Southwell Racecourse
Encyclopedia
Southwell Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located near Newark-on-Trent
, Nottinghamshire
, England
. It is one of only five racecourses in the UK to have an all-weather track (it is the only one with a fibresand surface). As fibresand is a mixture of sand and wispy fibres it is sometimes referred to as "spube", this being derived from the "s" of sand and the resemblance of a kind of human hair.
The racing is also of significance. The now unique fibresand racing surface is quite deep and so makes the track a good stamina test. Ability to stay the distance and fitness are therefore big advantages at Southwell. The track also often features many of the most hardworking jockeys throughout the winter, as well as plenty of high profile stars from time to time.
National Hunt racing also occurs here. In 2007, the Great Yorkshire (now Skybet) Chase was held at Southwell, whilst Doncaster closed for redevelopment.
Southwell racecourse will always be associated with female jockey Hayley Turner
, who grew up locally and had her first job in racing with a trainer based adjacent to the track.
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is one of only five racecourses in the UK to have an all-weather track (it is the only one with a fibresand surface). As fibresand is a mixture of sand and wispy fibres it is sometimes referred to as "spube", this being derived from the "s" of sand and the resemblance of a kind of human hair.
The racing is also of significance. The now unique fibresand racing surface is quite deep and so makes the track a good stamina test. Ability to stay the distance and fitness are therefore big advantages at Southwell. The track also often features many of the most hardworking jockeys throughout the winter, as well as plenty of high profile stars from time to time.
National Hunt racing also occurs here. In 2007, the Great Yorkshire (now Skybet) Chase was held at Southwell, whilst Doncaster closed for redevelopment.
Southwell racecourse will always be associated with female jockey Hayley Turner
Hayley Turner
Hayley Turner is a professional jockey based in the United Kingdom. She was born on 3 January 1983.Turner is widely considered to be the first woman to achieve a sustained, day-in, day-out, successful career as a professional jockey in the UK...
, who grew up locally and had her first job in racing with a trainer based adjacent to the track.