as the average American mile course There are at racing centers such as Newmarket Epsom Doncaster and Ascot several differ ¬ ent courses coursesAt At Newmarket several stands are used from which to view the racing The changes at Newmarket are extremely perplexing to the American visitor who rarely gets used to them Second in importance to the four great centers are the Liverpool and Manchester tracks and the suburban London courses at Sunbury Kempton Park Esher Sandown Park and Gatwick Americans especially choose Kempton Park Sandown and Hurst Park as fitting into their ideas of modern racing Nearly groundThe all the twoyearold racing is over straight or almost straight racing ground The Newmarket courses were described in a recent number of Daily Racing Form So were those of the Curragli establishment at Kildnre Ireland the most important racing establishment in the British Isles outside of England EnglandNext Next in importance to the London and Lancashire courses in England arc the tracks at Birmingham i Goodwood Linglield Lincoln Nottingham Newbury Salisbury and York YorkGoodwood Goodwood is the exclusive course of England It is on the Duke of Richmonds great estate near i Chichester in Sussex and great crowds are rather discouraged at its summer meetngof great importance The coiirse is hard to get to in the popular way and accommodations for the everyday racing crowds are not available availableBelow Below is given a list and description of the principal courses in England and Scotland with their location and distances from London and otlrcr big cities the people of which they entertain entertainAlexander Alexander Park Wood Green London Fenced righthand pearshaped course of about one mile and onequarter Five furlongs starts on a dip and rises to finish with a straight run of half a mile to the winning post postAscot Ascot Surrey 25 miles from London Righthand circular course of one mile and threequarters and 148 yards The first half is slightly descending he last half old mile is uphill the greater part of the way The Hunt Cup course is seven furlongs 1CU yards straight and uphill all the way The twoyear old course is part of the Hunt Cup course courseAyr mileand Ayr West Scotland about 50 mflcs southwest of Glasgow Lefthand oval flat course of one mile and hundredfeetwideslightlViiundulaitiiigimostjothe five furlongs The last threequarters is straight one hundredfeetwideslightlViiundulaitiiigimostjo the waj Avlfiivn gradual rise to the winningpost v v Bath Wiltshire 100 miles west of London close to and southeast of Bristol Lefthand oval course of courseof one straightBeverly mile and a half and 225 yards The fivefurlong course is nearly straight Beverly Yorkshire 227 miles north of London and a few miles north of Hull Righthand egg shaped course of one mile three furlongs 117 yards The finishing half mile is nearly straight straightBirmingham Birmingham Warwickshire 110 miles northwest of London Fenced righthand course with per ¬ fectly straight mile slightly undulating The Round course is two and onehalf miles The New Round course has been made about one and onehalf miles with a straight finishing run of half a mile Brighton mileBrighton Sussex on the English Channel 52 miles south of London Lefthand course shaped like three sides of a square with easy turns and one mile seven furlongs and 144 yards long The first quarter mile is level with a dip at the end the west half ascends and from the mile post there is a descent to onethird postCarlisle of a mile from the finish then a sharp ascent up to the winning post Carlisle Cumberland 300 miles northwest of London in extreme northwest of England Righthand pearshaped course of one and threequarters miles and 42 yards The first half mile descends then there is an ascent to the mile post The last threequarters of a mile is nearly straight the last half mile levelCatterick rising to the distance 240 yards from which point it is level Catterick Bridge Yorkshire 240 miles north of London Fenced lefthand oval course of one mile and 127 yards almost flat From the Catterick Turn in is a little short of half a mile The twoyear old course is five furlongs straight straightCheltenham Cheltenham Steeplechase Club Gloucestershire 95 miles west of London The fourmile National Hunt course starts from the Evesham Road at a spot where there is ample room for a big field There is a slight decline to the first fence which is 105 feet wide The whole of the course is on turf the fences being marked with blue flags The Steeplechase and Hurdle Race courses are parallel with one another the running being lefthand inside There are ten fences in the circuit which is about one and threequarters undulatingChester miles the course being undulating Chester Cheshire 181 miles northwest of London and 30 miles south of Liverpool Fenced lefthand flat circular course of one mile 125 yards The Cup course is about two and onequarter miles Dee Stakes and Chester Vase courses one and onehalf miles The Mile course is one mile and 120 yards Croxton yardsCroxton Park Lincolnshire and near1 Lincoln and Hull 1C5 miles north of London Righthand pearshaped course of one mile and seven furlongs the last five furlongs flat and perfectly straight for the last GOO yards The Granby course is one and onequarter miles The twoyearold course of five furlongs is flat and nearly straight There are slight rises from the threequarter mile and one mile starting posts Derby J4iDerby Derbyshire 126 miles northwest of London near Nottingham Burton and Stafford Fenced nt J4i righthand oval course of one and onequarter miles perfectly flat with easy turns The New course is one mile and 30 yards straight The threequarter mile and seven furlong courses start with ascents The fivefurlong course starts with a fall fallDoncaster Doncaster Yorkshire 1G3 miles north of London Lefthand completely new course of one mile is straight and 190 feet wide On it all races up to a mile are run The new Round course is one mile seven and twofifths furlongs and all races over one mile run on it The new St Leger course is i art of the Round course and is one mile six furlongs and 132 yards Edinburgh yardsEdinburgh Musselburgh Scotland 395 miles north of London Righthand oval course of one and onequarter miles 55 yards flat with a nearly straight run for the last half mile rising slightly for the last straightEglinton 240 yards The twoyearrold course is five furlongs 33 feet straight Eglinton Irvine West Scotland G5 miles southwest of Glasgow on the Firth of Clyde and near Ayr and Kilmarnock Righthand oval course of one and seveneighths miles It is almost flat with the exception of a mildly ascending hill half a mile from the winning post The last threequarter mile is straight v ji lt Epsom Surrey 15 miles south of London The Old course now seldom used is an irregular circular track of two miles with its first mile uphill The old Derby course is about one and onehalf miles long shoeshaped the first threequarters nearly straight and very wide the bend being but trifling The next quarter mile is in a gradual turn and the last half mile straight The first half mile has a gradual ascent the second half mile is level and tire last half mile descends to within 240 yards of the finish when it rises again For the present Derby course the horses start at the new High Level post and race into the old Derby course at the mile The first new half mile ascends slightly The actual Derby distance is one mile four furlougs 29 yards The New Mile is nearly straight The twoyearold course Is the last threequarters of a mile of the New Mile The Eginout course is a straight five furlongs of the New Mile MileFolkstone Folkstone Kent 70 miles southeast of London on the English Channel A righthand course of one and threeeighths miles The last mile is undulating and straight Gatwiqk straightGatwiqk Surrey 15 miles south of London Fenced righthand course The mile course is per ¬ fectly straight and almost level After going to the winning post it bends round a slight incline and forms a long oval of one and seveneighths miles joining the straight course at five furlongs There is also a kiteshaped course of one and onehalf miles starting and finishing in front of the stands Goodwood standsGoodwood Sussex near Chichester GO miles southwest of London Righthand course of about two and fiveeighths miles known as the Cup and Upper courses The Craven course is one and one quarter miles starting on the Cup course and coming into the straight on the upper turn The Old Mile races start in the Upper course and into the main track on the lower turn The New Mile is jthe last mile of the Craven course Races at one and onehalf miles one and threequarters miles and two miles are run upon the Cup course The twoyearold course is threequarters of a mile straight Haydock straightHaydock Park Newton Lancashire 200 miles northwest of London and between Liverpool and Man Chester Fenced lefthand oval course of one and fiveeighths miles nearly flat rising slightly and with easy bends The last threequarters of a mile is straight straightHooton Hooton Lancasjiire 200 miles northwest of London and near Liverpool Fenced oval lefthand course one mile flve furlongs and 02 yards in length measured ten feet from the rail It is sixty feet wide and has a slight rise on the run into the finishing point pointHarpenden Hertfordshire 30 miles north of London Harpenden Leftbaud twomile course thirty yards wide and nearly level There is a new course with easy turns for races of one mile and upward The two yearold course is five furlongs nearly straight straightHurst Hurst Park Surrey at Hampton Court a suburb of London and built on Molesey Hurst Fenced righthand oval course of one and threeeighths miles The straight finishing course is over slightly un ¬ dulating ground ninety feet wide and only a few yards short of a mile mileKempton Kempton Park Surrey at Sunbury about 12 miles southeast of London Fenced righthand course of irregular shape but one of the best in England The Mile or old Jubilee Stakes course nearly flat is 100 yards wide for the first three furlongs The remaining five furlongs are thirty yards wide at their narrowest point The New course is one and onequarter miles in circumference having an ex ¬ tension of a straight quarter of a mile from the Old course starting point The Inner or Round course is abolit one and threequarters miles in circumference The twoyearold course is five furlongs 110 yards straight of the Jubilee course There is also a perfectly straight sixfurlongs racing stretch Continued on third pageJ IMPORTANT BRITISH RACE COURSES Continued from first page Lanark Lanarkshire Scotland 34 miles southwest of Edinburgh Fenced righthand nearly circular course of one mile 145 yards perfectly level with a straight finishing stretch of two and onehalf fur ¬ longs The fivefurlong twoyearold course is straight straightLeicester Leicester Leicestershire 98 miles northwest of London about 30 miles south of Nottingham and the same distance northeast of Birmingham Fenced righthand oval course of two miles The mile course is perfectly straight is downhill for the first three ftrlbngs rises for the next three with a level last quarter of a mile The twoyearold course is the last five furlongs of the mile mileLewes Lewes Sussex 48 miles south of London and about four miles dne north of Brighton Righthand narrow horseshoeshaped course of two miles the first part with a strong rise then level for some threequarters of a mile to the twoyearold course which is five furlongs long starting with a slight ascent for a considerable distance then level for 200 yards again an incline to approach the stand then finishing on the level levelLeicester Leicester Leicestershire 98 miles northwest of London Fenced righthand oval course of about two miles The mile course is perfectly straight falling for three furlongs rising for the next three furlongs with a level last quarter quarterLincoln Lincoln Lincolnshire 135 miles north of London Lefthand circular course of one mile six1 furlongs six yards The top side farthest from the stand has a sharp hill for about a quarter of a mile After passing the mile post there is a slight descent for a quarter of a mile the remaining distance being level with a straight finish of nearly half a mile The New course is one of about a mile perfectly straight straightLingfield Lingfield Kent 30 miles south of London Fenced lefthand straight course of a mile on a slightly falling gradient from start to finish The Round course intersects the straight one at the halfmile post and about a quarter of a mile from the winning post forming a loop to the straight mile This loop is quite Hat for nearly half its distance then rises with easy gradients to the summit of a slight hill Tliis course is used for all races at distances of more than a mile Its turns are easy easyLiverpool Liverpool Aintree Lancashire 202 miles northwest of London Fenced lefthand oval course of one mile three finlongs 100 yards The far side is gently declining the other rising from the Canal t the finish The Cup course is one mile three furlongs The Anchor Bridge course is threequarters of a mile There is a straight finishing run of about 1000 yards yardsManchester Manchester Salford Lancashire 180 miles northwest of London Fenced righthand course of one and threequarters miles The Cup course is one and a half miles with an easy bend of onequarter of a mile The fivefurlong and threequarter mile courses are straight with a gentle rise in the last half mile Newbury Berkshire 50 miles west of London Fenced lefthand course The mile is straight with a rise of eight feet from the start to the winning post The Round course is about two miles in cir ¬ cumference and all races run on this course from the straight mile about five furlongs from the finish finishNewcastle Newcastle on Tyne High Gosforth Park Northumberland 275 miles north of London Fenced left hand course of one mile straight of great width with a slight rise from start to finish Races over a mile are run round a loop of one and threequarters miles of which the turns are extremely easy Short courses are parts of the straight mile mileNottingham Nottingham Nottinghamshire 124 miles northwest of London Fenced lefthand oval course of onor and onehalf miles and 27 yards with easy turns Straight mile course of one mile 100 yards The oval main course joins the straight course half a mile from the finish About three furlongs from the winning post there is a slight ascent for about 200 yards then a gradual descent for 200 yards more The re ¬ maining part of the straight mile is level levelPontefract Pontefract Yorkshire near Leeds 183 miles northwest of London Lefthand oval course of two miles 112 yards with easy turns The last half mile slightly ascends ascendsRedcar Redcar Yorkshire 240 miles north of London Fenced lefthand oval course perfectly lint of about two miles with a straight stretch of five furlongs There is also a perfectly straight mile track which conies into the main course from a threefurlong chute chuteRipon Ripon Yorkshire 215 miles northwest of London Fenced righthand oval course of one and three quarters miles of which the last six furlongs is straight The course is of great width widthSalisbury Salisbury AViltshire 81 miles west of London Lefthand course of two miles The one and one half mile course is a portion of this The mile course is straight and Hat with the exception of a rise for the first fifty yards The shorter races are run on the straight mile mileSandown Sandown Park Esher Surrey about 13 miles southwest of London and near Epsom Fenced right hand oval course of one mile five furlongs 33 yards The stretch is straight and more than half a mile in length The Eclipse Stakes course is one and onequarter miles of the main track The twoyearold course is five furlongs and perfectly straight with a chute of over a furlong to the straight finish finishStockton Stockton Durham 235 miles north of London Lefthand level oblongshaped course of one and threequarters miles The two turns an sweeping and easy The track is on peaty turf well drained The twoyearold course is nearly straight the last half mile being perfectly straight straightAVolverhampton AVolverhampton Dunstall Park Staffordshire 123 miles northwest of London and near Birmingham Fenced lefthand course perfectly flat pearshaped and about one mile and five furlongs in circumfer ¬ ence witli straight five and sixfurlong courses coursesThirsk Thirsk Yorkshire 217 miles north of London Fenced lefthand oval course of one mile two fur ¬ longs and 97 yards The turns are easy and the going unusually level The straight sixfurlong course joins the oval course at the last turn and has a width of sixty yards at the starting ground The two yearold course is part of the straight and is on fine old grass land which affords good going in all kinds of weather weatherAVarwick AVarwick AVarwickshire 15 miles northwest of Lnndoii and about 15 miles south of Birmingham Lefthand course nearly circular of one mile six furlongs and 00 yards The mile course i perfectly straight for the first four and a half furlongs and the straight run in is about three and onehalf furlongs The New course of six furlongs is forty yards wide and straight for about three furlongs where there is a slight lefthand bend The remainder is straight The twoyearold course is five fur ¬ longs of the New course courseYarmouth Yarmouth Norfolk 125 miles northeast of London Lefthnnd course The Mile course h almost straight The shorter or twoyearold races are run on the Mile course For the longer races the start is opposite the stands run the reverse righthand way of the Mile course for a half mile then diverge to the left into a pearshaped loop and reenter the Mile course about six furlongs from the finish finishYork York Yorkshire 19f miles mirt Invest if London Lefthand fiat course wHh straight six furlong The Great Yorkshire Jind Kbor Handicaps nrt run OVIT a one and threequarters inllts course partly over the old course and a new loop with the last live furlongs over the straight finish finishAVimlsor AVimlsor Berkshire 21 miles west of London Fencid righthand Ihit course of two miles with a finishing straight run of six furlongs from a loop the whole being almost of the shape of a plain figure AVorcester AVorcestershire 110 miles northwest of London Lefthand oval dead fiat course of one and oiichulf miles The last six lurlougs Is almost straight This supplies the twoyearold courses
