Interesting Facts about Windsor Racecourse

• Racing dates back centuries: Horse racing in the Windsor area can be traced back to the reign of Henry VIII, with races taking place at nearby Datchet Mead long before the current racecourse opened.
• The modern racecourse opened in 1866: Flat racing began on the present site at Rays Meadow in 1866 after businessman John Frail established the course on the banks of the River Thames.
• The only figure-of-eight racecourse in Britain: Windsor is unique among British racecourses, with its distinctive figure-of-eight layout providing a rare test for both horses and jockeys.
• Located on its own island: The entire racecourse sits on a 165-acre island beside the River Thames, with racegoers even able to arrive by boat at the course's private jetty.
• Famous Monday evening racing: Windsor introduced regular Monday evening race meetings during the 1960s. They have become one of the racecourse's trademarks and remain hugely popular during the summer.
• A remarkable triple dead-heat: In 1923, Windsor staged one of the most famous finishes in British racing history when three horses crossed the line together in a rare triple dead-heat, years before photo-finish cameras were introduced.
• Churchill celebrated a winner here: Sir Winston Churchill owned Colonist II, who won at Windsor in 1949 before later enjoying success at Royal Ascot.
• Richard Hughes made history: Champion jockey Richard Hughes rode an incredible seven winners on a single Windsor racecard in October 2012, one of the greatest riding achievements in modern British racing.