Cartmel Racecourse
Encyclopedia
Cartmel Racecourse is a small racecourse in the village of Cartmel
, now in the Ceremonial County of Cumbria
, historically in Lancashire. Meetings are held on the May and August Bank Holiday
s. Although the racecourse is small, it is noted as having a four furlong
run-in, the longest in Britain. For a small racecourse Cartmel attracts relatively huge crowds of 20/25,000.
The earliest written account of racing at Cartmel dates back to 1856. The course was supported by local landowners. Until World War II it was a very small course featuring primarily amateur jockeys, but in the second half of the 20th century the racing programme was expanded and professionalised. The course is situated on the Holker Estate
, and in 1998 Lord Cavendish
bought out the previous management team.
Cartmel was the site of the Gay Future
'coup' in 1974 that involved switching horses before a race and relying on the lack of communications at the course.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/2295403.stm It is also known amongst racegoers for the track leading up to and away from the course.
Cartmel
Cartmel is a village in Cumbria, England, situated north-west of Grange-over-Sands and close to the River Eea. Historically it was in Lancashire; boundary changes brought it into the newly created county of Cumbria in 1974, yet keeping it within the boundaries of the traditional County Palatine...
, now in the Ceremonial County of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, historically in Lancashire. Meetings are held on the May and August Bank Holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
s. Although the racecourse is small, it is noted as having a four furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
run-in, the longest in Britain. For a small racecourse Cartmel attracts relatively huge crowds of 20/25,000.
The earliest written account of racing at Cartmel dates back to 1856. The course was supported by local landowners. Until World War II it was a very small course featuring primarily amateur jockeys, but in the second half of the 20th century the racing programme was expanded and professionalised. The course is situated on the Holker Estate
Holker Hall
Holker Hall is a country house with a celebrated garden situated on the Cartmel Peninsula, which was historically part of the county of Lancashire, but is now part of the county of Cumbria....
, and in 1998 Lord Cavendish
Hugh Cavendish, Baron Cavendish of Furness
Hugh Cavendish, Baron Cavendish of Furness FRSA , who usually uses the name Hugh Cavendish, is a British Conservative politician and landowner. He owns Holker Hall, and its 17,000 acre estate, that overlooks Morecambe Bay in Cumbria...
bought out the previous management team.
Cartmel was the site of the Gay Future
Gay Future
Gay Future was the racehorse at the centre of an attempted coup by an Irish betting syndicate in Great Britain in 1974. The plot involved a Scottish trainer named Antony Collins initially presenting a poorly-performing horse at his stables as if it were the real Gay Future...
'coup' in 1974 that involved switching horses before a race and relying on the lack of communications at the course.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/2295403.stm It is also known amongst racegoers for the track leading up to and away from the course.