RIPON RACECOURSE
Skip to Enclosures and Hospitality.
Introduction:
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.
Track facts:
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.
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.
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.
Members Ticket.
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.
Tattersalls Ticket.
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.
Course Ticket.
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.
Return to top.
Disabled Facilities:
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.
Fixtures:
Ripon only stages flat racing.
2011:
Saturday 16 July
Transport Links:
By Road:
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.
By Rail:
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.
By Bus:
A regular bus service connects Ripon with Harrogate and Leeds.
By Air:
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.
Contact Details:
Address:
Ripon Race Company Ltd,
77 North Street,
Ripon,
North Yorkshire,
HG4 1DS.
Telephone Number: 01765 60 36 96.
Fax Number: 01765 69 00 18.
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.
UK Tel No: 0871 942 9261.
From Eire Tel No: 00 44 871 942 9261.
Offering superb views over the rolling Yorkshire Dales, the gleaming glass tower of the eleven storey Holiday Inn Harrogate is one of the prime landmarks of the historic Spa town of Harrogate.
The Holiday Inn Harrogate is located close to the majority of the town’s major cultural sites, shops, restaurants and bars, including the world renowned Betty’s Tea Rooms but it is also within easy reach of the historic sites and beauty spots of North and West Yorkshire, or the entertainment and shopping facilities of nearby Leeds.
The Holiday Inn Harrogate offers comfortable contemporary surroundings, and all guests can expect a genuine warm and friendly welcome, with professional and experienced staff endeavouring to provide guests with a memorable and comfortable stay.
The hotel offers 214 en suite guest rooms, including executive rooms, 9 suites, and 2 rooms adapted for disabled visitors. All rooms provide remote controlled television with movies on demand, wi-fi internet access, tea and coffee making facilities, 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 a range of extras which can be gleaned by visiting our website, (see below).
The hotel restaurant serves a hot and cold buffet style breakfast along with a candle-lit dinning experience. The restaurant is renowned for its superb traditional and international a la carte cuisine, served with a fine choice of world wines. 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 fitness suite and mini gym, and residents also have free access to the nearby Academy and Spa Health and Fitness Centre, with its swimming pool and tennis courts.
To viewfull details on the Holiday Inn Harrogate, or to ensure your quality hotel accommodation ahead of your next trip to Ripon or Catterick Races, please click on the link below:
Click Here
return to top
