Newcastle Racecourse

Newcastle

View of the stands at Newcastle Racecourse.
Location	Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Owned by	Northern Racing Ltd.
Date opened	1882
Screened on	At The Races
Course type	Left-handed, Flat National Hunt
Official website

Newcastle Racecourse is a horse racing course located at Gosforth Park near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. It stages both flat and National Hunt racing, with its biggest meeting being the Northumberland Plate held annually in June.

History

Horseracing began in the north east over 350 years ago, beginning in Killingworth in the early 17th century. The Town Moor hosted the first recorded Northumberland Plate in 1833 and did so until 1881 when the race transferred to High Gosforth Park. 1882 saw the first running of the Plate at Gosforth Park with a new flat and chase course, new stand and stabling for 100 horses.

In April, 2002 the Scottish businessman David Williamson joined Newcastle Racecourse as managing director and during a six year period he transformed their fortunes and helped boost turnover from £2.5m to £6.5m. The Northumberland Plate weekend now brings in £30m to the regional economy and he also introduced Ladies' Day which now attracts over 15,000 racegoers. In April, 2008 he was headhunted by Newcastle United and appointed Executive Director (Operations). Williamson was replaced by Mark Spincer.

There are currently plans to invest £25-million in new hotel, golfing and caravanning facilities on the site adjacent to the racecourse.

Notable races

Flat races:

• Beeswing Stakes (last run in 1999)
• Chipchase Stakes
• Northumberland Plate
• Seaton Delaval Stakes (last run in 1985)

National Hunt races:

• Fighting Fifth Hurdle
• Rehearsal Chase
• Eider Chase

External links

• Newcastle Racecourse (Official website)
• Course guide on GG.COM
• Course guide on At The Races