Carlisle Races

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Ever since the 16th Century horses have been raced at the historic border city of Carlisle, and even today Carlisle Racecourse holds the ever-popular Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate races, which carries on a tradition of Carlisle Races tracing right back to that era. Carlisle hosts not only Flat races, but National Hunt racing also. The racecourse itself, and all Carlisle Races can be found at Blackwell, which on the outskirts of the historic border city of Carlisle in the north of England, which is the largest city in Cumbria. Although so close to the city and all its amenities, the course itself is set in beautiful open countryside, and provided a strong rural racing feel. This course provides regular and high quality racing each and every month of the year - with eleven National Hunt meetings from September to April, and nine Flat meetings in the Flat season between April and August. Carlisle Races highlights include the Christmas and Easter National Hunt fixtures, with not only the races but a variety of family-friendly entertainment for the season, the two-day June Flat meetings where the historic Cumberland Plate and Carlisle Bell races are run, and the numerous popular summer race-nights. Over the years, the Carlisle Races has earned many "claims to fame", these include the launch of the first operational Tote on a British racecourse in 1929, as well as the racing legend Red Rum winning at the Carlisle Races September meetings before each of his famous Grand National wins. The course and facilities at Carlisle have been upgraded significantly over the years - most noticeably the constriction of a brand new grandstand, the Jubilee Grandstand, which was opened in October 2002. This has enabled race-goers to watch the races with a magnificent view from their own private box in the grandstand, or while enjoying a meal in the new luxury Swifts Restaurant. Not only a racecourse, Carlisle Racecourse also provides flexible and modern conference facilities, which are ideal for meetings, conferences, seminars and exhibitions.

Carlisle Races Information

There are two courses at Carlisle, Flat and National Hunt. The Flat course is right-handed, and in a pear shape, while the National Hunt course is also right-handed and undulating with a 1m5f circuit. The courses at Carlisle are infamous among trainers for having a tough uphill finish - a real test of a horse! Regardless, many Northern trainers consider the fences at Carlisle to be the most fair and inviting in the Country. There is currently no cash machine available on the site.

Getting There

By road, the racecourse is around 2 miles south of Carlisle itself, with road access available via the M6 at Junction 43, the A69 from the North East, or the A595/A597 for travellers from the West. The main car park at Carlisle offers free car parking, but there is also track-side parking available at £10 per car. If travelling by rail, be aware the nearest station is Carlisle station. There is a bus route from this station to the racecourse, although by taxi it will take around 15 minutes to get to the course from the City Centre itself. Helicopter landing can be arranged at the course, with prior permission.