The first ever race held at Kempton Park took place on the 18th July 1878. The Park had been bought by Mr Samuel H Hyde six years earlier, who went on to fulfil his ambition of building a racecourse on the site. A Royal Box was constructed in just 21 days in 1889 to cater for a visit from the Prince of Wales.
All-weather Opened in March 2006, this floodlit polytrack synthetic course is a right-handed oval of 8 or 10 furlongs, depending on whether the inner or outer bend is used.
By Laura Donnellan, School of Law, University of Limerick, Ireland On Tuesday 10 January 2017, the Jockey Club announced its plans to close Kempton Park Racecourse by 2021 and sell the racecourse for housing in conjunction with Redrow Homes.
Polytrack is made out of silica sand and fibers made of recycled carpet, spandex and rubber. The entire mixture is then covered with wax. It's the most popular man-made track surface in the nation. Tapeta is a sand and rubber fiber mixture which is also covered with wax.
How much is it to get into Kempton Park Racecourse?
Ticket Prices
A standard day at Kempton Park will cost you £14.40 in advance or £18 on the day for National Hunt meetings and £9.60 in advance or £12 on the day for Flat meetings. The exception to this is students and senior citizens, who can claim a £5 discount at the gate at most meetings.
Horse racing in Chester dates back to the early sixteenth century, with 1539 cited as the year racing began, although some sources give a date of 1512 for the first races in Chester. It is also thought to be the smallest racecourse of significance in England at 1 mile and 1 furlong (1.8 km) long.
Pontefract stages flat racing. The course is run left handed over an undulating circuit two miles in circumference, with a two furlong home straight. That makes it the longest continuous flat racing circuit in Europe! The last six furlongs of the course are essentially uphill.
About Us - Chester Racecourse. When we opened our doors, Henry VIII was king. There's no older racecourse on the planet (it's officially recognised by the Guiness Book of Worlds Records!) So we've had time to make our racecourse best in show.
Within our Food Court area you will find fish & chips, a selection of homemade pies, a Trattoria serving freshly baked pizzas, and Costa Coffee serving a variety of coffee and snacks. On the ground floor of the main Grandstand, the Kings of Kempton bars and the Sports Bar are available for refreshments.
Convenience is key for those who choose to live in Kempton Park. The close proximity to O.R Tambo International Airport and the many business parks mean that residents spend less time fighting traffic and more time doing what they love. The lifestyle in the area is fast-paced and there is lots to do for all age groups.
ULEZ. Kempton Park Racecourse is just outside of the ULEZ (by a few hundred metres). So, if you are travelling from the M25 then M3 (to the Sunbury junction) you will not be affected.
The population of Kempton in 2016 was 386 people. By 2021 the population was 420 showing a population growth of 8.8% in the area during that time. The predominant age group in Kempton is 60-69 years.
Is there a dress code for Kempton Park Racecourse?
As a general rule, smart dress is acceptable anywhere. We would request you avoid wearing denim with rips or tears, flip flops and football shirts to the racecourse. Smart dress is encouraged for major race days, though not compulsory.
The closest station to Kempton Park Racecourse is Kempton Park – just 200 metres away from the North entrance. Popular routes include travelling from Farnborough (Main), Woking and Southampton Central. Change to the London Waterloo to Shepperton line for connections to Kempton Park.
Stakes for all pattern races are 1% of the total prize fund for Group 1s, 0.85% for Group 2s and 0.7% for Group 3s. Those figures are higher at racecourses that have signed a Premier Prize Money agreement: 1.25%, 1% and 1%. No more than 25% of those sums can be charged at entry point.
Because of this cushion, turf races tend to be somewhat slower than dirt by comparison, with this surface friendlier to come-from-behind running styles. Additionally, some horses who perform well on the grass can also take that form to our last type of racing surface, synthetic.
Soft 7: More rain-affected track that will chop out. Heavy 8: Rain affected track that horses will sink into. Heavy 9: Wet track getting into a squelchy area. Heavy 10: Heaviest category track, very wet, towards saturation.
Tapeta is a Thoroughbred Racing and Training surface comprised of a carefully selected mixture of the finest silica sand, wax and fibres that have been extensively researched and simulate the root structure of turf. Tapeta has been tried and tested in all climates at Training and Racetracks around the world.
The Derby - previous winners and prize money. The 2025 Derby takes place on Saturday, 7 June at 15:30 BST at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey. The Derby, first run in 1780, is Britain's richest flat horse race and has a total purse of £1.5m.
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House.
Royal Ascot, founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, is one of the world's most iconic horse racing events. Its origins date back over 300 years, and it has become a symbol of British heritage and tradition. Each year, the event attracts the finest horses, jockeys, and trainers from around the globe.
