Useful Details about Pontefract Racecourse

The Women In Racing And National Horseracing College (@The_NHC) Handicap goes the way of Magical Effect ✨

He makes all in the hands of @Gormless123 to win for the @RuthCarr1 yard 👏 pic.twitter.com/T66uHbYp8T

— PontefractRacecourse (@ponteraces) April 28, 2021

Pontefract Racecourse is a well-known horse sporting betting venue that is located in Pontefract in West Yorkshire – England. It is one of the renowned racing facilities in Yorkshire. The left-handed course undulates through a sharp bend into the well-designed home straight. 

Owing to its exquisite layout, Pontefract is widely liked by racegoers and trainers alike. Due to its unique design, horses drawn low on the inside of track usually have a slight advantage over those on the outside. Again, the course is quite testing since the three final furlongs are uphill. Nonetheless, the course is still a top favourite to hundreds of racegoers and trainers out there and popular for those who enjoy betting on the races. 

Originally, Pontefract racecourse measured one-and-a-half miles but it was elongated to a circuit of about two miles 1983. This new development further endeared the racecourse to both owners and events participants throughout Yorkshire and the country at large. The project that saw the conversion of the circuit in 1980 cost over five million pounds which were sourced from the racecourse’s own kitty.

Further, the refurbishment put Pontefract in the category of the longest continuous racing circuits in the whole of Europe. Due to its length, it was sanctioned to host one of the longest events in the European racing calendar. This occasion involves a distance of 2 miles 5 furlongs 133 yards. During this exclusive racing occasion, Pontefract attracts thousands of sporting fans and worldwide media publicity. 

Pontefract is one of the oldest racing venues in the whole of Europe. In particular, its grandstand is one of the most beautifully designed. In fact, very few racecourses in Britain existed at the time this time-old facility was founded in 1648. 

With the first racing occasion documented to have taken place in mid-1648, Pontefract has enjoyed well over three centuries of fairly uninterrupted racing success. With a history steeped in rich heritage and numerous firsts, the sporting site is one of the top destinations for horse riding sites from all over the world. About a century after the official inception, the site held regular riding competitions near the town before they were discontinued in 1769.

Shortly after this ban, the town folks restarted racing events in 1801. After this pompously celebrated re-opening, many track events were held in quick succession within the next few years. The prize money and funds for running the restarted racing grounds were contributed by wealthy nobles and the landed gentry. 

By 1827, fully organized sporting meetings were taking place. In September that year, many special events were staged at Pontefract. According to some of the popular and widely read publications of the time, these special racing occasions were fashionably’ attended by several hundreds of fans from the whole region. 

Since 1827, racing events have taken place at Pontefract despite little interruptions spaced by several decades. Particularly, there were no sporting activities held during the war years since the racing grounds were used for military purposes. Further, the racecourse is also widely liked for its hospitality facilities. Most notably, Pontefract dining and accommodation facilities are one of the very best in West Yorkshire.

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Contact details: Pontefract Park Race Co Ltd, Administration Offices, Pontefract Park, Park Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 4QD

Tel: 01977 781307

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