Huntingdon Racecourse
First opened in 1886, the racecourse at Huntingdon has previously been voted the Best Small Racecourse in the South Midlands and East Anglia by the Racegoers Club and is currently part of The Jockey Club. As well as being a famous racecourse, the site at Huntingdon is home to many outdoor events, such as horse shows and car shows, team building days, family fun days and a number of conferences.
The track at Huntingdon is just five minutes from the picturesque market town and it couldn’t be easier to access, whether travelling by car or public transport. Customers driving to the course should take Junction 22 on the A14, as the site is situated just half a mile form here. The A14 links with the A1, M1, M11 and M6 so access is easy no matter which direction you’re travelling from. Alternatively, Huntingdon station is on the mainline from London Kings Cross, with the station just two and a half miles from the course. A complimentary shuttle bus is in operation on race days, which takes racegoers to and from the course.
Ticket Prices
Standard prices on race days are set at £15 for the Main Enclosure and just £10 for access to the picnic enclosure. Reduced prices are available on all tickets bought in advance of the race day, whilst those aged under 18 are allowed entry free of charge when accompanied by a full paying adult.
The Course
The oval shaped course at Huntingdon only accommodates for National Hunt action. Races here are run right-handed on extremely flat ground, lacking any undulations. This, combined with some easy bends makes the 1m4f length circuit one of the fastest in the country, favouring horses with speed rather than stamina unless things get unexceptionally muddy underfoot. It also makes it a decent course for inexperienced horses and jockeys and is generally speaking very fair.
The steeplechase course has a total of nine fences, whilst the hurdles course has five flights per circuit, with the pair both having two obstacles down the home straight. Up until 2008, a water jump had featured as one of the obstacle on the steeplechase course but this was filled in with astroturf.
Flat Runners Welcome
You’ll find that many horses who normally ply their trade on the flat start out gaining some novice jumping experience at Huntingdon as they begin their transition to National Hunt racing. There are few better places to get a horse familiar with a new challenge, in part because the course is so flat and beautifully maintained.
Lacking any other distractions, horses can simply focus on taking the jumps as they come. For those making the jump, so to speak, from hurdles to fences, the taller obstacles are perfectly fair and not overly challenging. Huntingdon’s proximity to Newmarket also plays a role in its popularity for novice runners. Fully aware of the talent in the nearby area, organisers host an abundance of inviting novice events that take place throughout the year.
In order to make a good early impression, horses need to take the jumps quickly as this is something that often proves decisive. Those that dwell in the air too much, or lose too much momentum upon landing, often struggle to keep pace at a racecourse known for having pacier-run events.
Major Meetings at Huntingdon
The racing season at Huntingdon lasts for nine months, with a total of 17 annual jump meetings. The most notable event at Huntingdon is the Boxing Day meeting, which manages to attract over 8,000 people every year. One of the most popular races is the annual Peterborough Chase.
The Grade 2 race was established in 1978 and is run over 2m4½f. Trainer Henrietta Knight made history in this race due to her horse Edredon Bleu winning the race on a record of four consecutive occasions between 1998 and 2001.
Dining and Hospitality
There are four separate price bands in terms of hospitality and private boxes at Huntingdon racecourse and they offer slightly more value for money the higher the package you opt for. The Celebration is the cheapest of the four, which prices at £75 + VAT per person, with the next package being the Classic, priced at £90 + VAT per person.
The two most expensive options are the premier and hospitality packages, which cost £110 + VAT per person and £135 + VAT per person respectively, the latter ideal for a celebration or special occasion.