CATTERICK BRIDGE RACECOURSE
Skip to Enclosures and Hospitality.
Introduction:
The Catterick area may have witnessed horse racing in its many forms for nearly two thousand years, for during the Romano British era, there was a small roman garrison at Cataratonium, and the remaining archaeology of this site is located close to the current Catterick racecourse, and from surviving archive evidence of the time, there are records suggesting these Romans may well have staged horse races in the Catterick area of north Yorkshire.
In our modern era, written records indicate the first Catterick Bridge horse races took place in 1783. The increasing popularity of horse racing during the early nineteenth century helped to develop regular Catterick fixtures as early as 1813, and the number of racecourses like Catterick which are situated in Yorkshire would suggest the people of the county have maintained their interest and love of the sport right up to the modern day.
Catterick is now a very active course staging around twenty eight meetings each calendar year. Eighteen flat race meetings take place between April and November, and these fixtures are then complimented by a further ten national hunt meetings in the other months of the year.
The party atmosphere of the summer flat race days are adequately matched by the winter crowds supporting national hunt racing. Weather permitting, the Christmas week and new years day fixtures are particularly well supported, and no matter what code of racing you support, you can be sure of an exhilarating days racing at Catterick Bridge.
Track facts:
Catterick stages flat and national hunt racing.
The flat course is a left handed, undulating oval, measuring one mile one furlong in circumference.
As a tight track, with sharp corners, it is important for potential winners to keep close to the pace. Low drawn horses have a statistical advantage in races up to seven furlongs.
The National hunt course is also left handed, sharp and undulating, but is slightly longer, at just over one mile two furlongs in circumference. There is also a chute start which joins on to the home straight, detailed below.
The main steeplechase course has eight fences, laid out in the following circuit pattern: two plain fences, an open ditch, three more plain fences, another ditch, and a final plain fence. Three of the fences are in the home straight, with the other five being situated in quick succession along the back straight. This layout ensures most eventual winners at Catterick are also good jumpers.
The hurdles course has five flights, two being situated in the home straight prior to the winning post, with the other three being located in the back straight.
As stated above, there is also a spur, which joins on to the end of the home straight. The spur contains one plain steeplechase fence, and one hurdle. In two mile and three mile one and a half furlong races, these obstacles have to be jumped before runners join the course proper.
On the home straight, there is a three hundred yard run in after the last fence, and around a two hundred yard run in after the last hurdle.
Winners at Catterick must have the ability to jump well, gallop close to the pace, and also have the stamina to stay on over the run in.
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.
Club Ticket.
The ticket provides exclusive access to the facilities in the Club Enclosure. There is a mixture of internal and external seating in the Club Section’ of the grandstand. Both overlook the winning post, the parade ring, and the winners enclosure. General access to all the other public areas of the racecourse comes as standard.
The members bar, and hot servery cater for the inner race goer.
Tattersalls Ticket.
Provides access to the grandstand, parade ring, and winners enclosure.
Access is available to the Gods Solution bar, two smaller bars, plus there is a self service cafeteria.
Course Ticket.
Ticket holders view the racing from the centre of the course. Facilities include a bar area, and cafeteria.
Return to top.
Disabled Facilities:
Catterick prides itself on its special facilities for disabled race goers, and for any special requirements, please contact the racecourse, see below.
Allocated parking near the entrances is available, but it is best to arrange this in advance.
There are specially designed bar and tote facilities suited to wheelchair patrons, and naturally, there are special viewing and toilet facilities.
Fixtures:
2011:
Wednesday 13 July
TRANSPORT Links:
By Road:
The racecourse is 5 miles south of Scotch Corner, and the simplest route is via the A1. Take the turning for Catterick village, and follow the plentiful signs to the course.
Car Parking is free of charge.
By Rail:
The nearest stations are on the London Kings Cross to Newcastle main east coast line. Northallerton station is only 9 miles from the track, but a very limited bus service means a connecting taxi ride is the best option. Although fifteen miles from the course, Darlington station may be the better option. Most express trains stop at Darlinton, and there are regular bus connections to Catterick village and the racecourse.
By Bus:
Leave Darlington railway station by the rear entrance, walk down Victoria Road, and it brings you to the United bus station. As stated above, catch any service calling at Catterick Bridge, and you can alight at the bus stop outside the racecourse.
To check bus times telephone: 0870 608 2 608.
By Air:
For scheduled passengers, Durham Tees Valley airport is about thirteen miles from the course. The racecourse company recommend Eclipse taxis for transfers, telephone: 01748 82 14 14.
Light aircraft can obtain permission to land ten miles from the course, at
RAF Leeming. Contact number, 01677 42 30 41.
Subject to prior agreement from the racecourse management, helicopters can land on the course.
Contact Details:
Address:
The Catterick Racecourse Co Ltd,
Catterick Bridge,
Richmond,
North Yorkshire,
DL10 7P E.
Telephone Number: 01748 81 14 78.
Fax Number: 01748 81 10 82.
E-Mail:
Accommodation:
Swinton Park.
Tel No: 01765 680 900.
Regarded by Racingsight clients as one of the best hotels in the North of England, Swinton Park is a multiple award winning luxury castle hotel situated within easy reach of the Racecourses at Catterick, Ripon, and Thirsk.
Swinton Park is the ancestral seat of the Cunliffe Lister family and the Castle has been thoughtfully converted into a superior hotel, that now offers opulent surroundings combined with the warmth and tranquility of a family home.
Swinton Park Hotel is located in a 200 acre park, incorporating a lake, beautiful gardens, and parkland. The hotel grounds are then surrounded by a larger 20,000 acre estate, which provides access to rivers, reservoirs, hills, woods and dales, where guests can enjoy such activities as fishing, golf, falconry, shooting and off-road driving.
With its lavish interiors and personal service, the Swinton Park Hotel offers the discerning race-goer the chance to relax in a truly unique and memorable setting. Each of the 30 spacious en suite guest rooms is superbly appointed, and is themed to individual tastes, but all incorporate sumptuous furnishings, remote controlled flat screen television, complimentary wi-fi access, CD player, drinks tray, and the other room amenities associated with a superior accommodation. If you require a suite, Swinton Park can offer a choice of five, including the unique Turret Suite, a deluxe 3 storey suite joined by stone staircases. While for guests seeking extra mobility, Four of the hotel’s rooms offer en suite bathrooms equipped withlow mobility fittings, and there is wheelchair access to most guest rooms.
With most of the hotel’s fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables being available from a 4 acre walled garden, and with the remainder of the estate providing venison, game, fish and various other high quality fresh meats, it is hardly surprising the hotel’s restaurant is a multiple award winning cullinary establishment, which has received accolades from visitors from all over the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. Light meals are also available in the Bar and Lounge area, and room service and private dining are also available upon request.
Guests wishing to keep in trim during their stay have access to a fitness room, sauna, and jacuzzi, but if you are seeking a pamper, the hotel offers residents a full range of face and body treatments in the hotel’s conservatory style Spa.
The Cookery School is housed on the ground floor of the converted Georgian stables which overlook the castle turret and parkland. There are a wide variety of day and residential cookery courses on offer including children’s courses which are run during the school holidays. Rosemary Shrager is the resident guest celebrity chef who runs her popular two-day residential courses offering a choice of Modern British, Mediterranean and Fish and Seafood. New for 2011 are weekend residential courses, which are headed by Robert Taylor, Cookery School Head Chef. Rob was awarded UK Chef of the Year in 2008 by the Chaine de Rotisseurs and is Rosemary’s assistant chef at all of her courses. He also runs most of the day courses, Chef's Table demonstration dinners, Sunday Masterclass Lunches and the Pre-Dinner Bite Sized demonstrations.
For further details on Swinton Park, or to book directly, use the link below.
Holiday Inn Harrogate.
Tel No: 0870 443 17 61.
The Holiday Inn Harrogate is situated adjacent to the International Conference Centre and is extremely close to the majority of the town’s major shops, restaurants, and bars. The hotel is the perfect base for race goers who wish to combine a trip to a North Yorkshire racecourse with; exploration of historic Harrogate, shopping in nearby Leeds, visits to many of the nearby tourist attractions, or just general sightseeing in a most beautiful part of the UK.
The award winning 4 Star Holiday Inn Harrogate has been extensively refurbished in recent years, and now offers comfortable contemporary surroundings. Our guests can also expect a genuine warm and friendly welcome, and our professional and experienced staff will endeavour to provide all our guests with a memorable stay. The hotel has 214 en suite guest rooms, including executive rooms, 9 suites, and 2 rooms especially adapted for visitors with low mobility. All rooms provide remote controlled television with satellite channels and movies on demand, wi-fi internet access, and the standard room amenities guests would expect from a superior hotel. Executive rooms and suites provide superb views over Harrogate and the surrounding countryside, and incorporate little extras, such as; complimentary dressing gown and slippers, mini bar, etc.
The hotel has two restaurants. The Abbey Restaurant serves a hot and cold buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. Meanwhile, the 701 Restaurant is reknowned for its superb traditional and international a la carte menus. Light snacks and refreshments are available from the Classics Bar, and the hotel also offers 24 hour room service. For guests wishing to keep in trim during their stay, the hotel has its own mini gym, and residents also have free access to the nearby Academy Health and Fitness Centre.
To obtain full details on the Holiday Inn Harrogate, or to book directly, use the link below.
