Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse

{{Short description|Horse racing venue in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox UK Racecourse | Name = Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse | logo = Stratford_Racecourse_Logo.png | Image = The parade ring at Stratford-upon-Avon racecourse - geograph.org.uk - 6876686.jpg | Caption = The parade ring | Website = http://www.stratfordracecourse.net | Location = [[Stratford-on-Avon]], Warwickshire | Coordinates = {{coord|52.181|-1.723|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | Owner = Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse Company Ltd. | Opened = 1755 | Channel = [[Racing TV]] | CourseType = [[National Hunt]] | NotableRaces = }}

'''Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse''' (often known as simply '''Stratford Racecourse''') is a [[thoroughbred horse racing]] venue located in [[Stratford-on-Avon]], Warwickshire, England.

==History== Racing first took place near Stratford on Avon in July 1718, but the racecourse proper did not open until September 1755. The first race was won by Forrester. Racing continued through the 1700s and 1800s, including a horse named Lottery winning at Stratford in 1839 prior to success in the [[Grand National]] at [[Aintree Racecourse]]. In 1904, races were run under the title of "Stratford and Warwickshire Hunt Races" and continued to be known until racing ceased between 1914 and 1919 for [[WWI]]. On 31 January 1922, the Stratford Race Company was formed and continues to run the racecourse. In 1955, a new grandstand was opened and 10 years later a restaurant added.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Stratford%20Racecourse%20History.html|title=Stratford|publisher=Greyhound Derby|access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://matthewwalton.co.uk/stratford/|title=Stratford|publisher=matthewwalton.co.uk|access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref>

A feature race of the Stratford season is the Stratford Foxhunters Chase and is traditionally seen as the third jewel in the [[National Hunt racing#Hunter chase racing|Hunter Chase]] crown alongside the races at [[St James's Place Festival Hunter Chase|Cheltenham]] and [[Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase|Aintree]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.attheraces.com/course-guides/Stratford|title=Stratford|publisher=At The Races|access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref>

==Course and facilities==

[[File:The water jump at Stratford-upon-Avon racecourse - geograph.org.uk - 6876705.jpg|thumb|right|Horses jumping the water]] Stratford is a left handed course with eight fences per circuit and is notable for its speed. The course is triangular in shape with sharp bends. In 2008, a water jump was added on the home straight but is not jumped on the final circuit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishracecourses.org/stratford/|title=Stratford|publisher=British Racecourse|access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safebookmakerssites.com/RACECOURSES/stratfordonavonracecoursefacts.htm|title=Stratford|publisher=safebookmakerssites.com|access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref>

Stratford Racecourse features a touring park within its grounds with around 100 pitches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stratfordtouringpark.com/|title=Stratford Touring Park|publisher=Stratford Touring Park|access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Horse racing venues in England]] [[Category:Sports venues in Warwickshire]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1755]] [[Category:Stratford-upon-Avon]]