:Newcastle Racecourse
{{Short description|Horse racing venue in Newcastle, England}}
{{about|the racecourse in Newcastle, England|the racecourse in Newcastle, Australia|Broadmeadow Racecourse}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox UK Racecourse
| Name = Newcastle
| Image = 250px
| Caption = View of the stands at Newcastle Racecourse.
| Website = http://www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk
| Location = Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
| Owner = Arena Racing Company
| Opened = 1882
| Channel = Sky Sports Racing
| CourseType = Left-handed, Flat
National Hunt
| NotableRaces =
| Prev = Newbury
| Next = Newmarket
}}
Newcastle Racecourse is a horse racing course located at Gosforth Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, owned by Arena Racing Company. It stages both flat and National Hunt racing, with its biggest meeting being the Northumberland Plate held annually in June.
History
Horseracing began in the North East over 350 years ago, beginning in Killingworth in the early 17th century. A King's Plate for 5 year olds, run in 3 mile heats was instigated by George II in 1753.{{cite book |last=Whyte |first=James Christie |title=History of the British turf, from the earliest period to the present day, Volume I |year=1840 |publisher=H. Colburn |location=London|page=402|ol=6544990M }} The Town Moor hosted the first recorded Northumberland Plate in 1833 and did so until 1881 when the race transferred to High Gosforth Park. 1882 saw the first running of the Plate at Gosforth Park with a new flat and chase course, new stand and stabling for 100 horses.
In 1994 Sir Stanley Clarke's Northern Racing company acquired Newcastle Racecourse.{{cite web |title=Newcastle Racecourse History |url=http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Newcastle%20Racecourse%20History.html |website=Greyhound Derby |access-date=18 May 2023}}
In April, 2002 the Scottish businessman David Williamson joined Newcastle Racecourse as managing director and during a six-year period he transformed their fortunes and helped boost turnover from £2.5m to £6.5m. The Northumberland Plate weekend now brings in £30m to the regional economy and he also introduced Ladies' Day which now attracts over 15,000 racegoers. In April, 2008 he was headhunted by Newcastle United and appointed Executive Director (Operations).
{{cite web
|url=http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/04/05/toon-win-for-the-racetrack-wizard-61634-20723806/
|title=Toon win for the racetrack wizard
|publisher=journallive.co.uk
|access-date=2008-07-30
}} Williamson was replaced by Mark Spincer.
In 2007, Newcastle's owners, Northern Racing, changed hands and came under control of the businessmen David and Simon Reuben, who then subsequently merged it with another of their companies, Arena Racing Company in 2012 forming the current company that owns the racecourse, Arena Racing Company.{{cite web |url=http://www.arenaracingcompany.co.uk/our-company/ARC |title=Arena Racing Company corporate website|access-date=8 April 2013}}
In December 2013, Arena Racing Company, announced plans to change the flat turf course into an all-weather track while retaining a turf jump racing course.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/25266074 |title=Newcastle Racecourse plans all-weather floodlit track |work=BBC Sport |access-date=6 December 2013}} The new Tapeta track was completed in early 2016 with the first meeting held on 17 May of that year.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk/about-us/news-details.php?newsid=270|title=News {{!}} Newcastle Racecourse Racing & Events|website=www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk|access-date=2016-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610230446/http://www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk/about-us/news-details.php?newsid=270|archive-date=2016-06-10|url-status=dead}}
Notable races
| class = "sortable" | border="1" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%" | |
| bgcolor="#77dd77" align="center"
! style="width:70px" |Month ! style="width:80px" |DOW ! Race Name ! style="width:60px" |Type ! style="width:70px" | Grade ! style="width:80px" |Distance ! style="width:50px" |Age/Sex | |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|1|February}}
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday | style="text-align:center" |Chase | style="text-align:center" | Handicap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|4|1}} | style="text-align:center" |5yo+ | |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|2|Mar/Apr}}
| style="text-align:center" |Good Friday | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Listed | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|1 | 5}}
| style="text-align:center" |3yo |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|3|Mar/Apr}}
| style="text-align:center" |Good Friday | All-Weather Championships Marathon | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Handicap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|2 | 56}}
| style="text-align:center" |4yo+ |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|4|Mar/Apr}}
| style="text-align:center" |Good Friday | All-Weather 3yo Championships | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Handicap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd | 6}}
| style="text-align:center" |3yo |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|5|Mar/Apr}}
| style="text-align:center" |Good Friday | Fillies' & Mares' Championships | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Handicap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd | 7|14}}
| style="text-align:center" |4yo+ |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|6|Mar/Apr}}
| style="text-align:center" |Good Friday | All-Weather Sprint | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Handicap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd | 6}}
| style="text-align:center" |4yo+ |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|7|Mar/Apr}}
| style="text-align:center" |Good Friday | All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Handicap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|1|2|42}} | style="text-align:center" |4yo+ | |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|8|Mar/Apr}}
| style="text-align:center" |Good Friday | All-Weather Championships Mile | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Handicap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|1 | 5}}
| style="text-align:center" |4yo+ |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|9|June/July}}
| style="text-align:center" |Friday | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Group 3 | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|1|2|42}} | style="text-align:center" |3yo+ f | |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|10|June/July}}
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Group 3 | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd | 6}}
| style="text-align:center" |3yo+ |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|11|June/July}}
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Handicap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|2 | 56}}
| style="text-align:center" |3yo+ |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|12|November}}
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Listed | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|1|2|42}} | style="text-align:center" |3yo+ | |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|13|November}}
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday | style="text-align:center" |Flat | style="text-align:center" | Listed | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd | 6}}
| style="text-align:center" |3yo+ |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|14|Nov/Dec}}
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday | style="text-align:center" |Hurdle | style="text-align:center" | Grade 1 | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|2}} | style="text-align:center" |4yo+ | |
| style="text-align:center" |{{Sort|15|Nov/Dec}}
| style="text-align:center" |Saturday | style="text-align:center" |Chase | style="text-align:center" | Premier Hcap | style="text-align:center" |{{hrd|2|7½}} | style="text-align:center" |4yo+ |
Discontinued Flat races:
- Beeswing Stakes (last run in 1999)
- Seaton Delaval Stakes (last run in 1985)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk Newcastle Racecourse (Official website)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061129080457/http://www.gg.com/newcastle Course guide on GG.COM]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005620/http://www.attheraces.com/course.asp?CID=10 Course guide on At The Races]
{{coord|55|1|51|N|1|36|42|W|type:landmark_scale:10000_region:GB|display=title}}
{{Horse racing in Great Britain}}
Category:Sports venues in Newcastle upon Tyne
Category:Horse racing venues in England