Catterick Racecourse Guide

Catterick Racecourse Track
Catterick Racecourse (Oliver Dixon / geograph.org.uk)

Catterick Racecourse, also known as Catterick Bridge Racecourse, prides itself on being North Yorkshire’s busiest and also most welcoming horse racing venue. There is racing all year round, normally accompanied by a relaxed atmosphere all can enjoy and a friendly Yorkshire welcome.

The course is one of the most rurally located ones in the country, surrounded by just a handful of hamlets nearby as well as the small village of Catterick. Its remote location hasn’t stopped it being a popular place amongst local trainers and spectators however.

Jump to: Course | Races | Useful Info | History

Map

Swap Start/End

The Course

For the time being Catterick is a turf course but there are plans to change to all-weather in the near future. Whether such plans come to fruition remain to be seen but for the meantime Catterick has is a left handed oval shaped track with a run in of three furlongs. There is also a chute which connects to the exit of the final bend, accommodating sprint races of five furlongs which can be quick due to its downhill nature.

The sharpness of the flat course combined with the regular undulations means this is a real test for any horse making their debut here and it often takes time to adjust. It’s far more suited to speedier types who handle well rather than gallopers. For horses that do take to the course, you see many go through good patches of form here and that’s well worth looking out for if you like a bet. There is no doubt that course form counts for quite a lot and a previous course win, or success at a track of a similar nature, is a major plus.

The jumps course is less undulating than the flat but still provides its own challenges. While the fences themselves aren’t the stiffest, the way four are tightly packed down the back straight offers a challenge for chasers and often front runners do well due to difficulties overtaking. In the winter, going rarely gets too testing due to the type of soil and cancellations are uncommon as a result.

Major Races

Catterick’s small profile means that it doesn’t really have anything in the way of major races but the North Yorkshire Grand National has to be considered its major jumping event. It attracts some top trainers from across the country and at three miles six furlongs in distance, this test of stamina is Catterick’s longest race.

For flat racing there is no obvious standout event but the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival Day is one of its most popular meets. It’s part of an eight day festival that takes place across Yorkshire, with each venue having its own day of summer racing action. It was introduced in 2006 and has helped encourage people to get out and see some live racing across the county.

Visiting

Catterick Racecourse Grandstand
Catterick Racecourse Grandstand (Hugh Mortimer / geograph.org.uk)

With 27 racedays each year and at least one every month, there’s usually a convenient time to get yourself to Catterick.

Useful Info

Dress Code

There is no dress code in force at Catterick, the only suggestion is that people wear smart casual clothing that is appropriate for the weather.

Ticket Prices

Admission to Catterick can be purchased for as little as £5 when purchasing a course enclosure ticket. In the centre of the course, you will find food and drink outlets, bookmakers, Tote facilities and fun for the kids. For a spot in the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure, tickets are £15 for adults, £12 for students/OAPs and there you can get a great view of the action from either of the two tier grandstands.

The final ticket option is the Punter’s Package which is available at £23. This includes Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure entry, a food & drinks voucher, a racecard and a £2 Totebet. Prices do not vary depending on which raceday it is and prices on the door are the same as when booking online.

Membership

To become an annual badge holder at Catterick the fee is £140 for the year and there is an option of paying an extra £40 for reserved car parking. The badge give you entry to all of Catterick’s fixtures, 37 reciprocal meetings and selected Yorkshire County Cricket matches and is great value.

Getting There

The easiest way of getting to Catterick is by car especially due to being so close to the A1 but you can use public transport if required. To do so you’ll need to take a train to Darlington and then hop on the regular bus service to Richmond.

From Richmond, a free shuttle bus service will take you to and from the course, beginning one hour before the first race and leaving shortly after the last.

Parking

The main car parks are free of charge and can be used for people in either the Course Enclosure or the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure. For trackside viewing, you can reserve a spot for £3 per vehicle at the south end of the course.

History

Buildings at Catterick Racecourse
The racecourse features a mixture of both old and new style buildings (Tony Simms / geograph.org.uk)

Racing has taken place at Catterick since as early as the mid-17th century. It wasn’t until April 22nd 1783 that the first official meeting took place but even so, it’s a course with a long history. It did take a while for a permanent course to be created however, with this coming in 1813.

The Grandstand

Permanent buildings at the track took even longer to materialise and it wasn’t until 1906 that the first grandstand was built in order to accommodate growing crowds. The framework of the 1906 grandstand is still evident today. although many improvements have been made since, creating a real mix of both new and old and lending a unique feel to the course.

The Railway

The growing popularity of the railway helped Catterick attract spectators around this time and in 1923, the Catterick Racecourse Company was formed to deal with the increase in interest and attendances. Back then, Catterick Bridge had its own railway station with services stretching to Eryholme and Richmond but it was closed in 1969.

Improvements

The Catterick Racecourse Company still exists today and in 2004 it worked hard to raise £600,000 for a new stable yard. Two years prior to this and Catterick saw Collier Hill win his first race, a horse that would eventually go on to win the Irish St Leger, Canadian International Stakes and Hong Kong Vase.