Situated out on the East Riding of Yorkshire is the beautiful Beverley Racecourse.
Purely a flat racing venue, Beverley is known for its tight right-handed turns. Although not featuring too many rich races, its summer features are very well supported and are always competitive.
Beverley features within the Go Racing in Yorkshire initiative, along with Catterick, Doncaster, Pontefract, Redcar, Ripon, Thirsk, Wetherby and York.
Key Information
- Address – Beverley Racecourse, York Road, Beverley, HU17 8QZ.
- Owner – Beverley Race Company Ltd.
- TV Station – Racing TV.
- Type – Flat.
- Surface – Turf.
Track Details
Beverley’s key feature is the fact that the final turn is seen as being very tight. Low numbers therefore are always favoured in the draw, with those drawn high tending to drift in the betting.
While some draw biases in Britain are greatly exaggerated, it is widely accepted that at Beverley it remains very crucial indeed especially in sprint races.
Flat Course
Beverley is a right-handed flat racing track. The round course is just over one mile and three furlongs in total length, featuring a downhill section round the second-last turn, an uphill rise on the final bend then a steady climb towards the line.
Despite this, it’s not known to be too stiff a track for runners as the climb itself isn’t overly brutal and the downhill section mitigates the rise slightly overall, while there is only a short two-and-a-half-furlong home straight to deal with.
With those things in mind, horses ridden near to the front are usually favoured. This is especially true if they are given a favourable draw and can break quickly from the gate.
The five-furlong sprint track features a dogleg right and is always on the rise, featuring of course that tight turn to the straight. Though tight, the constant rise means the five-furlong track isn’t the easiest in the country to get, especially when the rain comes. Juveniles may need somewhat of a six-furlong pedigree.
Beverley Track Analysis
The view from jockeys down the years is that, despite its reputation, Beverley behaves as a proper good galloping track.
It remains true that if your horse is forced wide on the final turn then it is likely to be in trouble. While this is always put down to the sharp nature of the bend, in actual fact it could be just as likely that the short straight means little having little time to get back into the race at the death.
While it’s acknowledged by riders that speed from the stalls is important on the sprint track, along with a good draw, races on the round course remain about clever race-riding just as at any other venue.
In races over a mile or more, don’t be too fixated on the draw or even how prominently your horse runs. A good, experienced jockey will get the horse into the right position to be challenging before the final bend.
Visiting Beverley Racecourse
Given its proximity to both Hull and York, Beverley Racecourse although one of the easternmost tracks in the country can be described as being right within a racing heartland and a well-populated area.
Part of Go Racing in Yorkshire, the track is well marketed and is fully capable of hosting new and old racegoers alike.
How to Get to Beverley
The racecourse is just over a mile from the centre of Beverley itself along the A1174.
From Hull, racegoers can travel just ten miles north up the A1079. Buses are available too from the Hull Paragon Interchange, taking 46 minutes to Beverley York Road on the X46 EastRider. From there, the track is just a couple of minutes away on foot.
Those heading down from the York area can travel on the A1079. Beverley Racecourse is 29 miles and around 50 minutes from the centre of York and is well signposted.
A bus is available from York too. From near the train station, the X47 EastRider can take up to 1½ hours, dropping off at Beverley York Road near the track.
Coming from Leeds will take around an hour by car along the M62. Follow the motorway east, coming off at junction 38 at the A1079. Those using trains can take the Transpennine Express service to Hull, then use the X46 EastRider as above.
Where to Stay
Hotel rooms are available in Beverley very close to the track, as well as a 4-star option (Tickton Grange), just four miles away.
Naturally there is an abundance of overnight options in Hull, York, Leeds and many other areas besides within an hour of the racecourse.
Major Events at Beverley Racecourse
Beverley is more famous for competitive handicaps than for major Pattern races. The action can be fast and frenetic, if not always of the highest quality.
As well as the three events listed below, the thing to keep an eye on at Beverley are the five-furlong two-year-old races. A juvenile winning well on this track will usually be a decent one, some going on to meetings such as Royal Ascot.
Beverley is best known however these three races:
| Race | Type/Grade | Distance | Meeting | Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilary Needler Trophy | Fillies’ Conditions Stakes, 2yo Only, Class 2 | 5f | Two-Year-Old Trophy Day | May |
| Continental Two Year Old Trophy | Colts’ and Geldings’ Conditions Stakes, 2yo Only, Class 2 | 5f | Two-Year-Old Trophy Day | May |
| Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes | Listed Race, 3yo+ | 5f | Beverley Bullet Meeting | August |
About Beverley Racecourse
Racing of one form or another has been recorded at Beverley for more than 300 years. It became a little more formal than in its very earliest years in 1752 when The Jockey Club was formed.
With racing having previously taken place at nearby Westwood Pasture, Beverley Racecourse was ultimately founded and had an annual meeting established in 1767.
Horse racing wasn’t a permanent fixture at Beverley after this point. Between 1798 and 1805 the sport was stopped in the area, while it was also halted during WWII when the home straight was used as a runway by the RAF.
Before all that in the late 1800’s, Beverley had begun hosting a three-day meeting each year which was to come after York’s famous May meeting which is still an important racing fixture to this day.
Gradually over the decades, racing became more and more popular at Beverley and by 2012 the track was hosting near 20 race days each year.
The Hilary Needler Trophy, formerly a Listed race, and the Beverley Bullet at the same level in the summer are the biggest races at the track and attract some top sprinting talent.
Beverley in the 21st Century
Beverley is well marketed these days and enjoys excellent feedback from racegoers.
Part of the Go Racing in Yorkshire initiative, the track invites patrons to Bygone Beverley in May, its popular Ladies’ Day and of course it heavily promotes Beverley Bullet Raceday in August which is very well attended.
Millions has been spent on modernising the track in recent years, a new stand replacing the old 1960’s structure.
The Premier Enclosure at Beverley is fitting for true racing enthusiasts and those who like to sip champagne, while in the centre of the course those looking to picnic as the racing goes on around them are also hosted.