Cartmel Horse Racecourse & Betting Review: Great Events, Best Offers and Facts

Here, in our complete review of the Cartmel Racecourse, we will be walking you through some of the most important features of the venue. By first reviewing the technical features of the course itself then looking at the most important meetings held throughout the year before sharing some general facts and figures along with some historical context, we’ll provide you with the most comprehensive overview of the course to date! To kick things off, take a look at the table above where you’ll see an easily-digestible overview of what the best betting sites in the UK have to offer for Cartmel.

The Turf Itself

Cartmel is a venue that only stages National Hunt racing, however, it is only open for business during the summer months, which means that it is generally used to give runners some competitive out-of-season practice. Just over nine furlongs with six fences to a circuit – the last few of which come in pretty quick succession – it is known for being a tight circuit which can get tricky if riders show up underprepared, although, it must be said that the fences are all of fair height and difficulty. The final run-in is half a mile – which makes it the longest in the country; surprisingly though, the lead changes hands in the final stretch a lot more than one may expect. Due to the short nature of the course, the left-handed bends come around pretty fast, making it pretty difficult to negotiate. All in all, it’s a course that requires a fair amount of experience and or technical ability – front-runners also tend to do particularly well here.

Most Popular Cartmel Racecourse Horse Racing Events

Despite the small size of the venue, Cartmel horse racing regularly attracts serious attention from horse racing fans all across the British Isles and thus commands the utmost respect. There are only nine racing meets held here per year, with the majority taking place over bank holiday weekends. Probably the most popular race held here is the Grand Veterans Chase, a Class 3 stayer’s race of 3 miles 5 furlongs and 80 yards. It is reserved for mature horses aged over ten years old with a BHA rating between 0-135 and offers a fairly modest purse of around £13,000. It’s not a particularly prestigious race, however, many who find success here have gone on to compete at the internationally-renowned Grand National at Aintree. The other noteworthy race held at Carmel is the Cumbria Crystal Hurdle – a handicap event for horses aged four and above with a generous purse of more than £40,000, which makes it the most valuable event held there.

Some Interesting Facts

As previously mentioned, the Cartmel horse racing track is small; however, what it lacks in size it makes up for in attendance and atmosphere. It is the Racecourse with the third-highest average attendance in the UK behind Cheltenham Racecourse and Aintree, with more than 20,000 eager fans being known to fill the venue at peak times. Given its close proximity to the Lake District, it’s often referred to as a holiday course, which only adds to its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Adding to this, fans often gather right in the centre of the course, sharing picnics, bbq’s and wine, which gives the course creates a unique, charming character.

Racecourse Information:
First Opened:	1856	Cartmel Racecourse logo The Grandstand at Cartmel Racecourse
Max. Race Distance:	3m 5f 80y
Surface:	Turf
Event:	National Hunt
Average Temperature:	3°/19°
Racecourse Capacity:	5000

Many that have been fortunate enough to experience a day out at Cartmel have spoken of the unmistakable smell that fills the air – the smell of BBQ! Mick Fitzgerald, a retired Irish jockey that competed there once commented “It’s amazing how many times on the way round you get a flash of something cooking in your nostrils …that, above all else, is my defining memory of riding there!” The Cumbria Crystal Trophy, the most valuable event held at Cartmel, is traditionally held on the first day of the Barbecue Meeting, a July meeting where attendees are encouraged to bring their own barbecues and also sample some of the finest locally-sourced meats from the region. Cartmel horse racing betting and barbecuing it seems, then, go hand-in-hand!

Cartmel Racecourse: The Story so Far

Cartmel has a long, rich history of horse racing which dates back as far as the early-15th century, however, the racecourse that we’ve come to know and love held its first meeting in 1856. When it first opened it staged both flat and jump racing events but by the early-20th century, it became a course reserved only for jump races. Prior to World War Two, it was a fairly low-key course that catered to local, amateur jockeys; by the mid-twentieth century, however, it had become a fully professional course with a serious race program which, in turn, raised the profile of Cartmel horse racing betting.

Despite still maintaining its modest stature on the world horse racing circuit, Cartmel Racecourse has attracted some serious trainers. Nicky Henderson, the five-time British jump racing Champion Trainer; Nigel Twiston-Davies, double Grand National and Gold Cup winner; David Pipe, the prolific trainer with pretty much every major British jump racing trophy to his name; and Paul Nicholls, whom many say is the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation with 2000+ wins, have all raced horses and achieved victory at the Cartmel horse racing track. Head on back to the parent page, for more reviews of fantastic horse racing tracks around the UK