Britain’s newest racecourse, Chelmsford, represents the best day out in UK horse racing, according to new research by horse racing bets experts Freebets.com.
The Essex course, which only opened in 2015, has made it its mission, ever since, to ensure the county’s strong equine heritage is always on show at its 49 contemporary Chelmsford race days.
And it appears to have done the trick, with its top-billing in Racecourse Gradings.
Freebets.com has ranked all 59 horse courses across the UK based on a number of metrics, including the amount of races each course plans to host in 2022, the average ticket price, the cost of a pint, a range of weather-related metrics and favourites win percentages to identify the courses that also provide the best chances of winning big.
The data also includes Google reviews, the average ratings of nearby hotels and bars and drinks prices, ranking them based on the course’s average score for each.
And with a standard ticket costing £18 for 2022 and a favourites win percentage of 38%, Britain’s youngest racecourse, which promises “something for everyone”, including some bumper prize money to attract top talent, makes the best day out for punters in UK racing.
With its best-of-both-worlds location; in the heart of the Essex countryside, yet just 50 miles from central London, it means nearby restaurants and hotels have an average Google rating of 4.28, and the cost of a pint of beer costs as little as £2.49.
It is also one of the leading venues based on average daily temperatures, but even in inclement weather, you can still experience the hospitality of its 250,000-square foot Grand Stand for as little as £41.50 – only Ffos Las and Ripon offer cheaper packages.
Second spot goes to Nottinghamshire’s Southwell Racecourse, where its all-weather and turf tracks mean racing takes place all year round. Southwell, which added floodlit racing to its portfolio a couple of years back, is six pounds cheaper for a standard ticket, and with 40.21% of the favourites winning, it is one of the more difficult places to go and actually lose money.
In third was summer season course Great Yarmouth, based on the Norfolk coast, which punches well above its weight as a summer only course.
Lincolnshire’s Market Rasen, which hosts a year-round programme of racing, is one of the cheapest standard entry prices and bags fourth, while Brampton course, Huntingdon, completes the top five with entry and a pint coming in at £17.29.
Epsom Downs, host of the infamous Derby Festival, is 49th, while the home of jump racing and the Gold Cup, Cheltenham, appears as low as 42nd, largely due to its lofty pricing.
Ascot, which hosts 13 of the UK’s 36 annual Flat Group 1 races, charges the highest amount for both entry and ticket prices (£29/£298), is 37th. Interestingly, the Merseyside course also finishes eighth lowest when it comes to the quality of hospitality venues in the vicinity of the course.
