Fakenham Races

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Fakenham is the home of the only jumps course in Norfolk, and can be found nestled into the picturesque North Norfolk countryside only 9 miles from the coast of Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea. It is a National Hunt racecourse, and known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere - they are dedicated in making all visitors feel at home at the Fakenham Races. As a result of this, it offers some of the best disabled facilities available in UK racing today, which include dedicated car-parking and viewing areas. Most of the car parking areas offer views of the racing (although some are better than others - so it's best to check, first!), and many people enjoy parking up and enjoying a picnic while experiencing the races. Picnics are not the only food on offer at the Fakenham Races, thankfully, and there are numerous food and drink facilities on site - from stalls to full-scale bars and restaurants, that offer a range of refreshments, and there are several on-course Tote facilities and bookmakers available. The Fakenham Races and the course at Fakenham have been in existence since 1905 - with their big Centenary Year celebrations held in 2005. The first ever recorded steeplechase in West Norfolk was on the 12th of April 1884, which was won by a horse named Useful on an improvised course at East Winch, which is near Kings Lynn. The races were moved to Fakenham in 1905, and the first race meeting attracted a huge 37 runners - an incredible amount if you consider the difficulty in travelling in those days. For most of Fakenham's history, only one race meeting was held a year - on Easter Monday, with races running every year except for during the First and Second World Wars.

Fakenham Races Information

The course at the Fakenham Races is in the National Hunt style. It run left-handed, with sharp bends and an undulating track. This course suits a more nippy and cunning type of horse, and is 1 mile in total. The racing season at Fakenham runs between October and May. Part of the friendly and casual atmosphere at Fakenham is due to its lack of formal dress code. All children that are under the age of 16 are admitted free to the course. There are two enclosures available, the Members Enclosure and the Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure. The Members Enclosure boasts the Members Stand and the Members Bar and Restaurant, while the Grandstand Enclosure give access to the parade ring, grandstand and winners enclosure.

Getting There

If arriving by car, from the North take the A1 and the A17. If travelling from the south, take the A1065, from the east take the A1067 and from the west take the A148. There is free car parking available at the course, all within easy walking distance of the Fakenham Races, while there is also a Members' Car Park which carries a fee but is closer to the action. The nearest railway station to the course is King's Lynn - but it is still 22 miles away. Bus services are available, and there are taxi ranks at the station. There is an area in the grounds of the Fakenham Races course where helicopters may land, but only with prior agreement from the course staff.