Carlisle Racecourse
Carlisle Racecourse is an English thoroughbred horse racing facility situated in Blackwell Village in Carlisle, Cumbria. Sitting within acres of beautiful parkland, the track right-handed and pear-shaped and covers a distance one mile and four furlongs. The track hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing events throughout the year across 23 race days in total. Notable events include the Carlisle Bell, the Cumberland Plate and the Weatherby’s Graduation Chase Day.
The event known as the Carlisle Bell is famous for being one of the United Kingdom’s first official public horse races. The Carlisle Bell was initiated in 1599, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and was named in reference to two bells which were offered as prizes, one by Lady Dacre and the other by Henry Baines, Mayor of Carlisle. Today the bells can be found in Carlisle Guildhall Museum and are said to be the country’s oldest horse racing prizes.
The Kings’s Plate is a series of three-mile heats traditionally held in the Carlisle area which were launched by King George III in 1763. However, it was not until 1904 that Carlisle Racecourse was relocated to its current site in Blackwell.
In 1929, the Totalisator Board started to operate a pool betting system which led to “Tote” betting becoming available to horse racing enthusiasts. Carlisle Racecourse was in fact the first venue to offer this system.
The champion thoroughbred horse Red Rum was regular at Carlisle Racecourse and won a race there the September before each of his famous victories at the Grand National in Aintree in 1973, 1974 and 1977.
Carlisle Racecourse’s highlight of the racing season has to be the Carlisle Bell event. The June meet also offers the popular Cumberland Plate race. The Cumberland Chase Day is held in November and the Family Fun Day in December attracts many visitors.
General admission or Punters Packages are available at reasonable prices and allows for full access into the bars, cafes and one of the venue’s restaurants. For children under the age of 16, entry is usually free of charge however they must be accompanied by an adult. The dress code is smart/casual.
Carlisle Racecourse is not only family friendly but also dog friendly as long as they are kept on leads. The facility has plenty of parking spaces including a free car park opposite the main grandstand. Ideal for special occasions is the large Bell Hall which can be found within the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Grandstand.
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