Exeter Racecourse

Exeter

Horses in the paddock at Exeter Racecourse
Location Exeter, Devon
Owned by Jockey Club Racecourses
Screened on Racing UK
Course type National Hunt
Notable races Haldon Gold Cup
Official website

Exeter Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located near the city of Exeter, Devon, England. Locally it is known as Haldon racecourse because of its location on top of the Haldon Hills. Until the early 1990s it was officially known as Devon and Exeter.

On 1 November 2005 racehorse Best Mate died at the course of a suspected heart attack whilst competing in the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup.

History

Horses jumping the final fence at the course

Horse racing has been part of Exeter's heritage since the middle of the 17th century, one of many racecourses created due to Charles II's love of the sport, and there have been claims that the racecourse is one of the oldest in the country.[1] Horse racing rules were standardised after the Jockey Club was formed in 1750.[2] A race was written about by Louisa Graves in 1819, and there were records of meetings at the course in 1804, probably earlier.[3]

The course was popular during the early 19th century, attracting entries from all over the country.[4] By 1850, the popularity of National Hunt racing had waned and William White's gazetteer claimed that it was "little used".[5] It popularity increased again over the following years, although there was a pause in racing during World War II.[4] The course has been known variously as Haldon racecourse by locals due to its location, Devon and Exeter until the 1990s and more recently Exeter Racecourse.[2]

Duel

The last duel in Devon occurred at the racecourse in 1833, when Peter Hennis, a doctor, and Sir John Jeffcott, a judge, drew pistols over Hennis spreading gossip. Hennis was wounded in the exchange, and died the following week; Jeffcott fled to Sierra Leone.[6]

Stand

Stands at Exeter Racecourse

In 1911, a new grandstand was built at the cost of £1,000 (equivalent to £92,000 in 2015), designed by J. Archibald Lucas, designed to be 75 feet (23 m) long and 32 feet (9.8 m) deep, holding over 600 people, the majority of which would be under cover. The new stand was made of steel but with an iron roof, and held a bar, a weigh-room and other facilites as well as storage space.[7]

By 2006, Exeter Racecourse included three stands, Haldon, Anstey and Brockman. The Haldon stand was opened by Anne, Princess Royal in 2004 and caters for the premier ticket holders, while the Anstey stand was opened by Lord Woodrow Wyatt in 1986. Upstairs in the Haldon stand, there is a gallery with seating to watch the races, and a bar named after Best Mate, as well as the Desert Orchid restaurant. For non-premier ticket holders, there is the Romany King bar, and burger van.[8]

Location

Course map

The course is at the top of the Haldon Hills, near Exeter. At 850 feet (260 m) above sea level, the racecourse is the highest in the United Kingdom.[2] The original course was described as a "fine oval course of two miles", though in the 1850s an additional flat course was added, one mile long, making the total course length three miles. By the 1940s, the steeplechase matched the line of the original course.[4] One lap of the course includes eleven fences, two of which are open ditches and one a water jump.[9]

Notable races

Best Mate, a triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, which died on the course in 2005

The course has historically had a Gold Cup race, which was won in 1807 by Lord Charles Somerset's horse, Bagatelle, sire of Sir Peter Teazle. There have also been special races in the 1810s to focus on three-year-old thoroughbreds foaled in the West Country.[4] Presently the best known race is the William Hill Gold Cup Chase (previously called the Haldon Gold Cup), held in November. In 2005 the three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Best Mate, collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack after its jockey pulled up during the race.[10]

Charity races at the course have included jockeys riding Clydesdale horses in aid of Devon Air Ambulance in 2013,[11] and Dartmoor ponies in aid of Cancer Research UK in 2014.[12]

Month Day Race name Type Grade Distance Age/Sex
November Tuesday Haldon Gold Cup Chase Grade 2 2m 1f 110y 4yo +

References

  1. ↑ "Haldon is England's highest racecourse". Gloucestershire Echo. 19 August 1950. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Exeter Racecourse | UK Horse Racing | HorseRacing.co.uk". www.horseracing.co.uk. HorseRacing.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Racecourse History: Haldon meetings in 18th century". Western Morning News. 24 August 1932. p. 8. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Haldon Racecourse: Plans for resumption at end of war". Western Times. 8 February 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  5. ↑ White, William (1850). History, gazetteer, and directory of Devonshire. Simkin, marshall and Company. p. 408.
  6. ↑ Van der Kiste, John (2011). "The last duel in Devon". The Little Book of Devon. The History Press. ISBN 9780750953948.
  7. ↑ "Haldon racecourse, Exeter". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 6 February 1911. p. 3. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  8. ↑ Ashforth, David (9 October 2006). "The Racing Post: Horse Racing: HIT THE HIGH SPOTS". Racing Post. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "RaceCourses | Exeter Racecourse". www.race-courses.co.uk. Race Courses.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Mate's ashes laid at Cheltenham". BBC. 10 December 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Jockeys ride Clydesdales for Exeter race". BBC News. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Ponies bred on Dartmoor compete at Exeter Racecourse". BBC News. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2016.

External links

Coordinates: 50°38′28″N 3°33′29″W / 50.64111°N 3.55806°W / 50.64111; -3.55806

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