Horseracing in Scotland
Encyclopedia
Horseracing in Scotland normally comes under a British, as opposed to national aegis. The main National Hunt meeting held is the Scottish Grand National
meeting at Ayr
each April, and the main Flat meeting is the Western Meeting, featuring the Ayr Gold Cup
, at the same course each September.
Supposedly, the oldest continually run horse racing event was the Lanark Silver Bell, which was last run in 1977 before the course closed.
Historically, there was also Lanark Racecourse (closed 1977) and Bogside Racecourse (closed 1965, and the traditional home of the Scottish Grand National).
Scottish Grand National
The Scottish Grand National is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ayr, Scotland, over a distance of approximately 4 miles and 110 yards and 27 fences...
meeting at Ayr
Ayr Racecourse
Ayr Racecourse at Whitletts Road, Ayr, Scotland, was opened on 1907. The track is a left-handed, oval track, thirteen furlongs in circumference, with a straight run-in of half a mile. There are courses for flat and for National Hunt racing...
each April, and the main Flat meeting is the Western Meeting, featuring the Ayr Gold Cup
Ayr Gold Cup
The Ayr Gold Cup is a flat horse race in Scotland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older...
, at the same course each September.
Supposedly, the oldest continually run horse racing event was the Lanark Silver Bell, which was last run in 1977 before the course closed.
Racecourses
There are several established racecourses in Scotland.- Ayr RacecourseAyr RacecourseAyr Racecourse at Whitletts Road, Ayr, Scotland, was opened on 1907. The track is a left-handed, oval track, thirteen furlongs in circumference, with a straight run-in of half a mile. There are courses for flat and for National Hunt racing...
in AyrshireAyrshireAyrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
- (mixed) - Hamilton ParkHamilton Park RacecourseHamilton Park Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue in Hamilton, Scotland to the south of Glasgow. It is a flat racing venue, with a season which runs from May to September....
in South LanarkshireSouth LanarkshireSouth Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
- (flat) - Kelso RacecourseKelso RacecourseKelso Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Kelso, Scotland. The official website describes the course as Britain's Friendliest Racecourse. In 2007, it was voted the Best Small Course in Scotland and the North of England.-History:...
in the Scottish BordersScottish BordersThe Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
- (national hunt) - Musselburgh RacecourseMusselburgh RacecourseMusselburgh Racecourse, known until the 1990s as Edinburgh Racecourse, is a horse racing venue located in the Millhill area of Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, UK, close to the River Esk....
(sometimes known as Edinburgh Racecourse) in East LothianEast LothianEast Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
- (mixed) - Perth RacecoursePerth RacecoursePerth Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue adjacent to the ancient Scone Palace, near Perth, Scotland.Perth racecourse opened in 1908 and is the northernmost track in Britain....
in Perth and KinrossPerth and KinrossPerth and Kinross is one of 32 council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Argyll and Bute and Highland council areas. Perth is the administrative centre...
- (national hunt)
Historically, there was also Lanark Racecourse (closed 1977) and Bogside Racecourse (closed 1965, and the traditional home of the Scottish Grand National).