Skip to Enclosures and Hospitality.
As befits it's heritage, Ripon has a rich history of horseracing, with the first recorded meeting taking place in 1664 on Bondgate Green. Over the next 236 years, several other venues were then used to stage race meetings, and during one meeting in 1723, Ripon race goers witnessed a moment of horse racing history, when they watched the first ever race exclusively for lady riders.
However, none of the historic venues had long lasting success, and it took the opening of the current course on Borough bridge Road to establish Ripon as a regular flat racing venue.
The very first meeting at the modern course was held on the sixth of August 1900, and since that time, the racecourse has developed so well, it is now regarded as the sporting flagship of this medieval market town.
Due to its most pleasant surroundings, Ripon is known as Yorkshire's Garden Racecourse, and during the flat racing season, race goers can enjoy the Ripon facilities on any one of fourteen race days.
With total prize money well in excess of eight hundred and fifty thousand pounds, the fixture list at Ripon incorporates some outstanding races. In August alone, the course stages two major highlights:
The Great Saint Wilfred Handicap is a six furlong sprint which is named after the towns patron saint, and due to the large number of runners, and the vagaries of the draw, it quite often requires divine intervention to select the winner.
Later in the month, On August bank holiday Monday, Ripon also stages its Listed Champion Two Year Old Trophy. The latter race often attracts leading young horses from major stables, and many of the competitors in this race turn out to be winners during their racing careers.
As an extra bonus to Ripon race-goers, Many of the Summer Meetings are also accompanied by pop concerts after racing has been concluded.
Ripon only stages flat racing.
Horses run right handed over an undulating oval course measuring one mile five furlongs in circumference. There is a sharp bend into the home straight, and the home straight is one of the longest in the country, being five furlongs in length. The last furlong of the run in to the winning post is also noticeably uphill, and on softer going, stamina becomes important.
On firm, or good going, statistically, the sprint course favours low drawn horses.
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.
A giant TV screen behind the winning post provides race goers with close up views of the racing action at Ripon. In between the races at Ripon, the screen is used to show the races being staged at other tracks.
This ticket comes with a free race card, and provides access to all public areas of the racecourse.
The Grandstand facilities in this enclosure provide covered seating, which offers views of the whole racecourse, including close up views of the winning post, and the giant TV screen.
The Members Dining Room offers full waitress service for lunch and afternoon tea, and due to its popularity, advance booking is strongly advised.
The Paddock Room is a self service facility, offering a choice of snacks and sandwiches.
The Saint Wilfred Bar offers a fully stocked bar plus snacks and coffee.
The Champagne Bar has a wide choice of champagnes along with seafood accompaniments.
The enclosure has a covered grandstand offering views of the course and giant TV screen. There is also access to the parade ring.
The Fountains Café is a self service facility with a choice of hot and cold dishes, tea, and coffee.
The Wakeman Bar is a fully stocked bar, which also offers sandwiches and coffee.
Also in the Tattersalls enclosure, the Jim Joel Bar provides draught beers and snacks, and the Fish Bar sells fresh fish and chips.
This enclosure is in the centre of the racecourse. With a maximum entrance price of £12 for a car with four occupants, it is popular with race goers wishing to enjoy a picnic.
Viewing is from raised embankments.
There is a bar and tea bar, plus other refreshment kiosks, which are under cover behind the embankments.
Disabled badge holders can use the course car park to gain entrance to the main enclosures.
The racecourse company have worked hard to ensure access to most of the course facilities.
There are specialist toilets in all enclosures.
Sunday 15 May
Tuesday 24 May
Wednesday 01 June
Wednesday 15 June
Thursday 16 June
From the South, take the A1M. Exit at the Ripon turning, which is before Borough bridge. Follow the brown tourist signs to Ripon Cathedral, and after approximately four miles, the racecourse is situated on the left hand side.
From the North, leave the A1 at the junction for the A61. This is the Ripon
by pass, and race traffic should follow the road to the third roundabout, and turn left. After a few hundred yards, the racecourse entrances can be observed on the right hand side of the road.
From the East or West, join the A61 Ripon by pass, and follow the brown tourist signs featuring a horse and jockey.
Apart from the Course Enclosure car park, parking at the racecourse is free of charge.
Ripon does not have a railway station. The nearest main line stations are Thirsk, 11 miles, and York, 27 miles.
However, Harrogate station is also 11 miles distant, but it does offer a connecting bus service to Ripon.
A regular bus service connects Ripon with Harrogate and Leeds.
Leeds Bradford is the nearest airport, but it is still 21 miles from Ripon.
Subject to prior permission from the race company, helicopters may land on the course.
Ripon Race Company Ltd,
77 North Street,
Ripon,
North Yorkshire,
HG4 1DS.
Situated close to the A1, A19, and the mainline station at Northallerton, Solberge Hall is a luxury hotel situated in nine acres of award winning gardens. This former Country House combines timeless and idyllic views of the surrounding North Yorkshire countryside with the most modern hotel facilities. The hotel has twenty four individually decorated en suite rooms, including: four poster rooms, period double rooms, an executive suite, standard doubles, and also twin and single facilities. Each room has the standard fittings you would expect from a top hotel, plus the remote controlled television provides satellite channels including
Racing UK.
Visitors can relax in the hotel bar and lounge, where they can also order many favourite dishes. For more elaborate dining, the Garden Room Restaurant offers a seasonal menu, which is served by an attentive but unobtrusive staff. While diners who prefer contemporary surroundings and meals, will love our Silks Brasserie. Adjacent to Silks Brasserie and the Stables Bar, there is a partially covered al fresco courtyard area, where diners can enjoy drinks, afternoon tea, or food from the Silks menu.
http://north-yorkshire.thoroughbredhotels.co.uk/
Judged by many to be one of the best hotels in Yorkshire and Cumbria, Swinton Park is a multiple award winning luxury castle hotel. The ancestral home of the Cunliffe Lister family, this superb hotel is located in a 200 acre park, incorporating a lake, 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. Swinton Park is within easy reach of Catterick, Thirsk and Ripon racecourses, and with its lavish interiors, it 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 mirror the individuality of the views across gardens, parkland, lake, or the gate house. Four of the rooms are suites, and incorporate spacious sitting rooms, while the Turret Room is spread over three floors, and is connected by steep staircases. All of the hotel rooms incorporate; sumptious furnishings, remote controlled television with satellite channels, wi-fi internet access, drinks tray, and the standard room amenities of a superior hotel. Four of the en suite bathrooms are equipped with low mobility fittings, and there is wheelchair access to most guest rooms.
Swinton Park has its own 4 acre walled garden, and this provides head chef Simon Crannage with most of the hotel’s fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables. In addition, the remainder of the estate supplies venison, game, fish and various other fresh meats. It is therefore little wonder, Samuel’s is a 3R Rosette award winning restaurant, which receives accolades in culinary circles throughout the UK and Europe. Light meals are available in the Bar and Lounge area, and room service and private dining are also available upon request. For guest seeking a total pamper during their stay, the hotel offers residents a full range of face and body treatments in the hotel’s conservatory style Spa.
For further details on Swinton Park, or to book directly, use the link below.
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.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/hrtuk?_requestid=319010