Taunton Racecourse & Betting Review: Favourite Events, Best Offers and Facts

In this article, we will aim to provide you, our readers, with a dedicated bettor’s guide to the Taunton. To start off you can take a look at the table shown above and get a brief rundown on what some of the better UK betting sites on offer as far as new player sign-up bonuses, special event bonuses and promotions, payout prices and betting types are concerned. In the later sections, we will be sharing some historical background, some general facts, stats and figures and also taking a look at most-famous meetings and the hall of fame. Get the full report here!

The Turf Itself

Taunton Racecourse has a distinctive, almost rectangular form due to its sharp bends and four corners. Many make the mistake of assuming that it’s a small, easy course to run, however, there are a pretty high number of casualties here, which is partly due to the level of the runner but also due to the sharp bends. The course is 1 mile and 2 furlongs all the way around and has a variety of obstacles – fences and open ditches – to manage. The two long straights contain all the obstacles – there are three on one and four on the other – and the recently installed reservoir means that the going stays pretty good even during the harsh winter months. It’s that has been to catch out novices, again due to the sharp turns, but also a place where many a great runner has made their debut and won.

Most Popular Taunton Horse Racing Events

Taunton horse racing isn’t widely renowned for hosting a great number of top-tier events. The most prestigious and most popular meet is probably the Triumph Hurdle, a Grade 1 event run over 2 miles and 179 yards and reserved for horse aged over four-years-old. It’s worth £125,000, which makes it the venue’s race richest race – just over £71,000 is paid to the winner, about £26,700 goes to the second-place runner, £13,300 goes to the third place and about £6,600 goes to the selection that comes in fourth. The Taunton Maiden Hurdle is another well-attended event. It’s run over 2 miles 3 furlongs and 1 yard and is reserved for horses aged over four. Unfortunately, the fairly low level of competition here means that there aren’t a great number of special promotions up for grabs. Why not try signing up to a new bookmaker and using the welcome bonus to bet on a race a Taunton. The Ladbrokes 100% deposit match free bet bonus offers good value!

Some Interesting Facts

As previously mentioned, the Taunton horse racing track is a place where many horses have made their first few starts and then gone on to win more major titles. Well Chief, a German-bred British-trained horse, made his British debut in a Maiden Hurdle race in 2003 and won by 5 lengths. Not long after he recorded his first major win in the Adonis Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle and went on to win the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton later in the same season. He also won the Arkle Challenge Trophy (2004) the Celebration Chase (2005) and the Game Spirit Chase (2007), among several more major championships.

Racecourse Information:
First Opened:	1927	Taunton Racecourse logo The Grandstand at Taunton Racecourse
Max. Race Distance:	2m 4f
Surface:	Turf
Event:	Triumph Hurdle
Average Temperature:	4°/21°
Racecourse Capacity:	6000

Did you know that Paul Nicholls is the most successful trainer on the chase and the hurdles course at Taunton over the last 3 years?! On the chase course, he’s won 5 wins and 15 places from 31 runners and accumulated about £42,348 in prize money, meaning he has a strike rate of 16.13%. On the hurdles course, he’s managed 25 wins and 38 places from 78 runners and has won £135,325, giving him an even more impressive strike rate of 32.05%. Influential figures such as these have massively contributed to the growth of Taunton betting over the years.

Taunton Racecourse: The Story so Far

Like so many of the courses we’ve reviewed, Taunton has a long, rich history that dates back across a number of centuries. We know that horse racing has been taking place in Taunton in the Broomhay and West Monkton areas since the 18th century, however, the famous racecourse that so many fans have grown to know and love today didn’t open until 1927. Back before the course opened racing was interrupted several times – once due to the Napoleonic Wars at the start of the 19th century and again toward the end of the century. By the time the new course was built, though, racing returned in full flight and by the 1960’s, Taunton horse racing betting emerged as a serious UK market.

Nowadays, the Taunton horse racing track is a small, yet highly enjoyable place to go and watch and bet on jumps racing during the winter months. There are many locations where this fantastic sport is hosted, read more reviews of the UK’s best tracks to get fully acquainted with the sport. As we mentioned earlier, a reservoir was installed not too long ago, which has meant the ground holds up very well during the winter when others do not and there are fantastic public areas such as restaurants, bars and enclosures that boast a warm, family-friendly atmosphere. The venue is also available for hire for a wide range of events such as weddings, parties, fairs and more.