In the United Kingdom, there are 60 flat and national hunt racecourses. The 60 racetracks in the United Kingdom range from Perth in Scotland to Newton Abbot in Devon. The longest continuously running horse race in Britain is the Grand National, which has been held every year since 1839.
The world's most expensive flat race is the Dubai World Cup, which was first run in 2009. The race has a prize fund of $14 million.
The British Horseracing Board (the governing body for horseracing in England) awards points to determine the winner of each leg of the Grand National. There are five legs to the race: the National Hunt Chase, the National Hunt Flat Race, the Liverpool Handicap, the Midland Gold Cup, and the Welsh National. Points are awarded based on position in each race, with some exceptions. For example, horses that finish first and second but were not among the first four horses across the line will each receive half a point. If a race is run as a match race, then points are awarded to the winner after a time penalty is applied if they are not separated by a margin of 2 1/2 lengths of a horse.
The Grand National is run over a distance of about twenty-one miles (thirty-two kilometers).
Britain has 60 flat and national hunt racecourses, including 17 multi-purpose tracks that accommodate both disciplines. Ireland has 34 race courses.
The British flat racing season runs from early April until late October or November. National Hunt races take place throughout the year with some holding their meetings in February, March and December.
There is no official definition for "flat" and "turf" racing, but generally speaking flat races are limited to two miles or less while turf races can be three miles or more. Most flat races are held over distances of one mile, except for the Epsom Derby (two miles). National Hunt races can range in length from about five furlongs (1.5 km) up to about a mile and a quarter (1.6 km).
Race courses can be public or private, but most are owned by clubs who pay annual fees to hold their events. Public courses are usually located within close proximity to towns and cities while private courses are often found in rural areas.
In Britain there are also annual awards given out for various categories of racecourse owner/operator. These include the Betfair Award which is given out annually at the British Horseracing Awards dinner.
60 racetracks in the United States. Two overseas: Course de Haies near Le Mans, France; Tocantins Racecourse in Tocantins, Brazil.
This is a list of all the licensed horse racing tracks in the United States. There are currently 60 active courses across the country. The first track was established in New York City in 1750. The most recent course to open was Rockingham Park in North Carolina. It opened in 1829 and closed in 1870 after 39 years of operation. The oldest track still operating is Delaware's Dover Downs, which was built in 1860. The longest-operating track is Gulfstream Park in Florida, which was opened in 1959. Its predecessor, Palm Beach Park, closed in 1957 after 50 years of operation.
The average age of the U.S. racehorse industry is 60 years old. That's because it takes about six years for a horse to mature enough for its legs to be strong enough for racing. Also, the breeding industry as a whole is relatively young; only around 10% of horses race more than once.
Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Doncaster, Ffos Las, Fontwell Park, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Royal Windsor, Sedgefield, Southwell, Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton, and Worcester are all part of the ARC. The first ever British Open was held at Bath in 1855 and it is still going strong today. The tournament is played over three days and includes a final round on Sunday. The winner of the British Open is awarded the Henry Cotton Trophy.
The ARC also owns and operates five other courses in Canada: Beaver Creek, Brant County, Ontario; Glen Abbey, Oakville, Ontario; Indian Head, Kent, Ontario; and Saint-Georges, Quebec. These courses are used for training purposes only and no play is allowed there. The Canadian Open is held at each of these locations except for Indian Head which has never had a golf championship. It is scheduled to be held there in 2015.
Finally, the ARC also owns and operates two courses in the United States: Blackwolf Run in suburban Milwaukee; and Turtle Bay Resort in North Shore City with plans to open another course near Seattle this year. These courses are used solely for training purposes and no play is allowed there either.
In addition to its ownership interests, the ARC provides management services to several courses including those in Canada and the United States.
Perth Racing Club in Scotland is the most northerly racecourse in the United Kingdom. The course is located about 45 miles north of Edinburgh.
The town of Perth lies at the heart of the Scottish Borders, and the racing club was established there in 1829. The first official running of the Perth Cup took place that same year. It is now one of the world's leading races for three-year-olds. In addition to the Perth Cup, other major events held at the club include the Scottish Derby.
There are eight race meetings held at the club each year, with the season starting in April and ending in October. The season usually consists of two trial meetings before the main eventing season starts in May. The best horses from around the country travel to Perth to compete for the prestigious King Edward VII Stakes. This annual race is considered an important test of stamina for three-year-olds prior to entering the Derby scene.
The Derby is one of the most important races in British sports history.
26 racetracks Racing is a one-of-a-kind experience, and with 26 racetracks in Ireland to select from, every taste is likely to be catered for. From exclusive training facilities to popular family venues, find out more about how to have fun at the races.
There is no doubt that racing has a very special place in the heart of Ireland, and it's not just the Irish who appreciate this aspect of our culture. The annual meeting in May at the Irish National Stud in County Kildare is held under the auspices of the IRISH STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATION - an association for people who enjoy horses and sports cars. The festival includes presentations by members of the British Royal Family, as well as other important figures from around the world of horse racing and sports car racing.
The sport of kings was originally developed by the Ancient Egyptians, but it was the Irish who refined it over the centuries. Nowadays, Ireland is known as the home of horse racing, and we hope that you will join us in celebrating this fact during your stay here.
The Queen Alexandra Cup The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a flat horse event in the United Kingdom available to horses aged four and up. It is the world's longest professional flat race, taking place at Ascot each June over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs, and 143 yards (4,355 metres).
It was first run in 1873 as the Prince of Wales's Stakes and was originally called the Derby Trial. The name "Queen Alexandra" was added to the event name in 1937 when Princess Alexandra became queen-designate after her husband King George V died. The race was also known as the Epsom Derby until it was cancelled due to World War II in 1940.
In 2009, the name of the race was changed back to the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
This race used to be run on turf but since 2000 it has been run on dirt. In that time, it is considered one of the best races for older horses to finish first, second, or third because most of the year's top runners appear in it. Its prestige among owners is such that even if their own horses are not entered they will often still send them to compete just for the honor of being named in the field.
The race is held on the fourth day of the three-day Royal Ascot annual horse racing meeting.
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