LEICESTER RACECOURSE


Leicester Racecourse hosts both Flat and National Hunt Racing. The course could kindly be described as functional, although it is very easy to get to, they hold a large number of race meetings there every year.

leicester racecourse

Key Characteristics

Leicester is a right handed course, with a run-in of about four and a half furlongs, the last couple of furlongs are markedly uphill so it takes a lot of getting particularly when its soft and for some reason it can often get very soft/heavy at Leicester. There is also a straight course on which all races up to 7 furlongs are run.

Course map


leicester racecourse coursemap

Interesting Facts about Leicester Racecourse

  • Racing since 1773: Organised horse racing has taken place in Leicester since 1773. The original course was located at Victoria Park before moving to its present home at Oadby in 1883.
  • One of Britain's oldest dual-purpose racecourses: Leicester stages both Flat and National Hunt racing, making it one of the country's longest-established dual-purpose venues.
  • Birthplace of a legend: Sir Gordon Richards, Britain's most successful jockey with 4,870 winners, rode the very first winner of his career at Leicester in 1921 aboard Gay Lord.
  • Golden Miller began here: The legendary Golden Miller, the only horse to win five Cheltenham Gold Cups and a Grand National, won the first race of his career at Leicester in 1931.
  • Home of the King Richard III Stakes: Leicester's feature Flat race is the Listed King Richard III Stakes, named in honour of the English king whose remains were famously rediscovered in Leicester in 2012.
  • A demanding uphill finish: Leicester's long, steadily rising home straight is regarded as one of the stiffest finishes in British Flat racing, often rewarding strong stayers rather than speedy front-runners.
  • The famous Flockton Grey scandal: Leicester was the scene of one of British racing's biggest betting scandals in 1982, when a horse known as Good Hand raced under the identity of two-year-old Flockton Grey, leading to a major Jockey Club investigation.
  • More than 100 stables: Leicester Racecourse has over 100 on-site stables, including secure facilities for high-profile runners competing in its feature meetings.
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