Lingfield Park
Encyclopedia
Lingfield Park Racecourse (commonly referred to as Lingfield) is a horse racing
course at Lingfield
in Surrey
, United Kingdom
. It is owned by Arena Leisure Plc.
Lingfield is best known as a winter all-weather flat-racing
course; the track is Polytrack
based, rather than the usual turf found in the UK. There are only four other all weather courses in the UK, the others being at Southwell
, Kempton
, Wolverhampton
and Great Leighs
. Lingfield stages flat racing on turf in the summer and National Hunt races are also run on turf.
Lingfield
railway station adjoins the course, served by trains from London to East Grinstead via Oxted
.
(later Edward VII
), who also agreed to let Lingfield incorporate the Prince of Wales feathers into its official heading. The course initially held jumps racing only, but in 1894 the Jockey Club
granted permission for flat racing to be held. Racing has been held continuously ever since, with the only exception being during World War II
when the War Office
requisitioned the course. Ladbrokes
sold the course in 1982 and the new owners installed flood defences on the estate to alleviate the flooding that had become a major problem in the years immediately after the war. A golf course was developed and this opened in June 1987. Arena Leisure
purchased the course in 1991, and in 2001 made the decision to replace the Equitrack all weather surface with Polytrack
, opening in November 2001. Other recent developments have been the re-laying of the back straight on the turf course in 2002/2003 and the construction of a £5.5 million grandstand in 2004. In early 2009 the course had another record broken as Matsunosuke
became the highest rated horse to win on the all weather surface rated 112 or 117 by RPR Racing Post
This was dubbed as the greatest all weather horse of all time in the UK.
The racecourse is featured in the 1954 film The Rainbow Jacket
.
:
National Hunt races
:
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
course at Lingfield
Lingfield, Surrey
Lingfield is a village and civil parish in the Tandridge district of Surrey, England. It is most famous for its horse racing course, Lingfield Park. Lingfield lies to the east of a section of the A22 which runs between Godstone and East Grinstead...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is owned by Arena Leisure Plc.
Lingfield is best known as a winter all-weather flat-racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
course; the track is Polytrack
Polytrack
A synthetic racetrack surface is any kind of surface substance that replaces grass, dirt or sand as the racing surface on a horse racing track. Synthetic surfaces may be desirable over traditional surfaces for several reasons, most prominently the reduction of injuries and possible deaths to horses...
based, rather than the usual turf found in the UK. There are only four other all weather courses in the UK, the others being at Southwell
Southwell Racecourse
Southwell Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located near Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England. It is one of only five racecourses in the UK to have an all-weather track...
, Kempton
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wolverhampton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. The track was the first to be floodlit in Britain and often holds meetings in the evening....
and Great Leighs
Great Leighs Racecourse
Great Leighs Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Great Leighs near Chelmsford, Essex, England. When it opened in April 2008 it was the first completely new racecourse in the UK since Taunton opened in 1927...
. Lingfield stages flat racing on turf in the summer and National Hunt races are also run on turf.
Lingfield
Lingfield railway station
Lingfield railway station serves Lingfield in Surrey, in England. Train services from the station are provided by Southern, and the station is on the East Grinstead branch of the Oxted Line...
railway station adjoins the course, served by trains from London to East Grinstead via Oxted
Oxted railway station
Oxted railway station is a relatively busy interchange station and terminus located in Surrey, in the South East region of England. At present, all train services are provided by Southern. The station is the busiest suburban station on the Oxted Line and is a terminus for some services on the...
.
History
The racecourse is located in a 450 acres (1.8 km²) estate and was opened in 1890 by the Prince of WalesPrince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
(later Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
), who also agreed to let Lingfield incorporate the Prince of Wales feathers into its official heading. The course initially held jumps racing only, but in 1894 the Jockey Club
Jockey Club
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing. Although no longer responsible for the governance and regulation of the sport, it owns 14 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham and Newmarket, amongst other concerns such as the National Stud and...
granted permission for flat racing to be held. Racing has been held continuously ever since, with the only exception being during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
requisitioned the course. Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes plc is a British based gambling company. It is based in Rayners Lane in Harrow, London owned by Bhavin Kakaiya. From 14 May 1999 to 23 February 2006, when it owned the Hilton hotel brand outside the United States, it was known as Hilton Group plc...
sold the course in 1982 and the new owners installed flood defences on the estate to alleviate the flooding that had become a major problem in the years immediately after the war. A golf course was developed and this opened in June 1987. Arena Leisure
Arena Leisure
Arena Leisure plc is a public limited company based in London, England, that is the operator of seven of the UK's horse racing courses and other leisure industry interests. The company was founded in 1997. The company operates golf courses, hotels and joint ventures with a 47.85% stake in "At The...
purchased the course in 1991, and in 2001 made the decision to replace the Equitrack all weather surface with Polytrack
Polytrack
A synthetic racetrack surface is any kind of surface substance that replaces grass, dirt or sand as the racing surface on a horse racing track. Synthetic surfaces may be desirable over traditional surfaces for several reasons, most prominently the reduction of injuries and possible deaths to horses...
, opening in November 2001. Other recent developments have been the re-laying of the back straight on the turf course in 2002/2003 and the construction of a £5.5 million grandstand in 2004. In early 2009 the course had another record broken as Matsunosuke
Matsunosuke
Matsunosuke is a racehorse owned and trained by A B Coogan in Soham, Cambridgeshire- Famous Living Racehorse :Matsunosuke is a flat racing racehorse in the UK who has won in class 1 listed company and competed in Group 3 races. He was also the number 2 ranked sprinter during the all-weather season...
became the highest rated horse to win on the all weather surface rated 112 or 117 by RPR Racing Post
Racing Post
The Racing Post is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting newspaper, appearing in print form and online.From 30 May 2011 - 3 July 2011 it had a circulation of 56,507.-History:...
This was dubbed as the greatest all weather horse of all time in the UK.
The racecourse is featured in the 1954 film The Rainbow Jacket
The Rainbow Jacket
The Rainbow Jacket is a 1954 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden, and featuring Robert Morley, Kay Walsh, Bill Owen, Honor Blackman and Sid James.-Cast:* Robert Morley as Lord Logan* Kay Walsh as Barbara Crain...
.
Notable races
Flat racesFlat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
:
- Chartwell Fillies' StakesChartwell Fillies' StakesThe Chartwell Fillies' Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.The race is named after Chartwell, formerly...
- Churchill Stakes
- Cleves Stakes
- Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes
- Golden Rose Stakes
- Hever Sprint Stakes
- International Trial Stakes
- Lingfield Derby TrialLingfield Derby TrialThe Lingfield Derby Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.The event was established in 1932, and...
- Lingfield Oaks TrialLingfield Oaks TrialThe Lingfield Oaks Trial is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
- Quebec Stakes
- River Eden Fillies' Stakes
- Spring Cup
- Winter DerbyWinter DerbyThe Winter Derby is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in March....
- Winter Derby Trial Stakes
National Hunt races
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
:
- December Novices' ChaseDecember Novices' ChaseThe December Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
- Summit Junior HurdleSummit Junior HurdleThe Summit Junior Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...