Wetherby
Date of Review: 26th January 2023
Address: Wetherby LS22 5EJ, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.wetherbyracing.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wetherbyraces/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wetherbyraces
Email: info@wetherbyracing.co.uk
Phone: 01937 582035
Hotel Accommodation: https://uk.hotels.com/de10452676/hotels-near-wetherby-racecourse-wetherby-united-kingdom/
Track Layout: (Image: courtesy & acknowledged to At The Races)
Course Information:
Wetherby is a left-handed, turf, dual-purpose (both flat and jumps) racecourse. It is an extended oval around a mile and a half in circumference. It has few undulations, with the track descending along the length of the back straight and the home turn before climbing up the short home straight to the winning post. The steeplechase course has nine fences, four in the home straight, and five, which includes two open ditches down the back straight. The hurdles course has six flights, three on each of the back and home straights. Flat races are held on the exact same course minus the obstacles. The flat course is a relatively new addition with flat racing fixtures commencing in 2015.
With its two long straight sections and two relatively easy bends, the course suits all types of horses, those with good jumping ability but also those who are galloping and long-striding types, as it has a long four-furlong home straight, which is ideal for hold-up horses who like to go for home with a late run. The track doesn’t have a straight sprint course, with the shortest races over five and a half furlongs starting from a chute at the end of the back straight. The course holds flat fixtures throughout the early spring and summer, with the jumps fixtures commencing in October.
The Racecourse Advisor Guide to Wetherby Racecourse:
Course History: The racecourse is located in 259 acres of parkland on the edge of the market town of Wetherby, which is only thirteen miles from the historic city of York and nineteen miles from Leeds. Yorkshire is a stronghold of British horse racing, having nine of the 60 racecourses located within its four counties.
Horse racing in this area dates back to the early 19th century at Linton. The course was moved to its current location in 1891. Its first grandstand was opened in 1906; in 1917, the Wetherby Race Company was created, and the lease for the racecourse was purchased. It grew in popularity and stature, helped by the opening of a new railway station nearby, with visits from both Price Henry and Princess Mary in 1923.
A fire wiped out most of the racecourse's buildings in 1958. They were required to be rebuilt and opened in 1960. The Club Stand was added in 1968. In 2000, a substantial investment of £4 million saw the opening of the Millennium Stand, and a further £3.2m redevelopment project took place in 2016 to further upgrade the course facilities.
Wetherby’s feature race is the long-distance, three-mile Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase, which has seen several legendary chasers compete in it, including Wayward Lad, Burrough Hill Lad, See More Business, and One Man.
Location - Wetherby Racecourse
The Racecourse Advisor Guide to Wetherby Racecourse:
Course Access:
By Road: The racecourse is centrally located fifteen miles between Leeds, Harrogate, and York. It is on the B1224 close to Junction 46 of the A1(M), which is Wetherby Services. The sat-nav postcode to use is LS22 5EJ. On "Feature Racedays," a free shuttle bus operates between the racecourse and the central bus station in Wetherby town centre.
By Rail: Unfortunately, Wetherby railway station closed in 1964. The nearest mainline stations are Harrogate, York, and Leeds, which are approximately 12-15 miles away from the racecourse.
By Air: The nearest airports to Wetherby Racecourse are Leeds Bradford (LBA), 16 miles away; Manchester (MAN), 78 miles; Newcastle (NCL), 88 miles; and East Midlands (EMA), 90 miles away. Helicopters can land at the racecourse by prior agreement. Call 01937 582035 for further details. Rating: 8/10.
Parking: Free car parking is available on the racecourse grounds, directly outside of the main entrance to the course. The signage is good, and plenty of parking attendants are on hand to assist you. Be aware that the parking is predominantly on grass, so it may be tricky in the winter months for those without 4x4 vehicles. Also, there is a disabled parking area within 200 metres of the main entrance. It is also possible to park in the centre of the Course Enclosure. Admission allows one car and up to four adults to enter. However, there is a cost to this. Rating: 9/10.
Pricing: The day of our visit it was a seven-race card consisting of one Class 1 race, one Class 2 race, one Class 3 race, and four Class 4 races. Tickets at the gate on the day were £29.00 each for entrance into the Premier Enclosure. However, there was an online special that had tickets for £10.50 if booked online in advance before the 1st of January 2025, which included a £0.50p “booking fee.” Tickets booked online, in advance after this date, were £27.50, which included a complimentary racecard and the £0.50p “booking fee.” Concession-priced tickets were £22.50. Tickets into the Paddock Enclosure were £19.50, and concession prices were £14.50 (both of which included the booking fee). Tickets to the Course Enclosure were £6.50 and £3.50, respectively. Children aged 17 and under gained free admission.
There was also an offer of £18.50 (including the booking fee) for a car and up to four adults to be admitted to the Course Enclosure, if booked online, in advance up to the 9th of January. If booked after this date, the price was £23.50 (including the booking fee).
There were a couple of hospitality upgrade options, which included the “White Rose Bistro Package,” which for £61.50 (including the £0.50p booking fee) gets you admission, a racecard and a reserved table in the restaurant on level 3 of the Wetherby Millennium Stand, within the Premier Enclosure. A two-course meal, with a third course added for an additional £7.75 if wanted. Please be aware that you cannot view the racing from this location, and you are required to walk down a level to the Millennium Grandstand to do so. TV screens and Tote betting facilities are available in the suite.
The next up was the “Dine & View” package. For £143.00 (no booking fee this time), you get car parking, admission, a table in the glass-fronted restaurant situated close to the finishing post, a private, elevated trackside balcony, a four-course buffet meal, a racing tipster, and complimentary tea and coffee. Why, oh why, do racecourses keep insisting on applying sneaky additional “booking fees”? Why not just be honest and upfront and advertise the tickets at the full price, which includes any booking fees? It really is annoying and unnecessary. The price shown in the headline should be the price you actually pay. What is the “booking fee” actually for? It’s a rip-off, and it needs calling out as one. C’mon, Wetherby Racecourse. Do the right thing, drop these rip-off “booking fees” once and for all, and make your pricing schedule clear and transparent to customers and racegoers.
The good news is that Wetherby is not a cashless racecourse. While credit card payment is required at the turnstiles if paying for a ticket on entry, cash is accepted in all other areas of the Racecourse. There are also cash machines inside the Bramham Hall facility and on Level 2 of the Millennium Stand. In our opinion, the gate price of £29.00 on the day was a little on the high side. However, the online pricing, particularly with the advanced booking and special offers, was very much VFM (Value For Money). Rating: 8/10
Catering: As we both enjoy doing "racecourse reviews" rather than restaurant reviews or pretending to be food critics, our aim is to give you an overall idea of what culinary options are available at the track on race days.
There is a smart coffee shop just after the main entrance named ‘The Tack Room’ with tables and chairs and racing silks a plenty. They also have a nice line of cakes and pastries for those with a sweet tooth! Then there is the Bramham Hall Café & Bar just further down, which does the more traditional fish & chips or pie and chips for a reasonable £8.95 a pop. Just behind the viewing platform of the parade ring, there are a couple of more than decent ‘street food’ stalls (as they are called nowadays).
One selling traditional fish & chips (£10.00) / chicken & chips (£8.50) / sausage & chips (£8.50), a fish finger sandwich (£8.00), or a chicken steak sandwich (£7.50). They also do a fine-looking portion of chips and curry for £5.50, and the portions look huge! Just next to that is another outlet that specialises in and sells a mean Cornish pasty for £5.00 a go. We went with the traditional steak variant, and it was more than a decent size and more than tasty! A good choice, we think. They also sell teas and coffees for £2.50 each. We got very excited when we saw they also do a Bovril drink, but alas, it was not available on the day. There is also a family picnic area and a children’s play area at the back of the Course Stand. Rating: 10/10.
Guinness Standard: Draught Guinness is available at £6.50 a pint, so it's not the cheapest but fairly average racecourse pricing. It was a nice pint, to be fair. The very good news is that the bars will accept cash on this course. There are signs saying that credit cards are preferred, but cash is accepted. Good old Yorkshire common sense, we think, and it's welcomed. Rating: 8/10.
Viewing: The viewing is excellent at this course! You can see the horses running for around 98% of the time. In both the Premier Enclosure and the Paddock Enclosure, there are large, well-covered grandstands to watch the races from. Both have seating areas. The stand in the Paddock Enclosure was clean and well-maintained. It was one of the best we have seen so far on our travels. Rating: 9/10.
Parade Ring / Winners Enclosure: The parade ring at this track is huge, and the ground staff also kept it looking immaculate. Again, it is one of the best we have seen. It is set behind the Premier and Paddock Enclosures. It has a very large paved and tiered viewing area, and the winner's enclosure is immediately at the front of this, where the placed horses return.
The weighing room and administration offices are immediately behind it. The parade ring here also has a fantastic sculpture of a 15-foot-tall racehorse made entirely from used horseshoes. It is currently on loan from a Selby-based artist named Ollie Holman, so it is not a permanent fixture. The sculpture is for sale if it takes your fancy! Rating: 10/10
Bookmakers / Betting Facilities: The main betting ring is in front of the Paddock Stand. There are around 9 or 10 bookies, with another 4 or 5 to the right inside the Premier Stand. So no problem getting a bet on or picking up. There is also a large William Hill outlet in the bar of the Paddock Stand and more than enough Tote concessions dotted around the course. Overall, more than good. Rating: 9/10.
Friendliness of Course Staff: There are plenty of course staff in attendance, all of whom give you a good old Yorkshire welcome. They are more than helpful and very chatty. Rating: 10/10.
Pros & Cons: Overall, it has to be said that Wetherby is a superb, high-quality racing venue that works hard at looking after its customers. Very easy access, straight off the A1. Bags of parking and reasonable admission charges. The view from the stands is truly excellent. A great range of catering/food options to suit all pockets and all tastes.
Good betting facilities and very friendly and helpful course staff. You know it’s good when the hand soap in the toilets is scented ‘Black Pepper & Ginseng’ – very classy! The big bonus is that the main bar also takes cash – common sense prevails – at last. What more could you wish for when going racing? We were impressed. Very impressed! As always, the question is would we return to Wetherby Racecourse? There is absolutely no doubt we we would and it won't be very long before we do. Rating: 9/10.
VIP Watch: No VIPs to spot on the day we attended.
Overall Racecourse Advisor Rating: 8.9/10.
The full day's racing results can be found here: https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/2023-01-26/wetherby/95491
Facilities & location layout of Wetherby Racecourse : (Image: courtesy & acknowledged to International Racecourse Management Ltd.)
Aerial View of Wetherby Racecourse: (Image: courtesy of & acknowledged to Google Earth)
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