Chester races

Chester is home to what is reputed to be the oldest and also the smallest race course in the UK. Its 1 mile track with tight bends challenges jockeys. The city walls overlook the course and combine with the race course stands to provide great views for race goers.

Racing fixtures for 2008

Here are the planned race meeting dates for 2008:

May:

Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th and Friday 9th.

June:

Tuesday 10th, evening.
Friday 27th, evening, and Saturday 28th.

July:

Friday 11th and Saturday 12th.

August:

Sunday 3rd.
Thursday 21st.
Friday 29th and Saturday 30th.

September:

Saturday 13th.
Saturday 27th.

Getting to the races

The racecourse is close to Chester city centre near to one of the main routes into the city (the A48 from Wrexham). Traffic in the area can be horrendous just before racing starts so using public transport or staying within walking distance of the race course is definitely a good idea.

Accommodation

As you would expect there is a wide choice of hotels in Chester city centre. If you prefer something more homely then Baker's cottage, our holiday cottage in Handbridge, is about 20 minutes walk from the racecourse.

At the time of writing our self catering holiday cottage is still available for the mid September race meetings. Please check our availability calendar and price list or contact us to confirm availability.

A potted history of the Chester races

The racecourse is probably the oldest in the country, dating back to the early sixteenth century. Legend has it that the races were started to distract people from the then increasingly dangerous game of football!

The racecourse is very close to Chester city centre, on a loop in the River Dee on a piece of land called the Roodee.

The Roodee probably gets its name from the Saxon word for cross (rood) and the norse word for island (eye). So named because this area was once covered by the Dee with just a small island in the middle, which, as you've probably guessed, had a stone cross on it. The remains of the cross can still be seen in the middle of the race course today. At the edge of the course you can also find parts of the original Roman harbour wall from the days before the Dee silted up.

The Mayor of Chester, Henry Gee, started the first races with the offer of a silver bell as a prize. He may well have been the source of our nickname for race horses - the gee gees.