Horse racing is the second-most attended sport in the United Kingdom, meaning that it is no surprise that thousands of residents in Coventry typically venture away from the East Midlands city to attend a day at the track.
Unfortunately, the city does haven’t a track of its own, meaning that those that want to see world class equines up close will need to travel for the privilege. Although, fans of the sport won’t need to go as far as North America, where the Breeders’ Cup results will be determined.
So, what are the best horse racing locations near Coventry, and how close are they from the city centre?
Warwick Racecourse
A preferred option for many racing fans that live in Coventry is a trip to the historic Warwick Racecourse. The track is located just 20 minutes away in the car, and 46 minutes on the train for those looking for a social day out.
Warwick is one of the most historic courses in the United Kingdom, with racing having been staged at the track since 1808 when the first stand was built. It is a preferred course for jumps fans, as flat racing at the location ended in 2014. However, there are notable dates in the diary.
Among those include the Classic Chase in January, and the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase in February, which typically serves as a British trial for the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The most famous recent winner of the latter was Jonbon for trainer Nicky Henderson.
Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse
Another iconic track is also located within striking distance of Coventry, as fans can watch horse racing in the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Stratford-upon-Avon is located just 31 minutes away from Coventry in the car.
However, the course is slightly more difficult to get to on the train, as fans will need to switch at Leamington Spa. Stratford is one of the oldest racecourses in the UK, with the first official horse race dating back to 1718. However, the racecourse proper didn’t open its doors to the public until 1755.
One of the most famous moments at the track came in 1839, as Lottery won at the course before landing the Grand National a few months later. The biggest date in the diary is the Stratford Foxhunters Chase, which is regarded as the third jewel on the Hunter Chase schedule following races at Cheltenham and Aintree.
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Slightly further afield, Coventry locals can get their taste of flat racing on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. The Black Country track is located an hour away by car, and is reachable in just over 60 minutes on the train.
Wolves is most famous for being the first floodlit racecourse in Britain, and regular holds evening meets throughout the season. Racing has been contested on Tapeta since 2014, and it previously held National Hunt action between 1825 and 1993.
The Lady Wulfruna Stakes is the biggest date in the diary, with the most notable winner of the race coming in the form of Sovereign Debt. Plans to expand the racing calendar are well underway, as the greyhound track will open at Wolverhampton later this year.
Worcester Racecourse
There are few better cities in the West Midlands for a day out than Worcester, and its regular racedays are always popular dates in the diary for fans of the sport. Worcester is located within an hour by car of Coventry, while it is also reachable via train and a change at Birmingham New Street.
The track in Worcester only hosts National Hunt action, and action has been staged since 1718. Flat racing was previously held at Worcester until 1966. It was once regarded as the sporting hub of the city, with Worcester Rugby Club and Worcester FC also playing at the course until the early 1900s.
Summer action is most prominent at the track due to the risk of flooding during the summer months, and Worcester was the first British track to establish a summertime schedule following its introduction in 1995.
Cheltenham Racecourse
For racing fans, there are few more iconic venues to visit than Cheltenham. Fortunately, the home of Jumps Racing is within striking distance of Coventry, and is easily reachable by car and train.
Both modes of transport take just over an hour, with the latter requiring a stop at Birmingham New Street. Cheltenham is the mecca for fans of jump racing, with the world’s biggest stars over obstacles competing at the world-famous venue since 1834.
Undeniably, the biggest racing event on the calendar is staged at the track, with the Cheltenham Festival being staged across four days in March. Each day features a championship race, with the week headlined by the iconic Gold Cup. This year’s edition of the race was won by Inothewayurthinkin, beating two-time champion Galopin Des Champs.
Written by Steve Jones
