Chepstow Racecourse
Encyclopedia
Chepstow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located just outside the town of Chepstow
in Monmouthshire
, Wales
, near the southern end of the Wye Valley
which forms the border with England. It is one of three racecourses in Wales, the others being at Bangor-on-Dee
and at Ffos Las
in Carmarthenshire
, opened in 2009.
The racecourse was opened on 6 August 1926 in the grounds of Piercefield House
. The first race was a two-year-old seller won by Lord Harewood's colt Conca D'Oro, the 7-4 favourite. In 1933, at a two day meeting, Gordon Richards
won 11 consecutive Chepstow races. After the war, and the demise of the nearby Caerleon
course, the Welsh National
was transferred to Chepstow. The racecourse remained on the margins of British racing until 1966, when the opening of the Severn Bridge
made the venue more accessible to the people of England.
In 2010, the last three meetings of the calendar year were cancelled and moved to Bath and Brighton, after an outbreak of root-gall nematodes.
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, near the southern end of the Wye Valley
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain....
which forms the border with England. It is one of three racecourses in Wales, the others being at Bangor-on-Dee
Bangor-on-Dee
Bangor-on-Dee is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is a village in the ancient district of Maelor in Wales, situated on the banks of the River Dee...
and at Ffos Las
Ffos Las racecourse
The Ffos Las racecourse is a horse racing, equestrian sports and conferencing venue situated just off the B4317 road, opposite the Glyn Abbey Golf Club, in a rural area called Ffos Las between Trimsaran and Carway and is about north of Llanelli...
in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, opened in 2009.
The racecourse was opened on 6 August 1926 in the grounds of Piercefield House
Piercefield House
Piercefield House is a largely ruined neo-classical country house designed by Sir John Soane, located near Chepstow in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. Its extensive surrounding park overlooking the Wye Valley includes Chepstow Racecourse...
. The first race was a two-year-old seller won by Lord Harewood's colt Conca D'Oro, the 7-4 favourite. In 1933, at a two day meeting, Gordon Richards
Gordon Richards
Sir Gordon Richards was an English jockey, and is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey. He remains the only jockey to have been knighted....
won 11 consecutive Chepstow races. After the war, and the demise of the nearby Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
course, the Welsh National
Welsh National
The Welsh National is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
was transferred to Chepstow. The racecourse remained on the margins of British racing until 1966, when the opening of the Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
made the venue more accessible to the people of England.
In 2010, the last three meetings of the calendar year were cancelled and moved to Bath and Brighton, after an outbreak of root-gall nematodes.
Notable races
- Welsh NationalWelsh NationalThe Welsh National is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
- Finale Juvenile HurdleFinale Juvenile HurdleThe Finale Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Chepstow over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
- Persian War Novices' HurdlePersian War Novices' HurdleThe Persian War Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...
- Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle
- Golden Daffodil StakesGolden Daffodil StakesThe Golden Daffodil Stakes was a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which was open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It was run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 36 yards , and it was scheduled to take place each year in July.The event...
(last run in 2005)