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Top Two London Racecourses

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Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the world and a day at the races can be one of the most enjoyable and potentially profitable experience for racegoers. London is blessed to be surrounded by some of the top venues in the United Kingdom as far as flat and jumps racing are concerned. Here are the best two sites in London to visit for a day at the races in winter when the jumps season is active.

Kempton Park

Kempton Park is the place to be on Boxing Day for your racing fix. It features the elite horse racing from the National Hunt with the best and brightest of the sport all in attendance. Based in Middlesex, Kempton Park opened its doors in 1878 and has hosted prestigious meets throughout is tenure for both flat and jumps racing. However, jumps takes on greater prevalence, with the legendary King George VI Chase the central race of the calendar year. The odds on horse racing backed Clan des Obeaux as the leading contender for the race in 2021, having already won the event in 2018 and 2019.

Knowing the nuances of the sport is key to having success as a punter, therefore, it is always worth paying attention to the best horse racing tips for today and for the future before deciding to attend a racing event. The King George VI Chase is a standout race in the National Hunt, and is certainly one that shouldn’t be missed, although Kempton Park also hosts the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, Christmas Hurdle, Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase and Desert Orchid Chase. Tickets start at £25 for the event and range up towards £75 for a seat in the enclosure. It is a popular time to watch racing so if you think of attending it is best to snap up your tickets early.

Sandown Park

Sandown Park has a proud racing history dating back all the way to 1875. Based in Surrey, it has hosted a number of leading events over the last 146 years. Sandown caters for horses of both the flat and jumps discipline ensuring that it provides entertainment at its venue throughout the year. Many racecourses in England are restricted solely to one discipline or the other, but Sandown is in rare company to offer the two types of event to ensure that punters can continue to roll into the venue in all seasons. The major winter draw is the Tingle Creek Chase, which sees elite horses from the chasing discipline compete for one of the major crowns of the National Hunt season.

Top competitors have won the race since it began in 1969, including Desert Orchid, Kauto Star, Sprinter Sacre and Altior. It is seen a pre-cursor to the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham Festival later in the season. A victory in the Tingle Creek Chase usually suggests that a horse has a strong chance at winning at Cheltenham. You’re not short of entertainment and tickets are not overly expensive, starting at £18 for a place in the general enclosure, while hospitality spots start at £99. A day at the races can certainly be an enjoyable one, and even if a profitable one if you pick the right horse at Sandown Park.

About jonathan

Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.