Chepstow Racecourse

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Chepstow Racecourse is situated in Wye Valley in Wales, just outside Chepstow, Monmouthshire, and falls under the management of the Arena Racing Company. The course is renowned for its beautiful scenery. It is only one of three racecourses in the country (Bangor-on-Dee and Ffos Las are the other two). During any given calendar year, there are roughly 30 race meets at Chepstow. Season highlights include:

Chepstow Racecourse History

Racing in the area began in the late 1800s at St Arvans, very close to the present site of Chepstow. Shortly after that, in 1925, a group of businessmen and gentry purchased Piercefield House and constructed a racecourse on the site. The venture was plagued with financial difficulties from the outset, but despite this, the first race meet was held at the venue on 6th August 1926. 

Money woes continued, and the course was only saved thanks to a bank loan. Unforeseen extra expenses continued and resulted in a decade of financial hardship for the enterprise. Early in 1927, the first jump race took place at Chersptow and ever since then, it has been a venue for both flat racing (summer) and jumps (winter). For many years, the flat racing at Chepstow overshadowed the jumps due to larger prize purses and graded races. Over time, things changed slowly until it became a renowned venue for both disciplines, with jumps becoming the main attraction. 

Notable historical events at Chepstow:

  • In 1933 legendary jockey Gordon Richards rode eleven consecutive winners at the two-day festival before finally being beaten a nose in the last race on his attempt for a dozen straight winners.
  • RAF Chepstow: The site was a working RAF outpost during World War II. A grass runway was used in the centre of the course, and bombers were stored at the venue. 

Postwar was a bleak period for Welsh horse racing, with the closure of a few well-known courses. This resulted in the Welsh National being transferred to Chepstow in 1949. This led to the venue being recognised as a significant jumps site, with successful owners and trainers flocking to race their horse’s at Chepstow. This recognition was later further fueled by the sponsorship of bookmaker Coral, which has sponsored the event for over 40 years. The racecourse crowds also increased after completing the M4 motorway, increasing the convenience for English racegoers wishing to visit. As a result, the course was listed on the stock market in the last 20th century before being taken over by its current owners, Arena Racing Company.

Chepstow is a left-handed wide, undulating track that is approximately 2 miles in circumference. There are two separate courses, with the jumps course located within the flat course. Galloping front-runners tend to excel at the course, but stamina is essential – especially in the wet winter months when the going can get extremely heavy. Races a mile and under all take place straight, with further races around the bend. There is no major draw bias at Chepstow. However, fences at Chepstow are some of the toughest in Britain, making a horse’s jumping ability a significant factor in hurdles races. 

Chepstow is a perennial addition to horse racing in Britain with both flat and jumps races, and it remains one of the most exciting venues for punters. The going plus stamina of horses are the two primary factors when assessing the odds and form at the venue. So when selecting your winners to bet on at this venue, why not start with a boost to your budget or a free bet? Check out the offers below to get started on your journey to profit: