Racing Review

Kempton Park

Kempton Park racecourse in situated in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, UK. The track is surrounded by a park and woodland and there is easy access via Kemptom train station which was built especially for the course.

Kemptom Park has an inner and outer course and so can cater to both flat and national hunt racing. Three grade one races take place at the course too, the King George VI Chase, Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and the Christmas Hurdle. All races for four year old horses and over.

The King George VI Chase is held on Boxing Day each year (as are the other two grade one races) and run over a distance of three miles. The steeplechase was first held in 1937 and has a purse of £225,000. it’s one of the most prestigious Chases in the country and has been won by such legends of the sport as Desert Orchid, back to back in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and Kauto Star four years in a row from 2006 to 2009, and again in 2011.

The successes of both Desert Orchid and Kauto Star are celebrated as part of this very December meeting with the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase taking place on Decmber 26th and Desert Orchid Chase on 27th.

The Christmas Hurdle is also a much respected grade one race. So much so that it’s part of the Triple crown of Hurdling, which also consists of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Newcastle) and the Champion Hurdle (Cheltenham). The Sir Michael Stoute trained Kribensis is the only horse to have won all three races (in 1989-1990).

The Kempton Park racecourse came to be when a 19th century businessman came across Kempton Park and Manor for sale and thought it would be an ideal site for a race course. The course is however set to close in 2021 with the grade one races moved to Sandown Park, as part of an investment program and to meet regional housing needs.

Doncaster

The Doncaster racecourse is a racecourse in Donaster, South Yorkshire, UK. It’s home to two of the most treasured group one races in British racing, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy (now known as The Vertem Futurity Trophy). The course is 1 mile 7½ furlongs and both flat and jump racing take place here.

Doncaster has long been a hub for racing in the UK, with records as far back as the 16th century showing that horse racing took place there. The earliest race of note though has to be the Doncaster Cup which was first run in 1766 and continues to this day. Its long history saw it become part of the Stayers’ Triple Crown (in combination with the Goodwood Cup and Ascot Gold Cup), previously won by Kauto Star.

Colonel Anthony St. Leger founded the (you guessed it!) St Leger Stakes in 1776. It’s the oldest known classic horse race, and is run over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards in September of each year. The purse for the race, which is for three year olds, is close to £750,000 and winning it certainly marks out a horse as something special.

The Vertem Futurity Trophy (aka Racing Post Trophy) is the other group one race held at Doncaster racecourse – in late October each year. This race, for two year olds, takes place over a distance of one mile, and the inaugural run took place in 1961. Both Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery to this day share the best jockey record with five wins a piece. Henry Cecil is leading trainer with ten wins to his name. Three legends of the sport, still looming large.

Five winners of the Vertem Futurity Trophy, including Reference Point and Camelot, have gone on to win the Derby the following year. This surely speaks to the quality of those that take part.

Epsom Downs

The Epsom Downs racecourse is a flat racing venue situated in Epsom, Surrey and is home to the Derby meeting, which includes three of the most highly anticipated group one races in the racing calendar, the Oaks, the Epsom Derby and the Coronation Cup.

The Oaks – a race for fillies – and Derby are both races for three year olds and hold a special significance in UK racing due to the history of the events and prestige that comes with winning them. Both races are part of the five British Classics, which also consist of Newmarket’s 1000 and 2000 Guineas as well as the St Leger Stakes. No horse has won all five races.

The Derby (run over a distance of 1 1/2 miles) also forms part of the Triple Crown of racing which involve winning the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and St Leger Stakes. This is of course more doable than winning all five British Classics but still a rare feat, as attested to by the year it was last won, 1970 (by Nijinksy).

Let’s also not forget the Fillie’s Triple crown (1,000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes), itself only won nine times, last in 1985. The gist is the both the Oaks and Derby are at the heart of UK flat racing, with those at the top of their game striving to win. Just look at recent winners of the Oaks for instance, Minding in 2016 and Enable the following year.

With such huge races being hosted here, it’s no surprise that the racecourse has an equally large capacity – 130,000. The Queen and family are known to have attended the Derby meeting on many occasions due to its Royal connections. Racing has taken place at the course since the 1700’s.

Goodwood

Goodwood racecourse is located close to Chichester, West Sussex and is a home to the much loved Glorious Goodwood festival of racing which takes place in late July or August of each year. The festival highlights the best of UK flat racing and features three of the countries annual 36 group 1 flat races, the Sussex Stakes, Goodwood Cup and Nassau Stakes.

The Goodwood Cup was first held in 1812 and has a purse of £500,000. Stayers’ Triple Crown winner Double Trigger excelled at the event winning the Goodwood Cup in 1995, 1997 and 1998. The Sussex Stakes also has attracted the best of the best over the years, with Frankel winning back to back in 2011 and 2012. In 2018 the purse for the event was £1,000,000, with almost £600,000 of that going to the winner.

The Goodwood racecourse is rather complex compared to many more straightforward UK courses. It has a long uphill straight, then is downhill for much of the remainder. There is a looped area which features starts for many of the longer distance races, including the 1 mile 2 furlong Craven course and 2 mile 5 furlong Cup Course.

On occasion the course can get foggy, due to its proximity to the coast. The official Goodwood website highlights the courses ’19 fabulous days of racing and entertainment’. It’s hard to argue with that assessment of the Goodwood racing experience.