KELSO Racecourse

A practical guide to KELSO Racecourse, including its track layout, jumping test and the courses most likely to provide useful form clues.

About KELSO Racecourse

Kelso really is a lovely racecourse and was recently voted the UKs most friendly racecourse. This beautiful racecourse is situated in the picturesque Scottish Borders surrounded by charming countryside and rolling hills. The course is steeped in history and tradition. Opened in 1822 the original building is still the centre of activity on a race day, with coal fires blazing during the cold winter months, it maintains a unique charm that has welcomed race goers for over a century.

Key Characteristics

Kelso have separate hurdle and chase courses. The Hurdle course is the shorter of the two being only just over a mile all the way round and is particularly tight. The chase course is nine furlongs and has nine fences per circuit, and although not quite a tight as the hurdle course it certainly is not galloping in nature.

Course Summary

Track: Tight left handed track with quite an easy finish, although the last furlong is quite an upward incline.

Fences: Easy.

Interesting Facts

Kelso was the first purpose-built racecourse in Scotland, and it has the country's first permanent grandstand.
That original grandstand, built in 1822, is still standing and still used on race days today.
Horse racing actually happened in the area long before the racecourse existed — locals were racing at a site five miles away from at least 1734.
In 1803, a four-day meeting only attracted three horses in total, so every single race that week was a walkover.
A Gold Cup trophy was introduced in 1813. Back then, owners often valued a trophy to show off more than the actual prize money.
There's a golf course built into the middle of the racetrack.
Kelso hosts Scotland's most valuable hurdle race, the Morebattle Hurdle.
In 2023, the course celebrated its 200th anniversary with a special meeting attended by Princess Anne and that year's Grand National winner, Corach Rambler.

Similar Courses

Form from the following courses may be particularly relevant when assessing runners at KELSO:

Bangor
Fontwell
Aintree
Newton Abbot
Southwell
Market Rasen