NEWBURY RACECOURSE Yorkshire
Home of the Hennessy & Lockinge Festivals
Newbury Racecourse is one of Britain’s premier racetracks, hosting both Flat and National Hunt Jump racing all year-round. Located in Berkshire, Newbury Racecourse is just one hour from London’s West End, making it a favourite with Londoners and racegoers visiting the Capital. Built at a cost of £57,240 the Racecourse held its first race in 1906, when a Members Badge cost just 7 guineas! With £2 million in prize money, Newbury Racecourse is home to the Hennessy Festival & Hennessy Gold Cup Steeplechase in November / December + the Lockinge Stakes Group 1 Flat race in May.
Phase 1 of a major Newbury Racecourse redevelopment began in 2016, to include new Owners & Trainers facilities, new Saddling Boxes, re-positioning of the Hospitality Pavilions and Parade Ring, which has viewing access from both Premier and Grandstand enclosures. Phase 2 due in Autumn 2017 will include regeneration of the Berkshire Stand and Pall Mall building, benefitting both racing and conference / event customers.
Hennessy Festival & Gold Cup Chase
The Hennessy Festival attracts a huge crowd to watch some of the country’s top jump race horses battle it out on the Newbury turf at this popular 2-day festival run in late November / early December each year. The Hennessy Gold Cup Steeplechase is the flagship race on day 2 of the festival and 2016 is 60th running of the race.
With total over £200,000 in prize-money and £113,900 to the winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2015, this steeplechase is one of UK racing’s biggest tests for horse & jockey. First run in at Cheltenham in 1957, the Hennessy Gold Cup is a handicapped Grade 3 National Hunt chase open to horses aged 4 years + run over a distance of 3 miles 2½ furlongs (5,331 metres) and 21 fences.
Peggy Hennessy owned Mandarin, winner of the 1957 Gold Cup. When the race moved to Newbury in 1960, it was won by Taxidermist, and again by Mandarin in 1961. The Gold Cup’s Hennessy association is UK racing’s longest running commercial horse race sponsorship; passed down through 8 generations of the Hennessy family over 60 years, beating the 44 year record held by Whitbread for the Whitbread Gold Cup that ended in 2001.
Historically the Hennessy Gold Cup has been won by many of racing’s best loved horses, including Mandarin, Arkle and Denman who each won it twice. Eight horses who won the Hennessy Gold Cup went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, only 4 won both races in the same season: Arkle, Bregawn, Denman and Bobs Worth. Many Clouds won both the Hennessy Gold Cup and the Grand National, in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
The leading jockey with 3 wins was Willie Robinson on Mandarin (1961), Mill House (1963) and Man of the West (1968). The leading trainer was Fulke Walwyn with 7 wins: Mandarin (1957 + 1961), Taxidermist (1958), Mill House (1963) Man of the West (1968), Charlie Potheen (1972) and Diamond Edge (1981). Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has both ridden and trained Hennessy Gold Cup winners including Denman (2007 + 2009). 2015 saw Smad Place triumph and in 2016, on the occasion of the 60th running of the race, Native River (Richard Johnson up) hung on to clinch the win for trainer Colin Tizzard.
Lockinge Day & Lockinge Stakes
The Lockinge Festival is a Flat racing extravaganza run every year in May at Newbury. The flagship race is the Lockinge Stakes, which is a Group 1 flat race. Part of the British Champions Series, the Lockinge Stakes has a first prize of nearly £200,000. Open to horses aged 4 years + it is run over 1 mile (1,609 metres) and is the 2nd race in the mile division, concluding with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Top Lockinge horses often then compete in the Queen Anne Stakes. Trained by Henry Cecil, the legendary Frankel and jockey Tom Queally won the Lockinge Stakes Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire in 2012.
Newbury Racecourse Enclosures & Stands
Newbury Racecourse has 2 enclosures: (Grandstand and Premier) and 3 Stands: (the Dubai Duty Free, Hampshire and Berkshire Stands). Queen Elizabeth II spent her 86th birthday at Newbury in the Royal Box located in the Berkshire Stand. Grandstand Enclosure tickets provide views of the finishing straight and access to the Dubai Duty Free Grandstand. Premier Enclosure tickets give access to all 3 stands at Newbury + access to the area adjacent to the finishing post and all public Parade Ring viewing platforms.
Newbury Racecourse Berkshire Stand
Newbury Raceccourse Dubai Duty Free Stand
Newbury Racecourse Hampshire Stand
Racecourse Map Key
- Parade Ring
- Pre-Parade Ring
- Ticket Office
- Taxi Rank
- Undergoing Redevelopment
- The Crafty Filly
- Fish & Chips
- The Hampshire Stand
Facilities: Hennessy Restaurant, Seafood Bar, Pantry, Champagne Hall, 1905 Bar, Wine Cellar - The Berkshire Stand
Facilities: Hospitality Suites, Coffee Yard, Beer & Banker, Brasserie, Bakery, Long Bar - Dubai Duty Free Grandstand
Facilities: Racegoers Restaurant, Grandstand Bars, Butcher’s Block, Doom Bar, Coffee Yard, Tom’s Pies, Eremon Bar, Paddock Kitchen, Rosyth Bar, Mini-Moet Champagne Bar - Copper King Lawn
- Premier Lawn Bar
- Owners & Trainers Bar
- The Lodge
- Owners & Trainers Tickets
- Rocking Horse Nursery
Newbury Racecourse Hospitality
During key race meetings like the Hennessy Festival, Premier Enclosure ticket holders can purchase additional restaurant dining and drinks packages in the Hennessy and Racegoer Restaurants:
- Hospitality packages
- Complimentary parking
- Official Racecards
- Race-day host
- Totepool betting
- Private bar
- Private balcony
Newbury Racecourse also has 30 private suites in the Berkshire Stand, providing a superb venue at which to entertain guests. The Berkshire Stand provides great views of the Racecourse. Private suite hospitality packages include:
- Premier Enclosure ticket & car park label
- Exclusive suite with great racing views
- Delicious food and wine
- Dedicated service team
- Betting facilities in the Berkshire Stand
- TV in suite with racing coverage
- An Official Racecard for each guest
- Optional food &, drink package extras
Newbury Racetrack
Newbury Racecourse has both Flat Racing and Jump Racing tracks. Both tracks are left-handed ovals of about 1 mile 6 furlongs with a straight mile. Slightly undulating wide and galloping in nature with high numbers best in big fields. The Flat course has a run-in of about 5 furlong. The Jumps Course has 11 stiff fences and 7 hurdles per circuit with a 255 yard run-in.
Racecourse Map & Contact Details
| Address | The Racecourse, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7NZ |
| Phone | 01635 40015 |
| Website | http://newburyracecourse.co.uk |
| info@newburyracecourse.co.uk | |
| Tickets | newburyracecourse.co.uk/tickets |
| Rail | Station (service from London Paddington) adjoins course |
| Driving | Free Parking. SE of Newbury near A34. Signposted from M4 + A34 |
LOCAL SERVICES DIRECTORY
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