LEICESTER RACECOURSE.
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Introduction:
For over one hundred years, Leicester has entertained avid east midland’s race goers with a fine blend of flat and national hunt racing.
Leicester stages at least one meeting every month, and over thirty meetings in each calendar year. The course is used by trainers from both codes as a training ground for up and coming novices. Interesting winners over the last eighteen months included, Fathom Five on the flat sprint course, and Burnt Oak Boy on the hurdles course.
However, the highlight of the season is the April running of the seven furlong Listed Leicestershire Stakes.
Track facts:
Leicester stages flat and national hunt racing.
The flat track is a right handed undulating oval, measuring approximately 1 mile 6 furlongs in circumference, with a finishing straight of approximately five furlongs.
A chute joins on to the home straight, and thereby produces a course which can stage straight races of up to seven furlongs in duration.
Both flat courses stress a need for stamina, particularly when the course becomes soft or heavy.
On the straight flat course, high drawn horses have a statistical advantage.
The steeplechase course is one mile six furlongs in circumference, with ten fences laid out in the following circuit pattern: an initial plain fence, an open ditch, four more plain fences, the second open ditch, and the remaining three plain fences which are situated prior to the winning post in the long finishing straight.
Apart from a descent from the end of the home straight to the middle of the back straight, the remainder of the steeplechase course is constantly on the climb. Although the fences are not stiff, with six of the obstacles coming close together in the back straight, Leicester is a fair test of jumping ability.
The course is prone to becoming soft or heavy in the winter months, so stamina is much preferred to pace.
The Hurdles course comprises seven flights, and is even steeper than the steeplechase course. Very often the race over the last four hurdles in the home straight can turn into a dour battle of stamina.
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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 and Belvoir Ticket Holders.
Viewing of the racecourse is from the glass fronted Belvoir Grandstand. There is also access to all the other public areas of the racecourse including, the parade ring, and winners enclosure.
A three course lunch and afternoon tea are available by booking a table in the grandstand restaurant.
Club ticket holders can buy drinks and snacks in the Silks bar. While Belvoir ticket holders can sample the drinks and snacks sold in the Belvoir Club, which also happens to be located next to the winning post.
Grandstand, formerly Tattersalls Ticket.
Ticket holders have access to the main grandstand, parade ring, and winners enclosure.
There are several bar and hot food facilities including the Quorn Café.
There is a picnic car park at the racecourse.
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Disabled facilities:
Disabled parking spaces are available. Contact the racecourse for full details.
Disabled patrons have access to a ramped viewing area in the paddock. There is also lift access to viewing facilities in the grandstands.
Specialist toilet facilities are strategically located in all public areas.
Fixtures:
Tuesday 08 January National Hunt Racing.
Tuesday 22 January National Hunt Racing.
Wednesday 30 January National Hunt Racing.
Wednesday 13 February National Hunt Racing.
Tuesday 26 February National Hunt Racing.
Friday 07 March National Hunt Racing.
Thursday 03 April Flat Racing.
Saturday 26 April Flat Racing
Tuesday 20 May Flat Racing.
Monday 26 May Flat Racing.
Tuesday 27 May Flat Racing.
Monday 02 June Flat Racing.
Saturday 14 June Flat Racing.
Thursday 19 June Flat Racing.
Thursday 26 June Flat Racing.
Saturday 05 July Flat Racing.
Thursday 17 July Flat Racing.
Wednesday 23 July Flat Racing.
Wednesday 30 July Flat Racing.
Sunday 10 August Flat Racing.
Tuesday 09 September Flat Racing.
Monday 15 September Flat Racing.
Monday 22 September Flat Racing.
Tuesday 07 October Flat Racing.
Tuesday 14 October Flat Racing.
Monday 27 October Flat Racing.
Monday 17 November National Hunt Racing.
Sunday 30 November National Hunt Racing.
Thursday 04 December National Hunt Racing.
Wednesday 10 December National Hunt Racing.
Sunday 28 December National Hunt Racing.
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TRANSPORT LINKS.
By Road:
The racecourse is situated two miles east of Leicester city centre, on the A6 Market Harborough road. To join the A6, leave the M1 at junction 21, or alternatively, use the M69 to join the A6.
Parking is generally free, except in the picnic area, where a charge per vehicle and occupants is levied.
For surprisingly good rates on car rental throughout the UK click below:
By Rail:
Trains operate directly between Leicester and London Saint Pancras. From the North and East, catch a Leicester service at Sheffield. Race goers from Manchester, and the West, usually change for a Leicester service from Nottingham.
By Bus:
A direct service operates between Leicester railway station and the course on all race days.
By Air:
East Midlands airport is around nineteen miles from the course.
CONTACT DETAILS.
Address: Leicester Race Co Ltd, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 4AL.
Tel No: 01162 71 65 15.
Fax No: 01162 71 17 46.
ACCOMMODATION.
Holiday Inn Leicester.
Tel No: 0870 400 9048.
Located in the heart of the vibrant city of Leicester, the Holiday Inn is ideally situated for race goers who want to enjoy a luxury base during their trip to Leicester races that is close to the shops and city life.
The Holiday Inn Leicester offers 188 en suite guest rooms, including standard and executive rooms, family rooms , and 4 adapted rooms for guests with accessibility requirements . Every one of our rooms incorporate the facilities you would expect in a high quality hotel, including; remote controlled television with limited cable\satellite channels, high speed internet access, and mini bar. Our executive rooms, which offer many extras, are located on two separate floors of the hotel. All of our guests have access to 24 hour room service and 24 hour porterage, and we also offer a same day dry cleaning service.
Where ever possible, the hotel’s chef uses prime local produce in his menus, and as a result, the hotel’s Vermont Restaurant is very popular, and possesses an excellent local reputation as a prime location to enjoy high quality British and continental cuisine. In addition, diners can also savour their meals while enjoying superb wines from an extensive and quality wine list. The Vermont Bar often witnesses a mix of business and leisure guests who favour the Vermont’s wide range of bar meals and beverages.
Guests who want to keep in trim during their stay can use the hotel’s Spirit Health and Fitness Centre complimentary. It offers a fully equipped gymnasium, a swimming pool, solarium, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi .
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/lctuk?_requestid=193774
Best Western Belmont House Hotel.
Tel No: 01162 54 47 73.
Adjacent to a leafy walk that runs into Leicester city centre, The Belmont is an elegant town house hotel, which offers the perfect local accommodation for race goers attending Leicester races. The hotel is a five minute taxi journey from the race course, has 77 en-suite guest rooms, including; executive, superior, family, and high grade standard rooms. Air conditioned rooms are available on request*. All of the hotel’s bedrooms offer remote flat screen televisions, high speed wi-fi internet access, and the room amenities you would expect in a quality hotel. There is also 24 hour room service and 24 hour porterage.
The air conditioned and award winning Cherries Restaurant provides comfortable and elegant surroundings in which the hotel’s guests can sample locally sourced ingredients which have been transformed into innovative and superior English and Continental dishes. While enjoying their meal, our guests can also sample from our extensive high quality wine list. For guests who want to work off the excesses of our fine food, the Belmont has arrangements for our residents to utilise the nearby facilities of Cannons Health and Beauty Salon.
(* dependant upon availability).
http://www.belmonthotel.co.uk/
