Horse Racing, although known as the ‘sport of kings’ is a popular attraction all year round for Britons from many different backgrounds, and is certainly not restricted to kings and their courtiers!
Although the town of Newbury in Berkshire hosted its first horse race over 200 years ago at the time of the battle of Waterloo, a racecourse wasn’t developed in the town until the early 20th century, following a royal intervention. It was King Edward VII that lent support to the notion of a new course at Newbury. With his considerable backing, a licence was granted by the Jockey Club which in turn led to the formation of the Newbury Racecourse Company in 1904.
Apart from the two World Wars, racing has taken place at Newbury since 1905. Horse racing year is split into two seasons – flat and jumps – and Newbury is open all year to host both. Flat racing takes place during the summer months of April to October, whilst jump racing takes place the rest of the year, throughout winter and into the early spring. Flat racing is all about the sprint and as a result features younger, faster horses built for speed. Jump racing requires considerable stamina and staying power which therefore suits heavier, stronger and more experienced horses.
Jump racing is further split into two categories; hurdles and chases. Hurdle races tend to be run over shorter distances than chases, the obstacles are lower and the races are faster. Chase fences can vary in height but are generally higher than hurdles and often involve an entire circuit, if not more of the racecourse! In addition, every year Newbury Racecourse hosts one of the premier chase events – The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup – during its prestigious Hennessy Winter Festival.
Originally run in Cheltenham but moved to Newbury in 1960, the meeting is an extremely popular draw for the country’s race-goers. As it goes, hotels in Newbury are filled to the rafters and the town is buzzing every evening as lucky punters splash out on their winnings for the duration of the meeting.
The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup is the longest continuously sponsored event in horse racing and is associated with some of racing’s most famous names. Carrying the shortest ever favourite’s odds of 1/6, two-time champion, Arkle is a true equine legend and when it comes to trainers, none is more successful than seven-time winner Fulke Walwyn.
Although by far its most popular event, Newbury Racecourse offers a full year’s fixtures with the Hennessy Festival the highlight. And when it comes to outstanding days out at the races, Newbury comes close to the top of the list and is well worth a visit, whatever time of year.
Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
Read more on Newbury Winter Festival – a ‘jumping’ joy for many!…
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