Kempton Races

The Kempton Races are known as "London's Races" - held in Kempton Park in Sudbury on Thames, it provides London's premier horse racing and entertainment venue, offering a host of modern facilities not only for racing but also for business and conferences, weddings, nights-out and fine dining. Purchased by Henry Hyde in 1872, who was driving by and noticed the estate for sale - declaring it the perfect site for a racecourse. He formed a company as a result, and built the Kempton Races course. The first Kempton Races were held on Thursday the 18th of July 1878. For 127 years Kempton hosted magnificent flat turf racing, which was only halted by the outbreaks of two World Wars - with the massive grandstand redevelopments in 2007 running alongside the races themselves. The track was only closed in May 2005 as the whole site was given a massive make-over, and eleven months later opened with a state of the art all weather race track, completely floodlit to provide racing both in the day and in the darker winter nights. Arguably the most famous race held at Kempton Park is the Stan James King George Chase, as horse racing fans flock to the course on Boxing day to enjoy this unique event. There were some concerns over the all-weather surface making the chase less competitive, but many now agree that the racing is just as good.

Kempton Races Information

The all-weather course at Kempton Races not only provides racing that braves the elements and the seasons, but also a few other key features that race goers may find themselves interested in. These include: 20m wide home straight, with bends of a width of 16m Right-handed track, with a bend radius of 137m The track can accommodate 17 runners in all distance races. The Inner track is an eight furlong oval, allowing for 5f and 1m 2f races. The Outer track is an oval of 10 furlongs, which can host 6f, 7f, 1m, 1m 3f, 1m 4f and 2 mile races Great illumination with 42 floodlights in total. The floodlight pole can be laid flat, so that they do not hamper the view of race goers. There are three enclosures available at the Kempton Races, and with all of the all night races and most of the daytime fixtures, a race goers ticket will grant them admission not only to the Main Grandstand but also all the facilities in bother the Premier Suite and the Paddock Enclosure. On all other race days, the admission only covers access to one of the enclosures - the Premier Suite, the Paddock Enclosure or The Family Enclosure. The dress code at Kempton Park is fairly lenient, and they do not insist on a smart/casual style. They encourage visitors to dress up or down depending on their mood, as trainers and jeans are allowed in all enclosures. There are some rules on what is acceptable, though - ripped denim, sports clothes and vests are banned, along with any offensive clothing, and will be refused entry.

Getting There

By road, Kempton Park is found between Sunbury-on-Thames and Hampton Court, on the A308 in south-west Greater London. It also has it's own railway station, which is 200 yards from the main entrance of the course.