Racecourses & Railways

[Cyberbeagle]

Hoping some of the members here can help me - I'm looking to try and identify as many racecourses across the UK and Ireland that have (or had) a railway link/station - either as part of the National Network or surviving as part of a heritage line.

This is prompted by seeing the episode of “Great British Railway Journeys Goes to Ireland”, broadcast on Thursday, 7 Feb 2013, where the Chief Executive of the Irish National Stud, John Osborne, noted in an episode ofthe historical link between racing and the railways. He said that “The train would have been the artery of horse racing. A lot of the racecourses - not co-incidentally - evolved close to mainline railways. We take for granted today how easy it is to ship horses twice around the globe now, but back then the racehorses travelled by train as well.” In the case of the Curragh, Michael Portillo observed that so close was the relationship between the railway and racing that the course had its own sidings, and the Great Southern and Western Railway sponsored an annual race, which is still raced today – the Railway Stakes.

So I'm interested to find out what racecourses retain their rail links anywhere on these isles

 

[trivran]

Aintree.

 

[richard1976]

Kempton Park

 

[RPM]

Cheltenham and Stratford upon Avon racecourses both had dedicated stations, on the same line. Cheltenham Racecourse is now the southern terminus of the Glos Warks Railway.
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Newbury Racecourse has its own station too.

 

[Qwerty133]

Uttoxeter station is at the racecourse, however EMT use 1 coach trains and it is not unknown for passengers to be left behind.

 

[Morden Via CHX]

Wolverhampton - Dunstall Park

 

[westv]

Presumbly you aren't talking about stations that are just next to courses such as Esher and Plumpton?

 

[pinguini]

In the case of Worcester, there isnt a station/stop at pitchcroft racecourse however the railway line runs over it (so you can see the racecourse down below when heading from Worcester towards Malvern) and Foregate Street is not too far away

 

[OuterDistant]

Uttoxeter?

 

[steamybrian]

Wye and Westenhanger (Folkestone) both had racecourses next to them but both racecourses are now closed.
Gatwick Racecourse closed in 1956 and the site and station became Gatwick Airport.
Woodside was adjacent to Croydon Racecourse the latter closed around 1890.
Tattenham Corner is close to Epsom Racecourse.
Wetherby had its own racecourse station closed around 1960

 

[TBY-Paul]

Not sure if this counts, but I think, when I was a boy, some horses would be unloaded at Tees Yard, and walked across the road to Stockton Racecourse.

 

[transmanche]

The original Alexandra Palace station (closed 1954) was built to serve Ally Pally, which had a racecourse (Alexandra Park racecourse, closed in 1970). Wood Green station (now called Alexandra Palace) was nearby and Palace Gates station (closed 1964) was also built to serve the Palace and Park.

 

[table38]

Haydock Park

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Newbury Racecourse (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/nrc/details.html) is still in situ, and served by some extra stop HST's on big racedays or events.

Westv - I presume it is about stations that serve the racecourses that are either still in existance or closed. Esher is right by one isn't it? I'd count it as IIRC the station sign mentions the course?
Also, didn't Plumton once have a station called 'Plumpton Racecourse'?

 

[westv]

Esher is Sandown Park.

 

[transmanche]

The Curragh used to have two stations. One on the mainline and one on a siding off the mainline. The latter closed in 1977.

About 12 years ago, I went to the races by train. it stopped specially at The Curragh - no sign of a station by then. Access from the train was by some portable steps down to ground level. I believe that those race-day specials have now ceased.

 

[tony6499]

Southwell has a station right on the course and Lingfields is right by the racecourse car park

 

[ValleyLines142]

Pontefract Tanshelf is just down the road from Pontefract Racecourse; however, there are no trains on a Sunday, despite the fact Pontefract Races have regular Sunday meetings throughout the spring and summer.

 

[swt_passenger]

Gosforth Park (Newcastle)

Historically there were 'race course platforms' on the down side just before Killingworth station (closed)...

 

[steamybrian]

Derby Racecourse station closed 1938
Nottingham Racecourse station closed 1959
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Southwell has a station right on the course and Lingfields is right by the racecourse car park

I thought Southwell station closed in 1959..?

Plumpton had a separate platform adjacent to the main station which closed many years ago (1960s or early 1970s).Trains to the races now use Plumpton station.
Similar at Westenhanger was a separate station for Folkestone Racecourse about 100 yards London side of Westenhanger station which was closed in the late 1960s after which race trains stopped at Westenhanger.
Lingfield station is about half a mile from the racecourse and car park.

and two more rare ones-

Ashey Racecourse (Isle of Wight) with a station off a short branch line from the Ryde to Newport line. Station closed circa 1930.
Ascot West station also served Ascot racecourse until the station closed circa 1965

 

[SussexMan]

Plumpton in East Sussex has a direct link to the racecourse as shown here:

National Rail site

 

[CockneySparrow]

Newmarket isn't that far away although the station itself is in a bad state, well two thirds of it is anyway

Odd really as GA have to keep the last carriage of a three car 170 locked as it doesn't make the platform that used to hold 12 carriages lol

 

[Qwerty133]

I thought Southwell station closed in 1959..?

it's Rolleston station next to Southwell

 

[martinsh]

I thought Southwell station closed in 1959..?

Southwell racecourse is adjacent to Rolleston (Junction) station

I believe that Bogside racecourse (near Irvine, Scotland, closed 1963) had it's own station, but I'll have to check my old maps.

Birmingham racecourse (closed 1965 - my dad went to the last meeting) was adjacent to Bromford Bridge station (which closed well before the racecourse)

Ludlow racecourse is adjacent to Bromfield station (closed 1958).

 

[billio]

Wetherby Racecourse station on the Church Fenton - Harrogate line.

 

[mildertduck]

York had a racecourse station, too... although it wasn't that near the station...

 

[island]

Limerick Junction (marketed as Tipperary racecourse) comes to mind.

The Curragh halt was closed several years ago for H&S reasons as the step down from/up to the train is ginormous.

Ascot is a brief walk from its station.

Kempton Park has a station too.

 

[Buttsy]

Newmarket isn't that far away although the station itself is in a bad state, well two thirds of it is anyway

Odd really as GA have to keep the last carriage of a three car 170 locked as it doesn't make the platform that used to hold 12 carriages lol

Newmarket once had it's own racecourse station in the mid 1800s

 

[alexjames]

Methinks the query is based on a lack of knowledge of racing history.

Back in the day, almost all tracks had a station nearby. Most still do but the days when nags arrived by train are long gone. Nearby is defined in horse walking terms. I would not reckon a three mile distance as nearby but that is a gentle stroll for a thoroughbred.

One exception is Goodwood. Not exactly a sensible spot for a station.

 

[reb0118]

Lanark Racecourse Halt.