HEXHAM Racecourse
A practical guide to HEXHAM Racecourse, including its track layout, jumping test and the courses most likely to provide useful form clues.
About HEXHAM Racecourse
Hexham is the only racecourse in Northumberland. Perched on Yarridge Heights high above the historic market town, Hexham Racecourse has been the home of National Hunt racing in Northumberland for well over a century. The site takes full advantage of a natural amphitheatre of sloping grass below the stands to provide superb viewing of the racecourse as well as the magnificent surrounding countryside.
Key Characteristics
Hexham is an undulating left handed course of one mile and a half, with ten fences per circuit. The course is considered quite testing with a long uphill section from the end of the back straight until a furlong from home.
Course Summary
Track: Galloping left handed track with a steep finish.
Fences: Average
Interesting Facts
- Perched around 800 feet above the town in a natural amphitheatre, Hexham has a strong claim to being one of the most scenic racecourses in Britain.
- Racing in the area goes back roughly 200 years, starting at nearby Tyne Green in the early 18th century before moving to the present Yarridge Heights site.
- Racing was suspended for decades in the mid-1700s after a personal feud in the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, between the wife of a local innkeeper and a magistrate who refused to allow the meetings to continue.
- The track's most historic race, the Heart of All England Maiden Hunters' Chase, has been run since 1907.
- Future top-class chasers One Man and Red Marauder both made their hurdling debuts at Hexham before going on to bigger prizes.
- The course is owned by Hexham and Northern Marts and today its fixtures are broadcast on Sky Sports Racing.
Similar Courses
Form from the following courses may be particularly relevant when assessing runners at HEXHAM:
- Newcastle
- Cheltenham
Course Map
