THIRSK RACECOURSE
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Introduction:
Thirsk Racecourse is positioned in a pocket of very attractive countryside, being flanked on one side by the raw beauty of the north Yorkshire moors, and on the other side by the iconic Yorkshire dales.
The Thirsk area had already established itself as a major horse training centre as early as the seventeenth century. This resulted in races being staged close to the town, on a track constructed on Hambleton Hill.
Indeed, the races of that time enjoyed the royal patronage of King James I, and for the Royal Plate race of 1612, the monarch donated a gold cup as the prize for the owner of the victorius horse.
Coming forward to the recent history of Thirsk, the modern racecourse was the brainchild of Frederick Bell of Thirsk Hall. For in 1854, he gathered together a group of his friends, with their first meeting naturally enough taking place in the local Golden Fleece hostelry, and at that meeting it was agreed to build Thirsk racecourse on Frederick Bells estates, with the first meeting being staged on 15 March 1855.
For the first twenty years of its existence, Thirsk catered very much for the local racing fraternity, with horses often being stabled in local inns and taverns.
However, in 1875, the eccentric Thomas Dawson junior was made clerk of the course, and although he was absent minded, such as the time he left £25,000 in a hat box on a train, Thomas Dawson was also intelligent and lucky, as through a cleverly worded advertisement, he retrieved every pound of the misplaced funds. Using his various qualities to their best effect, Dawson increased prize money and started to attract owners and trainers from further a field. This policy proved very successful, and by 1895, the course once more received royal patronage in the form of a visit from the Prince of Wales.
Between 1914, and 1924, the knock on affects of the first world war caused a ten year hiatus in racing, and it took the formation of the racecourse company by Sir Loftus Bates to relaunch the fortunes of Thirsk as a racecourse. As the chairman of the newly formed company, he oversaw the total redevelopment of the track and amenities, and racing was able to restart on 8 August 1924.
Apart from a break for the second world war, racing at Thirsk has thrived, and now, between April and September of each calendar year, Thirsk stages around 14 flat race meetings, and the various racing fixtures are used extensively by the big local training establishments.
Track facts:
Thirsk stages flat racing during the spring and summer of each year.
The long course is a left handed oval measuring one mile two furlongs in circumference. The bends are fairly sharp, and the track has no undulations.
A chute which starts near the railway station joins the home straight three furlongs from the winning post. This produces a straight course which can stage straight sprint races of up to six furlongs.
On the straight course, high drawn horses have a statistical advantage. Whereas, on the round course, in races of seven furlongs and a mile, low drawn horses seem to have a statistical advantage.
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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 Members Ticket.
The Club Grandstand is located adjacent to the winning post, and due to the flat nature of the racecourse, it provides views of all the racing action. Club members have exclusive access to the club lawns, and they can visit the parade ring, winners enclosure, and all the other public areas of the racecourse.
For a fine meal, Club ticket holders can pre book an all day table in the Hambleton Rooms.
The Cherry Tree Bar has outdoor seating on its accompanying lawns, and there are top quality bar facilities in the Manton Suite.
Paddock formerly tattersalls Ticket.
Views are available from terraced grandstands near to the finishing line. Ticket holders can also visit the parade ring, winners enclosure, and the Family enclosure.
Bar and snack facilities are located in the Grimthorpe Hall. Refreshments are also available in the Saddle Room Bar.
Family Ticket.
There is terraced viewing on the inside of the home straight, plus close up observation from the running rails.
Although this is predominantly a picnic area, there are bars, and course facilities serving hot food and drinks.
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Disabled Facilities:
There is a designated viewing platform adjacent to the winning post.
Specialist toilet facilities are available to all race goers.
For further details on facilities for the disabled race goer, please contact the racecourse company, see below.
Fixtures:
Thirsk only stages flat racing.
2011:
Saturday 14 May
Monday 23 May
Tuesday 14 June
Transport Links:
By Road:
From the south using the A1. Join the A168 at Dishforth. After six miles join the B1448 to Thirsk. At the mini roundabout near Tesco, bear left, and the racecourse is on the right.
From the north on the A1, join the A61, and head east towards Thirsk. The racecourse is on the left, about half a mile past the railway station.
Teesside traffic should exit the A19 at the Thirsk signpost. Pass through the town centre, and pick up the A61 to Ripon. The racecourse is signposted from this point, and traffic is directed to the Tesco roundabout as above.
From York on the A19. Approaching Thirsk, go straight ahead at the first roundabout, and then turn left at the second roundabout. Proceed through the town centre, and head for the Tesco roundabout as above.
Scarborough traffic will approach Thirsk on the A170. Go straight ahead at the first roundabout, and proceed to the Tesco roundabout as above.
Car parking at the racecourse is free of charge. Club ticket holders may park in the Members car park.
By Rail:
Thirsk has direct connections to Newcastle, Middlesborough, York, Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool. Travellers on the main east coast line will have to change at York.
Thirsk railway station is a straight half mile walk to the racecourse entrances.
By Bus:
There are regular services to Thirsk from Darlington, Ripon, and York.
By Air:
Durham Tees Valley Airport is around 20 miles from Thirsk.
Fixed wing aircraft can land at RAF Leeming, which is 12 miles from the racecourse. For details, call 01677 42 30 41.
Light aircraft can land at Bagby airfield, which is only 3 miles from Thirsk. For full details, call 01845 59 73 85.
Subject to permission, helicopters may land on the cricket pitch adjacent to the racecourse.
Contact Details:
Address:
Thirsk Racecourse Ltd,
Thirsk Racecourse,
Station Road,
Thirsk,
North Yorkshire,
YO7 1QL.
Telephone Number: 01845 52 22 76.
Fax Number: 01845 52 53 53.
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.
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