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The original racing venue in the north west Midlands was at Keele Park, but when Keele Park racecourse went out of business in the early twentieth century, a group of enterprising businessmen decided to take over its interests and some of its races, and to achieve there aims, they first formed a racing company, and then built Uttoxeter racecourse.
In 1907, Uttoxeter opened its turnstiles for the first time, and in a successful season, it attracted good crowds to its five race meetings.
To a modern observer, it is hard to believe such a successful track as Uttoxeter could ever have been in danger of going the same way as its predecessor at Keel Park, yet the history of Uttoxeter shows two close shaves with oblivion.
The first brush with oblivion came when the racecourse was requisitioned for military use during the first world war, and when the track did eventually re-open for business in 1921, the first race meeting had to be abandoned due to bad weather, and finances for the rest of that year were on a knife-edge, but happily, 1922 brought an upswing in the racecourse's fortunes.
The racecourse was again requisitioned for military use during the second world war and a subsequent post war land dispute meant there was no racing at Uttoxeter between 1939 and 1952. But thanks to the intervention of the local council, racing restarted during 1952, and the levy board helped to modernise some of the course facilities in 1966.
However, it was the take over of Uttoxeter by Sir Stanley Clarkes Northern Racing Group which turned Uttoxeter into a major player in national hunt racing.
The new owners built two new grandstands and anew paddock area, plus they also raised the annual prize money on offer to well over one million pounds. As if to reward this investment, in 2002, Tony McCoy made racing history while riding at Uttoxeter, as he became the most successful national hunt jockey of all time, riding Mighty Montefalco to his One Thousand Seven Hundreth career victory at the Midlands track.
Uttoxeter now stages around 25 race meetings per year, and due to the expansion of summer jumping, these fixtures are evenly spread throughout the calendar. Highlights at Uttoxeter include the John Smiths Midlands Grand National, staged on the saturday following the last day of Cheltenham's March Festival Meeting. While in the summer months, jump fans can cheer on leading horses in the Britannia Summer National.
Uttoxeter is an all year round national hunt racecourse.
The track is run left handed over a relatively oval shaped circuit, but there is a noticeable right hand dog leg in the back straight.
The course is one mile two and a half furlongs in circumference, and has a major undulation where it rises to ascend Clump Hill, and then descends around the home turn. The home straight is flat, and is four furlongs in length, with a slight left hand kink between the last two fences. Taken as a whole, the home straight is a very fair test in the closing stages of each race.
The steeplechase course has eight fences laid out in the following circuit pattern: five plain fences, a single open ditch, and a further two plain fences.
Four relatively easy fences are situated in the back straight, with the remaining four stiffer fences being positioned prior to the winning post in the home straight.
Two mile steeplechases start from a shute, which joins on to the home straight at the home turn.
Steeplechase races at Uttoxeter vary in distance from two miles, up to the Midlands Grand National distance of four miles one and a half furlongs.
The hurdles course is situated on the inside of the steeplechase course and in general benefits from better ground conditions. There are three hurdles in the back straight, and also three hurdles in the home straight.
Like its steeplechase counterpart, the two mile hurdle race starts from a shute, which joins on to the home straight at the home turn. However, in the hurdle race shute, there is an additional hurdle which has to be jumped before the runners join the main course. Therefore, in two mile hurdle races, ten flights of hurdles have to be jumped in total.
Hurdle races are run over several distances between the minimum of two miles, and the maximum race distance of three miles.
On both Uttoxeter courses, good going favours horses with pace, while soft going produces the ground conditions which favour runners with stamina.
Previous winners at Uttoxeter often repeat their successes year on year.
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.
The premier grandstand is situated near the winning post, and provides seated views of the entire course. There is access for ticket holders to all the public areas of the racecourse including, the parade ring and winners enclosure.
Silks Restaurant is located in the grandstands Platignum Suite. Prior booking secures a table for the whole meeting, silver service, fine food, and ready access to the facilities in the remainder of the grandstand.
The Hoops Bistro and Champagne Bar is located between the grandstand and the parade ring. Tables can be booked for the whole meeting, or just used to enjoy a light seafood snack. In the summer months, it is possible to sip champagne on the bistros veranda.
The Premier Bar has a Café Quick section, which supplies a selection of hot and cold snacks. While you enjoy your drink or snack, you can follow the racing action on a large close circuit television screen.
The grandstand has a mixture of seats and standing terraces, both of which provide great views of the closing stages, plus good views over the whole racecourse. Ticket holders also have access to the parade ring and winners enclosure. Ticket holders may also visit the centre course enclosure.
The refurbished Railway Bar serves two course carvery meals in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.
In the betting hall, punters can take a break at Caseys American Diner, or alternatively the Carling Bar.
Other facilities include, the Carvery, serving hot rolls and baggettes, The Café Express in the paddock area, and the Hungry Jockey, which serves fish and chips, hamburgers etc.
This enclosure is open during the summer jumping campaign. There are excellent views for little capital outlay, including positions along the internal running rail.
This picnic area is supplemented by a childrens play area. There are also facilities serving hot and cold drinks, and hot and cold snacks.
Carers receive free admission at the entrance gates.
There is designated blue badge parking near to the course entrances.
The Premier, and Grandstand and Paddock Enclosures have been designed to provide easy access to most facilities.
There is a raised viewing platform on the first bend of the track. This provides great views of the home straight, and a closed circuit television is also provided to cover the rest of each race.
Specialist toilet facilities are availible in the various enclosures.
Saturday 14 May
Sunday 29 May
Thursday 02 June
Thursday 09 June
The racecourse is just off the A50, Burton on trent to Stoke road. There are numerous directional signs strategically positioned on all approach routes.
Racegoers from the north can approach on the M6, exit at junction 15, and join the A50 to Uttoxeter and Derby. Alternatively, from the north east, use the M1, exit at junction 54A, pick up the A50, and once again, follow the signs to Uttoxeter and Derby.
Traffic from the south, and south west, can use the M5 junction 4A, or from the M40 junction 3A, both of which join the M42 at its junction 7. Continue on the M42 to junction 9. Exit, and join the Lichfield road, then pick up the A38 to Burton and Derby, and finally, join the A50 to Uttoxeter and Stoke.
The alternative route from the south, and south west, involves following the M5 to Junction 8, or the M42 to junction 7, and then pick up the M6 Northbound. Exit at junction 14 and take the A513 signposted Stafford, then pick up the A518 to Uttoxeter.
Finally, from the southe east, take the M1 to junction 23A, and then the A50 to Uttoxeter and Stoke.
All car parking at the racecourse is free of charge.
Uttoxeter railway station is adjacent to the racecourse.
Trains run directly to Stoke, Derby, and Crewe, from where direct connections can be secured to most of the railway system.
There are bus connections between Uttoxeter and both Lichfield, and Burton on trent.
Eas Midlands Airport is around 23 miles from Uttoxeter.
Light aircraft can land at Tatenhill airfield at Needwood. Road distance to the racecourse is 7 miles. For further details telephone the airfield on, 01283 57 52 83.
Subject to prior permission, helicopters can land in the centre of the racecourse.
Uttoxeter Racecourse,
Wood Lane,
Uttoxeter,
Staffordshire,
St14 8BD.
Tel no: 0870 400 90 77.
Located in pleasant suburban surroundings, the Holiday Inn Stoke on Trent is ideally positioned for race goers attending Uttoxeter Races. Situated next to junction 15 of the main north south M6 motorway, the road network outside the hotel gives instant access to the A50, which leads directly to the town of Uttoxeter. Guests travelling by road will also be glad to know, there are 250 secure spaces available in the hotel’s car park.
Recently refurbished, the hotel offers 118 air conditioned en suite guest rooms. All of the hotel’s standard rooms are well appointed, and provide remote controlled colour television with satellite channels, wi-fi internet access, and the standard room amenities guests expect from a quality hotel. For guests who are seeking that extra bit of luxury, the hotel also offers several executive rooms on the executive floor. There are also two specially adapted rooms for guests with low mobility requirements. Naturally, there is 24 hour room service throughout the hotel, and a same day dry cleaning service is also available on request.
Traders is an informal and relaxing restaurant where the friendly staff are happy to take you on a guided tour of the cosmopolitan menu, while simultaneously, you relax and unwind with a selection of wines chosen to suit any palate. Light bites and sandwiches can also be enjoyed in the comfortable lounge, and these snacks can be accompanied with a fine selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from the hotel bar. For guests who like to keep in trim during their stay, the hotel’s Spirit Health Club offers a heated indoor swimming pool and a fully equipped gymnasium. Then after your exercise, you can relax in the club’s sauna and Spa.
For further details on the Holiday Inn Stoke on Trent, or to book directly, use the link below.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/XWHSF/welcome