Sedgefield is an English racecourse located south of the city of Durham. Owned by the Northern Racing. This left-handed course is one of the most famous racing facilities in Britain and the world at large. However, the racecourse is only used for National Hunt. Despite the absence of a flat racing facility, it is still widely favored by trainers and racegoers alike.
With a packed sporting calendar from January to December, the universally recognized grounds attract a great deal media publicity from all over the world.
Sporting records show that racing events were taking place at Sedgefield as early as 1732. However, there is no certainty regarding when the first race meeting was held. Nonetheless, it is believed that track events may have taken place even before the officially documented time.
In 1804, notable ancestors of the earls of Durham formed a club at Sedgefield and a little later made it the headquarters of the Ralph Lambton Hunt. Some of the most significant members of this prominent caucus included Ralph Brandling and Robert Surtees. This visionary group combined noble ideas to spearhead the operations of the fledgling facility and over the years transformed it into the world-class sporting site we know today.
Before the First World War, Sedgefield Hunt staged a yearly fixture that took place in March. When uninterrupted racing activities resumed a couple of years after the global war, the number of fixtures increased from two to three. As the racecourse’s fame and glory multiplied over the years, one of the most noteworthy stakeholders, Clement Freud, famously remarked in 1960 that the course was “all field and not much sedge”.
In 1977, the racecourse appointed a new chairman, Frank Scotto. At the time of Scotto’s appointment, it was rumored that Sedgefield Racecourse was on the verge of collapse. Scotto instigated a series of transformative projects that birthed the current state-of-the-art facilities that are today seen at Sedgefield Racecourse.
Besides establishing itself as an inimitable racing site, Sedgefield, being one of the oldest racing facilities in England, is a leading destination for clients looking for top-class conferencing services. Due to a friendly reception given to visitors and guests at the grounds, Sedgefield receives an increasingly high number of clients and sporting sightseers throughout the year. Their hospitality department has competitive amenities and amiable, professional staff. No wonder Sedgefield Racecourse continues to receive thousands of rave reviews from sporting enthusiasts and corporate clients alike.
Notable races held at the exquisite facility include the Durham National which takes place every April. This occasion involves racing over a rather long distance of three and three-quarter miles. During these annual competitions, the racecourse registers an overwhelming number of racers and sporting tourists from all over the country. On some occasions, hundreds of enthusiasts go without a place to sit during the Durham National event.
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Contact details: Sedgefield Racecourse, Racecourse Road, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 2HW
Tel: 01740 621925
Email: info@sedgefield-racecourse.co.uk
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