Catterick Racecourse, Yorkshire
A Day at the Races - Guide to Catterick Racecourse
Catterick Racecourse, aka Catterick Bridge Racecourse, is a horse racing track located about one mile northwest of Catterick in North Yorkshire, close to the small village of Catterick Bridge.
With nine racecourses, Yorkshire is the county with the most tracks in Britain. York, Wetherby, and Doncaster are the most famous of the nine, but Beverley, Redcar, Catterick, Pontefract, Thirsk, and Ripon also have some big days throughout the year.
Catterick is a dual-purpose racecourse, meaning it hosts both National Hunt (jump/steeplechase) and Flat racing throughout the year.
There is also a Sunday Market, the Catterick Sunday Market, held on the racecourse grounds, which is the largest Sunday Market in the North of England.
History
Horse racing in the area goes back to at least the mid-17th century, with the first official meeting recorded on 22 April 1783 during the reign of King George III.
A permanent track was established in 1813, and the first grandstand was built in 1906. Its structure still influences the current grandstand.
The racecourse has long been a core part of Yorkshire's racing scene and now combines tradition with modern facilities.
National Hunt (Steeplechase)
Steeplechase generally takes place in the winter months, starting early in the year, often on New Year's Day, and running into early spring.
The venue's biggest jump event is the North Yorkshire Grand National, a challenging long-distance steeplechase usually held in January.
Flat Racing
The flat season runs mainly from spring through autumn (typically April to October).
Flat meetings suit speedier horses thanks to the left-handed, undulating course with a sharp finish.
Popular flat highlights at Catterick include the Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival Day and the Catterick Dash in October.
Altogether there are around 27 race meetings a year - often with at least one fixture in almost every month.
Access - Getting to Catterick
Catterick Bridge is near Richmond in North Yorkshire. The racecourse is close to the A1 trunk road, about 5 miles south of Scotch Corner.
The nearest major station is Darlington, County Durham, on the East Coast Main Line, roughly 15 miles from the racecourse. From Darlington, take a local bus (such as Arriva services) toward Richmond.
On race days, a shuttle bus often runs from Richmond town centre to the racecourse, operating about an hour before the first race and returning after the last. (Check ahead for current shuttle availability, as services may change.)
There are also regular public buses linking Darlington and Richmond town, which then give access via taxi or race-day transport.
From Leeds City Station trains to Darlington take about an hour.
From Newcastle the journey south to Darlington takes about 40 minutes by train.
If coming from Manchester Piccadilly Station change at Doncaster or York Station in York. There are also trains from Manchester Victoria direct to Darlington.
If coming by car, there is free parking. From Leeds, Catterick is about an hour's drive on the A1. From Manchester allow about 2 hours on the M62 and A1(M).
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