BRIGHTON RACECOURSE
Transfering from Plumpton page, click now.
Skip to Enclosures and Hospitality.
Introduction:
Brighton racecourse offers the perfect location for seaside racing at its best. Only five minutes travel from the town centre, the course's vantage point on an initial ridge of the Sussex Downs, ensures on most race days, race-goers enjoy a panoramic vista of Brighton and then on outwards to the historic waterway of the English Channel.
Recorded in a 1683 copy of The Jockies Intelligencer, is a report of a race meeting at the Hangleton Course, which was to the west of Brighton, and this appears to be the first evidence of horse racing being staged in the Brighton area.
However, it was 1783 before the first official Brighton meeting was recorded in the Jockey Club Racing Calendar. It is known from this record, the first official races were staged on the current racecourse site of Whitehawk Hill, and newspaper records of the time suggest a sizeable crowd attended this first official race meeting.
In August 1784, the Brighton races attracted the presence of the then Prince of Wales, and for several years thereafter, the Prince and his entourage attended and sponsored races at the course.
This royal patronage attracted large crowds, which in turn attracted suppliers of beer, wines and snacks, and with large and boisterous crowds, the nobles and landed gentry attending the racing soon wanted a facility to obtain a better view of the racing. Consequently, a small grandstand was then added adjacent to the home straight of the race track.
In these early years, the course was longer than the modern layout. In fact, the original course was two miles in length, and had a loop at the far end. This meant the 4 mile race staged at that time involved running away from the finishing line in the wrong direction, then at the far end, taking the loop, before returning in the normal direction to the winning post - very similar to the way the long distance races are run at the modern Glorious Goodwood meeting.
Brighton suffered a major setback in its fortunes as a racetrack when the Prince of Wales had to become Prince Regent due to his father's illness. As a result, the races became infrequent, and when they did occur, they were poorly attended.
Even the introduction of hurdle races in the early eighteen thirties failed to improve matters, but happily for horseracing in Brighton, fortunes were reversed by the completion of the railway line from London to Brighton, as the railway company helped the local Grandstand Trust to finance the building of a new grandstand, and after this facility opened in 1851, the annual races on Whitehawk Hill were revived, and started to attract day visitors from London.
Hurdle racing ceased in 1889, but flat race meetings continued to develop, and with the growth of the seaside holiday market, they actually began to flourish. By the 1930's, the Brighton races were so successful, they attracted the racecourse gangs, depicted so well in Graham Greenes Brighton Rock.
However, the growth of the foreign package tour in the nineteen sixties led to a drop in seaside visitors, and this created a major decline in the fortunes of the racecourse. Happily, the 1990's take over by the current owners, Northern Racing, led to a three year capital investment programme, and this saw the rebuilding of the racecourse and its facilities. An accompanying marketing campaign then drew the crowds back to this picturesque modern course, and in recent years, the boom in the housing market in the Brighton area has led to a major boost in the number of race-goers now returning to the race meetings held at the Brighton course.
In 2011, Brighton will stage around 20 meetings, the highlight being the three day meeting in early August, which coincides with the Brighton Festival.
Track facts:
Brighton only stages flat race meetings.
In relation to the grandstands, the racetrack is a letter U lying on its side, with its curved end to the left of the grandstands. The course has a maximum race distance of 1 and a half miles. The track is raced left handed, and is markedly undulating throughout its length. Most unusually, for longer races, to allow horses safe passage, the public highway of Wilson Road has to be closed, and then turfed.
Brightons sharp nature suits horses that can sit close to the pace. In sprint races, a low draw is generally advantageous.
Return to top.
Enclosures and hospitality:
The listings below do not include the facilities available to Annual Members, Owners and Trainers, and Corporate Guests. These can be obtained by contacting the racecourse.
Good views of the racing action are available in most areas, particularly from the refurbished and fully covered grandstand.
Premier ticket.
The Grandstand in this section offers covered seating which overlooks the winning post, parade ring, and the winners enclosure.
the Silks restaurant offers premier badge holders fine dining. For the more popular meetings, advance booking is recommended.
The balcony bar offers excellent views of the home straight and winning post. While the facilities offered by the premier enclosure bar are always very popular.
Naturally, premier ticket holders can also enter the facilities in the Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure.
Grandstand and Paddock ticket.
Covered seating in the grandstand, plus access to the parade ring and winners enclosure, come as standard on this ticket.
The enclosure is served by the fully stocked Long Bar on the ground floor, plus there is a smaller bar on the first floor of the grandstand. These bar facilities are complimented by numerous snack food providers.
Return to top.
Disabled Facilities:
Disabled visitors are welcome. The racecourse ensures access to virtually all public areas, with lifts, and specialist toilet facilities available in the grandstand.
Fixtures:
Brighton only stages flat racing.
2011:
Tuesday 12 July
Return to top.
Transport Links:
By Road:
If heading into Brighton on the A23, the easiest route involves turning east onto the A27 Brighton bypass, follow the signs for Sussex University, then take the B2123 to Woodingdean. At the first set of traffic lights, turn right, and the racecourse is 1 mile ahead on your left hand side.
If coming via Brighton city centre, head for the sea front, and the Palace Pier. Drive eastbound along Marine Parade, turn right at the first set of traffic lights into Low Rock Gardens, then turn right at the second set of traffic lights into Edward Street. Take the first left into Freshfield Road, and the racecourse is at the top of the hill.
Car parking at the course is free of charge.
By Rail:
Brighton station is 1 hour from London, and regular services operate from, London Victoria, Kings Cross, and London Bridge stations. There are also regular Coastway rail services from, Eastbourne, Lewes, Hastings, Worthing, and Portsmouth.
By Bus:
Two hours before the first race, a shuttle bus service starts to operate between Brighton railway station and the racecourse. The bus parks about 200 yards South of the station, on Queens Road.
After racing, the shuttle bus operates return trips.
By Air:
Gatwick is the nearest London airport, around 22 miles away. However, light aircraft, and helicopters, can obtain permission to land at Shoreham Airport, just 6 miles from the racecourse. Shoreham Airport tel no: 01273 29 69 00.
In addition, helicopters can also obtain prior permission from the racecourse company, for race day landings on the course helipad.
Contact Details:
Address: Brighton Racecourse, Freshfield Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 9XZ.
Telephone Number: 01273 60 35 80
Fax Number: 01273 67 32 67
E-Mail:
Accommodation:
Hilton Brighton Metropole.
Tel No: 01273 77 5432.
If you are looking for the perfect overnight venue when visiting Brighton Races, or you are seeking the ideal base when combining a trip to the races with a longer break in the vibrant and modern surroundings of the new Brighton, then the Hilton Brighton Metropole should be your first thought!
Just 30 minutes drive from Gatwick Airport, and with easy access to London, Brighton railway station, and Brighton racecourse, you can enter the impressive elegance of the Hilton Brighton Metropole hotel, where guests can immerse themselves in relaxation, indulgence, spa delights and fine cuisine.
Steeped in history and rich in appearance, this magnificent red-brick Victorian hotel sits majestically on Brighton’s seafront and offers a city-break-by-the-sea that is full of style, comfort, warmth and personality.
From a straightforward double right up to a suite, all the guest rooms at the Hilton Brighton Metropole are designed to ensure you have a comfortable and relaxing stay, with access to all the modern room amenities you would expect in a superior hotel, and of course, there is 24 hour room service throughout the hotel.
If you are looking to sample fine european cuisine during your stay, then make a bee-line for the Windsor Restaurant. With its sea views, elegant décor and chandeliers, it offers you the perfect location to dine in style, while Choosing from delicious dishes put together using only the very best fresh, local Sussex produce.
If you would prefer an all-day lighter bite, or a traditional cream tea, in elegant surroundings, then the Lounge Bar is the area for you. While Bar 106 is the ideal place to enjoy a glass of wine, or a cocktail and light bite on our sea facing terrace.
Declutter the mind and rejuvenate the soul at the hotel’s Living Well Health Spa and swimming pool. Free for guests, you can dip in and out all day long using the spa pool, sauna, steam room and expansive swimming pool, with Spa extras to splash out on such as top-to-toe massages, marine algae wraps, hot stone treatments and Indian head massages.
To obtain the full picture on the Hilton Brighton Metropole, or to ensure you have the right accommodation to really enjoy your trip to Brighton Races, please use the link below:
return to top
