Perth Racecourse & Betting Review: Beloved Events, Best Offers and Facts

For a brief overview of the best features of some of the more favourable UK betting sites for wagering on races at the Perth, our table (shown above) will serve as the ideal introduction. You’ll find information relating to top welcome promotions for new players, payout prices, betting types and special event promotions. In the sections below we’ll be sharing some information about the history behind the track, reviewing the technical aspects of the course and taking a look at some of the most popular horse races held here. Continue reading for our top punter’s betting guide to the Perth Racecourse.

The Turf Itself

Perth Racecourse is right-handed, predominantly flat and features eight fences to a circuit. It’s more square-shaped than oval-shaped, meaning that it has four pretty tight bends that can cause runners some issues. Adding to this, it has a long final straight with a big gap between the finish line, which means that it often serves as a stiff test of stamina. Timing is key here as runners need to make sure they save enough energy for the end; horses that go too hard too early often find themselves wanting in the final stages. Overall, though, it’s a fair course with fair fences that seldom cause bad accidents. It’s renowned for its party atmosphere and intimate surroundings where spectators are treated to fantastic views of the runners, particularly as they approach the water jump in front of the grandstand.

Most Popular Perth Horse Racing Events

Perth horse racing is most famous for its three-day betting in April, with its consistently enthusiastic crowd and competitive field. The feature race on the first day is the Gold Castle Novice Hurdle, a Class 1 race that was recently awarded Listed Status. Run over 2 miles 7 furlongs and 207 yards, it offers a purse of about £18,000 and usually has a pretty small field of 5 or so runners. The final day hosts the biggest day of the meeting, the Highland National. This Class 3 Handicap race is run over 3 miles and six furlongs and has a £20,000 purse and almost always produces a top-class winner. Outside of the April meeting, there’s a summer carnival in August, a big race day in Autumn and the Glorious Finale in September, which is the course’s oldest fixture and has recently had a massive injection of prize money from new sponsors.

Some Interesting Facts

Did you know that despite its modest size, the Perth horse racing track has been awarded three prestigious awards?! Recently the winner of the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Star Award in Leisure and Tourism and the Racegoers Club Best Overall Racecourse for Scotland and the North East, it saw off stiff competition from a number of much larger racecourses. Not only does the calibre of runner, jockey, horse, and trainer far exceed the course’s modest size, but the intimate, friendly nature of the venue makes for a unique day out at the races you’ll struggle to find at other tracks we’ve reviewed.

Racecourse Information:
First Opened:	1908	Perth Racecourse logo The Grandstand at Perth Racecourse
Max. Race Distance:	3m 6f
Surface:	Turf
Event:	Gold Castle Novice Hurdle
Average Temperature:	0°/20°
Racecourse Capacity:	10000

One of the most famous names to have featured at Perth over the years is Bindaree. This Irish Chestnut Gelding made his debut over fences in 2000 and went on to win the world-famous Aintree Grand National in 2002. Also winner of the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle (1999), the Challow Novices’ Hurdle (1999), the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (2000) and the Welsh National (2003) his name has now been forever etched into the history of the course and he has a cafe in the grandstand named after him. He is also partly responsible for Perth betting experiencing a brief rise in popularity in the early 2000’s.

Perth: The Story so Far

Perth has a unique, rich history which dates back over 4000 years to the time of Oliver Cromwell. Records show that these early races were held on the South Inch, a piece of land close to the River Tay. Under King Charles II horse racing enjoyed increased popularity and was heavily endorsed by his monarch. As a result, the Royal Caledonian Hunt Club, impressed by the top class racing here, introduced the Caledonian Gold Cup and helped to establish a more formal racing schedule with an increased number of competitive race days. Perth horse racing betting, however, would not take off until much later.

In addition to the aforementioned Bindaree, some other top champions have made their start at the Perth horse racing track and gone on to do great things. Fagan, an Irish and US-bred gelding owned by A Bartlett and trained by Gordon Elliot won his first Novice Bumper in 2014 and went on top win races at Musselburgh and Perth and also claimed second-place twice and Cheltenham. As previously mentioned there are a number of races here, particularly the Highland National – that have produced some very worthwhile competitors. Time will only tell who the next one will be…