It doesn’t matter whether you’re going to the Royal Ascot Racecourse in England, the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, or the Cazoo Derby at the iconic Epsom Downs. None of these famous sites has the distinction of being the smallest Racecourse in the United Kingdom, with Chester Racecourse in the United Kingdom having that honor.
Horses have been churning up the Roodee ground since 1539 when King Henry VIII was busy disbanding Catholic monasteries and marrying the fourth of his six wives. In the 16th century, there was only one race meeting each year, but now there are several days to select from, making Chester one of the busiest and most popular racecourses in the UK.
What is the Smallest Racecourse in the United Kingdom? Chester Racecourse is the smallest Racecourse in the United Kingdom, measuring one mile and one furlong in circumference. The one-of-a-kind arena provides an atmosphere unlike any other and has played home to some legendary champions. Chester Racecourse, often known as the Roodee, is an English racecourse in Chester. Guinness World Records officially recognised the horse racing facility as the “oldest racetrack still in existence.” Horse racing in Chester goes back to the early sixteenth century, with 1539 being the year racing started; however other accounts placed the first races in Chester in 1512.
Chester Racecourse – Historical Significance
The Racecourse site was formerly underwater when the banks of the River Dee were much closer to the city center than they are now. It functioned as a port throughout the Dark Ages, and Roman merchant vessels were initially docked along the east side of the Racecourse, directly against the city’s medieval walls. The water and boats, however, disappeared as the River’s Course altered and silted up.
The Course’s name is claimed to be derived from the little mounds in the Course’s center, known as ‘roods.’ Because ‘Roodee’ is a derivation of ‘Rood Eye,’ meaning the Island of the Cross, the Course’s common name is derived from this. Chester Racecourse is one of the oldest in the world and the oldest in the United Kingdom.
It’s more than just a racetrack. The Racecourse has hosted a variety of bizarre and unusual events. It even played home to Iggy and the Stooges and The Saturdays during the ill-fated Chester Rocks music festivals, and it greeted royalty in 2013 when Prince William rode up to play polo there.
It should be on everyone’s bucket list, whether it’s simply to run the Course, walk their dog, or take in the rich history around the historic Roodee. Dee was a port on the banks of the River during the city’s Roman colony during the Dark Ages, but it was closed because the River silted up, rendering transportation impossible.
Chester Racecourse – The Myths
According to legend, the cross commemorates the burial site of a statue of the Virgin Mary who was executed after murdering Lady Trawst, the Governor of Hawarden’s wife.
She went to church to pray for rain, but as a considerable rainfall answered her prayers, the statue loosened and toppled, killing her; a sad yet ironic tale to bring to a close another life of a Royal.
The statue was carried to St John’s Church in another version of the storey. An old statue of the Virgin was mentioned during the Reformation, albeit it may not be the same.
Course Characteristics of Chester Racecourse
Chester is a left-handed, steep, circular course little over a mile in diameter and virtually entirely on the turn. It is the country’s shortest track, and with a home straight less than two furlongs long, it favors handy, agile types in everything except long-distance staying events. Chester has one of the most marked draw biases toward low numbers of any racetrack in the nation in races over 5 furlongs.
Because the Racecourse is located in the city, race meetings in Chester are especially popular because they are a short walk from all the hotels, bars, shops, and restaurants. The racetrack is more than one mile (1.6 km) long, flat, and may be raced clockwise or counterclockwise. The Course’s main feature is the two hundred and nineteen-meter straight, which makes horse placing critical as they approach the straight. Horses with lengthy strides suffer as a consequence at Chester Racecourse.
Historical Racecourse Facts – Chester Racecourse
In remembrance of a strange incident in the eleventh century, Chester racecourse is known as the Roodee, derived from Rood Eye, meaning “Island of the Cross.” Lady Trawst, the wife of the Governor of Hawarden, was tried and convicted guilty of murder after falling on and killing a statue of the Virgin Mary. The villagers of Hawarden abandoned the statue on the banks of the Dee to “drown,” but the tide brought it to Chester, where it was discovered.
The Ormonde Stakes is named after Ormonde, who won the Triple Crown in 1886 after being undefeated in 16 races. Sea Pigeon, who won the Chester Cup in 1977 and 1978, also won the Cheltenham Festival Champion Hurdle in 1980 and 1981. Shergar won the Chester Vase by 12 lengths in May 1981, barely a month before his Derby victory.
Chester Racecourse – Today, An Iconic and aesthetically stunning Venue
In May 2012, Racecourses in-house chesterBET betting system replaced all Tote betting positions. The White Horse, a new pub and restaurant in the Course’s core, debuted in 2013. Until 2016, the primary race meetings at Chester were often shown on Channel 4 Racing; from 2017, they have been broadcast on ITV Racing.
Chester Racecourse, also known as the Roodee, is officially recognised as the “oldest racecourse presently in existence” by the Guinness World Book of Records. Horse racing in Chester dates back to the early sixteenth century, with the first race occurring in 1539. It is one of the most authentically famous, historic, and visually beautiful horse racing facilities in the United Kingdom and a must-see on any horse racing enthusiast’s travels.