Haydock Park Racecourse

Haydock Park
The stands in 2005
Interactive map of Haydock Park
LocationNewton-le-Willows, Merseyside WA12 0HQ
Coordinates53°28′41″N 2°37′19″W / 53.47806°N 2.62194°W / 53.47806; -2.62194
Owned byJockey Club Racecourses
Screened onRacing TV
Course typeFlat
National Hunt
Official website

Haydock Park Racecourse is a dual-purpose horse racing track in Merseyside, North West England. The racecourse is situated within an area of parkland bounded by the towns of Haydock to the west, Ashton-in-Makerfield to the north, Golborne to the east and Newton-le-Willows to the south.

History

Origins

Horse racing has a long history in the local area; regular race meetings were held in nearby Newton-le-Willows for many years prior to the opening of the current venue, including the 1836 victory of the champion racemare Queen of Trumps. The parkland was also used for hare coursing events during the 1880s.

The current racecourse at Haydock Park officially opened in 1899. Much of the track's early layout and commercial development was overseen by Sydney Sandon, who served as course secretary, chairman and managing director in the early 20th century.

Railway station

To coincide with the opening of the track, Haydock Park railway station opened on 10 February 1899. Built by the Liverpool, St Helens and South Lancashire Railway, the station sat directly behind the grandstand and featured two exceptionally long platforms designed to handle thousands of passengers on excursion trains from Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield. It was used exclusively for race-day traffic and was excluded from standard public timetables. Regular passenger excursions ceased in 1963.

Course

The track features a mostly flat, left-handed oval circuit of around 1 mile 5 furlongs (2.6 km) with a slight rise on the four-and-a-half furlong run-in. An extension or "chute" to the home straight allows sprint races of up to six furlongs to be run on an entirely straight course. Separate courses are maintained for flat racing and National Hunt racing.

Facilities

The venue features multiple spectator amenities, including a champagne bar and various hospitality suites.

The racecourse grounds also contain a private grass airstrip, which can be used by light aircraft and helicopters on race days with prior permission.

Live music

In addition to sporting events, Haydock Park regularly acts as an open-air music venue, hosting high-profile pop and rock concerts directly after major summer race meetings. The track's "Music Showcase" events have featured performances from prominent international artists, including Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Madness, and Olly Murs.

Awards

Haydock Park was named national Racecourse of the Year by the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) in both 1998 and 2000. While it has not won the overall title since, the venue has regularly secured the ROA Gold Standard Award and consistently ranks within the Top 10 racecourses in the UK under the Racecourse Association (RCA) and VisitEngland quality assurance assessment scheme.

Notable races

Haydock Park hosts two prestigious Group/Grade 1 races each year that anchor its racing calendar. Its premier flat race is the Haydock Sprint Cup, run in September, which is one of Europe's top sprint events. Its signature National Hunt fixture is the Betfair Chase, held in November, which serves as a crucial early-season target for elite staying chasers.

The course also hosts a variety of other high-profile Group, Grade, and premier handicap fixtures throughout the year:

Month Day Race name Type Class / grade Distance Age / sex
JanuarySaturdayAltcar Novices' ChaseChaseGrade 22m 5f5yo+
JanuarySaturdayRossington Main Novices' HurdleHurdleGrade 22m4yo+
JanuarySaturdayPeter Marsh ChaseChaseGrade 23m 1f5yo+
FebruarySaturdayRendlesham HurdleHurdleGrade 23m4yo+
FebruarySaturdayPrestige Novices' HurdleHurdleGrade 23m4yo+
FebruarySaturdayGrand National TrialChasePremier Hcap3m 4f5yo+
FebruarySaturdayVictor Ludorum Juvenile HurdleHurdleConditions2m4yo only
MaySaturdaySwinton Handicap HurdleHurdlePremier Hcap2m4yo+
MaySaturdaySpring TrophyFlatListed7f3yo+
MaySaturdaySilver BowlFlatHandicap1m3yo only
MaySaturdayTemple StakesFlatGroup 25f3yo+
JuneSaturdaySandy Lane StakesFlatGroup 26f3yo only
JuneSaturdayLester Piggott StakesFlatGroup 31m 3f 200y4yo+ f
JuneSaturdayAchilles StakesFlatListed5f3yo+
JuneSaturdayJohn of Gaunt StakesFlatGroup 37f4yo+
JulySaturdayOld Newton CupFlatHandicap1m 3f 200y4yo+
JulySaturdayLancashire OaksFlatGroup 21m 3f 200y3yo+ f
AugustSaturdayDick Hern Fillies' StakesFlatConditions1m3yo+ f
AugustSaturdayRose of Lancaster StakesFlatGroup 31m 2f 95y3yo+
SeptemberSaturdayAscendant StakesFlatConditions1m2yo only
SeptemberSaturdayHaydock Sprint CupFlatGroup 16f3yo+
SeptemberSaturdaySuperior MileFlatGroup 31m3yo+
NovemberSaturdayBetfair Stayers' Handicap HurdleHurdleGrade 33m ½f4yo+
NovemberSaturdayBetfair ChaseChaseGrade 13m 1½f5yo+
DecemberSaturdayTommy Whittle ChaseChaseHandicap3m4yo+

References

  1. ↑ "Homepage - Haydock Park Racecourse". haydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk.
  2. ↑ Edward, Charles and James Weatherby (1837). Racing calendar. 1836. C & W Reynell. p. 63. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "DEATH OF FULLERTON". Otago Witness. 17 August 1899. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. ↑ Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Disused Stations: Haydock Park Racecourse Station". Disused Stations. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  6. ↑ UK VFR Flight Guide. Published by Goodall Publications Ltd. Distributed to the aviation trade by: AFE, Southside, Manchester Airport, Wilmslow Cheshire (1995)
  7. ↑ "Haydock Park Airstrip Airport - AG6246". AirportGuide. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Haydock Park Airstrip (GB-0309) - Pilot info". Metar-Taf.com. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Haydock Park (Newton-le-Willows)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  10. ↑ West 2000, p. 13.

Bibliography