Horse racing in the United Kingdom is generally of three types, and is a major contributor to the UK economy. Horse racing can be over fences or over hurdles, known as National Hunt racing, or unobstructed distances races, known as flat racing. Horse racing in Ireland is run on an All Ireland basis, so the two racecourses in Northern Ireland are not part of the British racing industry. The United Kingdom, a leading trading power and financial centre, has the fourth largest economy in the world, the second largest in Europe, and is a member of the European Union. ... Horse-racing is an equestrian sporting activity which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example, as was the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. ... National Hunt racing is the name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland where the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences (except in the case of a bumper). The core of the National Hunt season is over the winter... Flat racing is a term commonly used in the United Kingdom to denote a form of horse-racing which is run over a predetermined distance and in which the horses are not required to jump over obstacles such as hurdles or fences as in National Hunt racing. ... As an attributive, All Ireland emphasises the entire island of Ireland, as opposed to either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. ... Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ...

Additionally there is another form of racing which is run on an altogether more informal and ad hoc basis, known as point to point racing. Point to point is a form of steeplechasing for amateur riders. It, like professional racing, is nevertheless run under the auspices of the regulator for horse-racing in Great Britain, the Jockey Club, which works in conjunction with the governing authority, the British Horseracing Board. Point to Point racing is a form of amateur racing for hunting horses. ... A steeplechase race The steeplechase is a form of horse racing (primarily conducted in the United Kingdom, United States, and Ireland) and derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many... The Jockey Club is responsible for the day-to-day regulation of United Kingdom horse-racing. ... The British Horseracing Board is the governing authority for horseracing in the United Kingdom. ...

The UK has produced some of the greatest jockeys, including Sir Gordon Richards, usually considered the greatest ever jockey. There are between four and five hundred professional jockeys based in the United Kingdom. [1] The racecourse is a classical meeting point for the people of Chester. ... Sir Gordon Richards (May 5, 1904 - November 10, 1988) was an English jockey, and is usually considered the worlds greatest ever jockey. ...

History

It is thought that the first races to take place in Britain were organised by soldiers of the Roman Empire in Yorkshire around 200 AD, although the first recorded race meeting was during the reign of Henry II at Smithfield, London in 1174 during a horse fair. This article is about a military rank. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire. ... Look up Yorkshire in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Events Jewish Eretz Yisraeli scholar Judah ha-Nasi compiles tracts of the Mishnah, beginning the creation of Talmudic law. ... Henry II of England (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189) ruled as Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, and as King of England (1154–1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland, eastern Ireland, and western France. ... Smithfield meat market from the south Smithfield is an area in the north-west part of the City of London (which is itself the historic core of a much larger London). ... Events Vietnam is given the official name of Annam by China. ... Roundabouts (or carousels) are traditional attractions, often seen at fairs. ...

It is believed that the first occurrence of a trophy being presented to the winner of a race was in 1512 by organisers of a fair in Chester and was a small wooden ball decorated with flowers. Some loving-cup trophies seen in the London Irish clubhouse at Sunbury in 2002. ... 1512 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the larger local government district, see City of Chester. ... A Phalaenopsis flower Rudbeckia fulgida A flower, (<Old French flo(u)r<Latin florem<flos), also known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also called angiosperms). ...

Early in the 16th century Henry VIII imported a large number of stallions and mares for breeding although it was not until the 17th and 18th centuries that the breeding of thoroughbreds began as we know it now. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 - 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland, from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... A stallion. ... 13 year old Peruvian Paso mare A broodmare and foal In English, a mare (an old Germanic word) is a female horse; the word is also an etymological root of marshal (originally marescalcus horse servant). Mares are considered easier to handle than males, which are called stallions or after castration... A breed is a domesticated subspecies or infrasubspecies of an animal. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Thoroughbred race horses The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known as a race horse. ...

Newmarket is known as the home of horse racing in England and James I was prominent in introducing racing there after discovering the little village in 1605 whilst out hawking or riding. He spent so much time there that the House of Commons petitioned him to concentrate more of his time on running the country. This region had a long association with horses going back to the time of Boudica and the Iceni. Around the time that Charles I of England came to the throne, Spring and Autumn race meetings were introduced to Newmarket and in 1634 the first Gold Cup event was held. Newmarket is a market town in the English county of Suffolk,approximately 65 miles (105 kilometres) north of London, which has grown and become famous because of its connection with race horses and Thoroughbred horse racing at Newmarket Racecourse. ... James Stuart (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scots as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James I. He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567, when he was only one year old. ... 1605 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Flying a Saker Falcon Falconry or hawking is an art or sport which involves the use of trained raptors (birds of prey) to hunt or pursue game for men. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Statue of Boudica near Westminster Pier, London, with her two daughters upon a chariot Boudica (also spelled Boudicca, formerly better known as Boadicea) (d. ... The Iceni or Eceni were a Brythonic tribe who inhabited an area of Britain corresponding roughly to the modern-day county of Norfolk between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The Cenimagni, who surrendered to Julius Caesar during his second expedition to Britain in 54 BC, may have... Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. ... The thrones for The Queen of Canada, and the Duke of Edinburgh in the Canadian Senate, Ottawa is usually occupied by the Governor General and her spouse at the annual State Opening of Parliament. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

All horse racing was then banned in 1654 by Oliver Cromwell, and many horses were requisitioned by the state. Despite this Cromwell himself kept a stud running of his own. Events April 5 - Signing of the Treaty of Westminster, ending the First Anglo-Dutch War. ... Oliver Cromwell (April 25, 1599–September 3, 1658) was an English military and political leader best known for making England a republic and leading the Commonwealth of England. ...

Jockey, Edwardian painting by the famous Irish artist William Orpen

With the restoration of Charles II racing flourished and he instituted the Newmarket Town Plate in 1664, writing the rules himself: Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... King Charles II, the first monarch to rule after the English Restoration. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... Events March 12 - New Jersey becomes a colony of England. ...

Articles ordered by His Majestie to be observed by all persons that put in horses to ride for the Plate, the new round heat at Newmarket set out on the first day of October, 1664, in the 16th year of our Sovreign Lord King Charles II, which Plate is to be rid for yearly, the second Thursday in October for ever.

In the early 18th century, Queen Anne kept a large string of horses and was instrumental in the founding of Royal Ascot where the opening race each year is still called the Queen Anne Stakes. This has now stopped since the Queen Anne Stakes was elevated to Group 1 status in 2004 and therefore the Coventry Stakes is the first race on the first day of Royal Ascot Anne Queen of Great Britain and Ireland Anne (6 February 1665&#8211;1 August 1714), became Queen of England and Scotland on 8 March 1702. ... Ascot Racecourse is a racecourse, located in the village of Ascot in the English county of Berkshire used for thoroughbred horse racing. ... The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 United Kingdom flat racing horse race for horses four years old and above run over a distance of 1 mile at Ascot Racecourse during June. ...

In 1740, Parliament introduced an act "to restrain and to prevent the excessive increase in horse racing", though this was largely ignored, but in the 1752 the Jockey Club was formed to create and apply the Rules of Racing. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... 1752 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Jockey Club is responsible for the day-to-day regulation of United Kingdom horse-racing. ...

Racing has stayed pretty much the same since with the Jockey Club combining with the National Hunt Committee in 1968 and remain to this day the regulators of racing in the United Kingdom, with the British Horseracing Board, (formed in June 1993) responsible for strategic planning, finance, politics, race planning, training and marketing. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... The British Horseracing Board is the governing authority for horseracing in the United Kingdom. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

Key data

Key data for 2005 (2004 in brackets) extracted from the British Horseracing Board's annual reports for 2004 and 2005:

• Fixtures: 1,300 (1,299)
• Races: 8,588 (8,757)
• Runners: 94,659 (92,761)
• Prize money: £99.3 million * of which flat £63.9 million and jump £35.4 million (£101.3 million of which flat £65.4 million and jump £35.9 million)
• Racegoers: 5,896,922 ** of which flat 3,704,567 and jump 2,192,435 (6,048,517 of which flat 3,873,508 and jump 2,175,009)
• Monthly average horses in training: 14,388 (13,914)
• Monthly average owners with horses in training: 9,403 (9,266) (includes joint owners)

British racing is going through a period of growth, but the Chief Executive of the BHB states in the 2005 annual report that in 2005, as in other recent years, "Success was achieved in an environment of great uncertainty." The sport is struggling to adapt to the loss of income from pre-race data following court ruling prohibiting the practice of charging for such in 2004 and 2005, to which the BHB attributes the fall in prize money in 2005. The data charges were themselves designed to replace income lost when a statutury levy was abolished. In 2004 attendances exceeded 6 million for the first time since the 1950s (2004 annual report). The decrease in 2005 is attributable to the closure of Ascot Racecourse for redevelopment for the entire year. With Ascot reopened the BHB estimates that 2006 attendances will exceed 6.5 million. Ascot Racecourse is a racecourse, located in the village of Ascot in the English county of Berkshire used for thoroughbred horse racing. ...

Racecourses

There are 59 established racecourses in Great Britain, plus one that is due to open in August 2007, with a further two in Northern Ireland (Down Royal and Downpatrick): Down Royal is a horse racing venue in the UK. Website Categories: | ... Downpatrick (Dún Phádraig in Irish, meaning Fort of Patrick) is a town in County Down in Northern Ireland with 10,316 inhabitants in the 2001 Census. ...

• Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside - (national hunt)
• Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire -(mixed)
• Ayr Racecourse in Ayrshire - (mixed)
• Bangor on Dee Racecourse in Wrexham - (national hunt)
• Bath Racecourse in Somerset - (flat)
• Beverley Racecourse in the East Riding of Yorkshire - (flat)
• Brighton Racecourse in East Sussex - (flat)
• Carlisle Racecourse in Cumbria - (mixed)
• Cartmel Racecourse in Cumbria - (national hunt)
• Catterick Bridge in North Yorkshire - (mixed)
• Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire - (national hunt)
• Chepstow Racecourse in Monmouthshire - (mixed)
• Chester Racecourse in Cheshire - (flat)
• Doncaster Racecourse in South Yorkshire - (mixed)
• Epsom Downs in Surrey - (flat)
• Exeter Racecourse in Devon - (national hunt)
• Fakenham Racecourse in Norfolk - (national hunt)
• Folkestone Racecourse in Kent - (mixed)
• Fontwell Park in West Sussex - (national hunt)
• Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex - (flat)
• Great Yarmouth Racecourse in Norfolk - (flat)
• Great Leighs Racecourse in Essex - (flat) (opens August 2007)
• Hamilton Park in South Lanarkshire - (flat)
• Haydock Park in Merseyside - (mixed)
• Hereford Racecourse in Herefordshire - (national hunt)
• Hexham Racecourse in Northumberland - (national hunt)
• Huntingdon Racecourse ini Cambridgeshire - (national hunt)
• Kelso Racecourse in the Scottish Borders - (national hunt)
• Kempton Park in Surrey - (mixed)
• Leicester Racecourse in Leicestershire - (mixed)
• Lingfield Racecourse in Surrey - (mixed)
• Ludlow Racecourse in Shropshire - (national hunt)
• Market Rasen Racecourse in Lincolnshire - (national hunt)
• Musselburgh Racecourse in East Lothian - (mixed)
• Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire - (mixed)
• Newcastle Racecourse in Tyne and Wear - (mixed)
• Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk - (flat)
• Newton Abbot Racecourse in Devon - (national hunt)
• Nottingham Racecourse in Nottinghamshire - (flat)
• Perth Racecourse in Perth and Kinross - (national hunt)
• Plumpton Racecourse in East Sussex - (national hunt)
• Pontefract Racecourse in West Yorkshire - (flat)
• Redcar Racecourse in North Yorkshire - (flat)
• Ripon Racecourse in North Yorkshire - (flat)
• Salisbury Racecourse in Wiltshire - (flat)
• Sandown Park in Surrey - (mixed)
• Sedgefield Racecourse in County Durham - (national hunt)
• Southwell Racecourse in Nottinghamshire - (mixed)
• Stratford on Avon Racecourse in Warwickshire - (national hunt)
• Taunton Racecourse in Somerset - (national hunt)
• Thirsk Racecourse in North Yorkshire - (flat)
• Towcester Racecourse in Northamptonshire - (national hunt)
• Uttoxeter Racecourse in Staffordshire - (national hunt)
• Warwick Racecourse in Warwickshire - (mixed)
• Wetherby Racecourse in West Yorkshire - (national hunt)
• Wincanton Racecourse in Somerset - (national hunt)
• Windsor Racecourse in Berkshire - (flat)
• Wolverhampton Racecourse in the West Midlands - (flat)
• Worcester Racecourse in Worcestershire - (national hunt)
• York Racecourse in Yorkshire - (flat)

Aintree Racecourse is a British horse racing venue in Aintree, Liverpool, on Merseyside. ... Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. ... Ascot Racecourse is a racecourse, located in the village of Ascot in the English county of Berkshire used for thoroughbred horse racing. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Ayr Racecourse is a racecourse in Ayr, Scotland. ... Ayrshire (Siorrachd Inbhir Àir in Scottish Gaelic) is a region of south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. ... Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Bangor-on-Dee, Wales. ... Wrexham (Welsh: Wrecsam) is an industrial town and sizeable urban area in north-east Wales, close to the English border with Cheshire. ... Bath Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Bath, Somerset. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... Beverley Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Beverley, East Yorkshire. ... The East Riding of Yorkshire is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. ... Brighton Racecourse is a horse racing course at Brighton, East Sussex in England, for flat races of about one and a half miles. ... East Sussex is a county in South East England. ... Carlisle Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Carlisle, Cumbria. ... Cumbria (IPA: ), is a shire county in the extreme North West of England. ... A small racecourse in the English Lake District. ... Cumbria (IPA: ), is a shire county in the extreme North West of England. ... Catterick Bridge is a hamlet about 1 mile north of Catterick Village in North Yorkshire, England. ... North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county, located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in that region and also partly in North East England. ... Cheltenham Racecourse is located in Cheltenham, England. ... Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... Chepstow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located just outside the town of Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales, near the southern end of the Wye Valley which forms the border with England. ... Monmouthshire (Welsh: ) is both a historic county and principal area in south-east Wales. ... Chester Racecourse, is according to official records the oldest racecourse still in use in England. ... The Cheshire Plain - photo taken adjacent to Beeston Castle The Cheshire Plain - photo taken towards Merseyside The Cheshire Plain panorama - photo taken from Mid-Cheshire Ridge Cattle farming in the county Black-and-white timbered buildings on Nantwich High Street Cheshire (or, archaically, the County of Chester)[1] is a... Doncaster Racecourse (also known as the Town Moor course) is a racecourse in Doncaster, England. ... South Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber Government Office Region of England, in the United Kingdom. ... Epsom Downs is a grade-one racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, United Kingdom. ... Not to be confused with Surry. ... Exeter Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in the town of Exeter, Devon. ... “Devonshire” redirects here. ... Fakenham Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Fakenham, Norfolk. ... Norfolk (IPA: //) is a low-lying county in East Anglia in the east of southern England. ... Folkestone Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Folkestone, Kent. ... coat of Arms of Kent For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... Fontwell Park Racecourse is a horse racing course located in the village of Fontwell in West Sussex, England. ... West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex (with Brighton and Hove), Hampshire and Surrey. ... Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond. ... West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex (with Brighton and Hove), Hampshire and Surrey. ... Great Yarmouth Racecourse, also known simply as Yarmouth Racecourse, is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. ... Norfolk (IPA: //) is a low-lying county in East Anglia in the east of southern England. ... Great Leighs Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located near Chelmsford, Essex. ... Essex is a county in the East of England. ... Hamilton Park Racecourse is a horseracing venue in Scotland to the south of Glasgow. ... South Lanarkshire (Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, covering the southern part of the traditional county of Lanarkshire. ... Haydock Park Racecourse is a racecourse in Haydock, Merseyside, England. ... Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. ... Hereford Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Hereford, Herefordshire. ... Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county and unitary district (known as County of Herefordshire) in the West Midlands region of England. ... Hexham Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Hexham, Northumberland. ... Northumberland is a county in the North East of England. ... Huntingdon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. ... Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs) is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west. ... Kelso Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Kelso, Scotland. ... Scottish Borders (often referred to locally as The Borders or The Borderland) is one of 35 local government unitary council areas of Scotland. ... Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-On-Thames, UK; the site is set in 210 acres of land. ... Not to be confused with Surry. ... Leicester Racecourse is a horse-racing course in Oadby, Leicestershire. ... Leicestershire ( IPA: (RP), IPA: (locally)), abbreviation Leics. ... Lingfield Park (sometimes simply referred to as Lingfield) is a horse racing course near Lingfield in Surrey, United Kingdom. ... Not to be confused with Surry. ... Ludlow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Ludlow, Shropshire. ... Shropshire (alternatively Salop or abbreviated Shrops) is an English county in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom. ... Market Rasen Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse in the town of Market Rasen, in Lincolnshire, England. ... Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the east of England. ... Musselburgh Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Musselburgh, East Lothian in Scotland. ... East Lothian (Lodainn an Ear in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. ... Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in Newbury, Berkshire, England. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Newcastle Racecourse is a horse racing course located at Gosforth Park near Newcastle, England. ... Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in the North East of England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. ... Newmarket Racecourse is located in Newmarket, England. ... Suffolk (pronounced ) is a large historic and modern non-metropolitan county in East Anglia, England. ... A panorama of Newton Abbot Racecourse, showing its proximity to the River Teign. ... “Devonshire” redirects here. ... Nottingham Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. ... Nottinghamshire (abbreviated Notts) is an English county in the East Midlands, which borders South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. ... Perth Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Perth, Scotland. ... Perth and Kinross (Peairt agus Ceann Rois in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. ... Plumpton Racecourse is a National Hunt (jumping) horse racing course at the village of Plumpton, East Sussex near Lewes and Brighton. ... East Sussex is a county in South East England. ... Pontefract Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. ... West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. ... Redcar Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Redcar, North Yorkshire. ... North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county, located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in that region and also partly in North East England. ... Ripon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Ripon, North Yorkshire. ... North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county, located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in that region and also partly in North East England. ... Salisbury Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Salisbury, Wiltshire. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Sandown Park is a racecourse and leisure venue in Surrey, England, in the outer suburbs of London. ... Not to be confused with Surry. ... Sedgefield Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Stockton-on-Tees. ... County Durham is a county in north-east England. ... Southwell Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. ... Nottinghamshire (abbreviated Notts) is an English county in the East Midlands, which borders South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. ... Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse, also known as simply Stratford Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire. ... A detailed map Stratford-upon-Avon Kenilworth Castle Warwickshire (pronounced //, //, or //) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... Taunton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Orchard Portman, just outside Taunton, Somerset, England. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... Thirsk Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. ... North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county, located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in that region and also partly in North East England. ... Towcester Race Course is a horse racing course at Towcester (pronounced Toaster) in Northamptonshire, England. ... Northamptonshire (abbreviated Northants or Nhants) is a landlocked county in central England with a population of 629,676 (2001 census). ... Uttoxeter Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse in the town of Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire, England. ... Staffordshire (abbreviated Staffs) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. ... Warwick Racecourse is a horse racing course in Warwick, England. ... A detailed map Stratford-upon-Avon Kenilworth Castle Warwickshire (pronounced //, //, or //) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... Wetherby racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse situated near Wetherby in Yorkshire, England. ... West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. ... Wincanton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wincanton, Somerset. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ... Windsor Racecourse, also known as Royal Windsor Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Windsor, Berkshire. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Wolverhampton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands. ... The County of West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a population of around 2,600,000 people. ... Worcester Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Worcester, Worcestershire. ... Worcestershire (pronounced ; abbreviated Worcs) is a county located in the West Midlands region of central England. ... A view of the Ebor stand at York Racecourse York Racecourse is one of the premier horse racing tracks in Europe having won the Racecourse of the Year title in 2003 and come out on top in The Times newspaper survey of all Britain’s racecourses. ... Look up Yorkshire in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Betting

Wagering money on horse races is as old as the sport itself, but in the United Kingdom the links between horseracing and nationwide wagering are very strong. "Betting shops" are common sights in most towns, tending to be sited wherever a significant number of people with disposable cash can be expected. At one point in the 1970's it was said that the ideal location was "close to a pub, the Labour Exchange and the Post Office", the first being a source of customers in a good mood, the other two being sources of ready cash in the form of "The Dole" and state pension money, which was dispensed through Post Offices at the time. Unemployment benefits are sums of money given to the unemployed by the government or a compulsory para-governmental insurance system. ...

Betting is taxed under the authority of various acts of Parliament, the revenue being collected by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, an "non-departmental public body" sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. According to the Board website^[1], 90% of the tax raised by the levy is used for the improvement of horseracing, the rest presumably being absorbed by the Board's expenses. For the latest year reported, the levy resulted in £103.5 million being collected.

Member of Parliament Clement Freud, who himself has owned racehorses, alleged in an article published in the 1970's, before his election to Parliament, that horseracing was organized purely to generate taxes. He cited the large number of otherwise non-viable racecourses kept open (to ensure sufficient races being run) even as the financial rewards to the owners and trainers declined to the point where most could barely cover their expenses. Sir Clement Freud Sir Clement Raphael Freud (born April 24, 1924) is a British writer, broadcaster, and politician. ...

On 6 October 2001 the Blair government abolished the tax on betting, which had been 9% of the stake.

Meetings

The main meetings held are:

• March
  • Cheltenham - The Festival
    
  • Lingfield Park - Bet Direct Winter Derby

• April
  • Aintree - Aintree Grand National Meeting
  • Ayr - Scottish Grand National
  • Newmarket - Craven Meeting
  • Sandown Park - Betfred Gold Cup Celebration

• May
  • Newmarket - Guineas Meeting
  • Chester - May Meeting
  • York - Dante Meeting
• June
  • Epsom Downs - Epsom Derby Meeting
  • Ascot - Royal Ascot
  • Newcastle - John Smith's Northumberland Plate

• July
  • Sandown Park - Coral-Eclipse Meeting
  • Newmarket - July Meeting
  • Ascot - Diamond Day
  • Goodwood - Glorious Goodwood

• August
  • York - Ebor Festival

• September
  • Haydock Park - William Hill Sprint Cup
  • Doncaster - St. Leger Meeting
  • Ayr - Western Meeting
  • Ascot - Ascot Festival

• October
  • Newmarket - Totesport Cambridgeshire Meeting
  • Newmarket - October Meeting
  • Doncaster - Racing Post Trophy
  • Wincanton - Desert Orchid Chase

• November
  • Cheltenham - The Paddy Power Open
  • Haydock & Aintree - North West Masters
  • Newbury - Hennessy Meeting

• December
  • Sandown Park - Tingle Creek Meeting
  • Kempton Park - Stan James Christmas Festival
  • Chepstow - Coral Welsh National

The Grand National is the premier horse race over fences in the United Kingdom. ... The Scottish Grand National is a Grade 3 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses run over a distance of 4 miles 1 furlong (6,639 metres) at Ayr Racecourse in April. ... The Two Thousand Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 1 mile (1600 meters) thoroughbred flat racing horse race for 3-year-olds colts and fillies run in May of each year over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket, Suffolk, England. ... Epsom Derby, Théodore Géricault, 1821. ... Ascot Racecourse is a racecourse, located in the village of Ascot in the English county of Berkshire used for thoroughbred horse racing. ... Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond. ... The St. ...

References

1. ^ Website of the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

External links

Organisations

• British Horseracing Board
• The Jockey Club
• The Racecourse Association
• The Racehorse Owners Association
• The Jockeys Association of Great Britain
• The Amateur Jockeys Association of Great Britain
• National Trainers Federation
• Thoroughbred Breeders' Association

Media

• BBC horseracing coverage
• The Racing Post
• Sporting Life
• Stats for UK Racing Industry
• Racing Research Ratings
• Racing Ahead magazine
• GG.com
• racingfixtures.co.uk
• uk-racing-results.com

There is a fuller selection of relevant links here