Bath Racecourse

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Welcome to our official guide to Bath Racecourse.

We explore this stunning West Country racecourse in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the race track, top local hotel picks, fixtures, travel information and betting guides. This proud West Country racecourse is one of the most beautiful in the UK.

If you are looking for the latest betting tips for Bath, check out our full guide to Bath Racecourse tips.

Find out more about Bath Racecourse:

Bath Racecourse

Overview of Bath Racecourse

Bath Racecourse is situated just three-and-a-half miles north of the spa city of Bath, and five from Bristol.

It is a small but perfectly formed racecourse, and despite its size, has cemented its place as one of the most important racecourses in Britain.

The Lansdown plateau on which its set is picturesque and means it’s popular a course for attendees to enjoy a ‘countryside picnic’!

The spa city of Bath is popular with a middle-class tourist demographic, and Bath Racecourse is no different.

Despite its size, it remains one of the top flat racing courses in the country and interestingly is also the highest, at some 780ft above sea level (there are two National Hunt courses higher, however: Hexham and Exeter).

The racecourse’s popularity with tourists means that refurbishments and investments have looked to balance modern hospitality with a traditional ‘English racing’ feel – and the owners of the venue, the Arena Racing Company, have done so brilliantly. Millions of pounds have been invested by ARC, with the most recent round seeing development completed back in 2016.

The dining and hospitality options are second-to-none; perhaps unexpected for a course of this size.

The Bath Racecourse track is a flat racing sharp left-handed oval track, set on a hill with fantastic views of the city of Bath below. Its hilltop location means that weather and wind can often be challenging. The track measures one mile, four furlongs and 25-yards long, with a half-mile-long run-in. Even though it’s already up a hill, the finish is uphill too – so this isn’t a course to be taken lightly.

Nineteen racedays are held at Bath Racecourse annually, with lots of other events happening too. Its popularity with tourists means that it is primarily focused on punter-attracting minor race meets, but there are one or two notable events in the calendar.

Bath Racecourse’s scenic surroundings make it also popular as a wedding and celebration venue, with it being booked up years ahead for private non-racing events! Bath racecourse offers a range of possibilities.

Bath Races

Bath Racecourse History

Records of horseracing in the city of Bath go back as far as 1728, albeit not quite in the same location as is held today.

The first instance of racing on the current course dates to 1811, when a local family, the Blathwayts held a two-day race meet. For many years, this was the only event annually, but as the popularity of horseracing grew and the sport became more mainstream, the venue took on a busier racing calendar.

The course, as all others in Britain, took a temporary break from horseracing during World War II, when it was used as a landing strip for the RAF.

Bath Racecourse really hit headlines in 1953 when it became the venue for a criminal plot. A gang sourced a near-identical horse to one running at odds 10-1 and substituted it knowing it was considerably faster. They heavily bet on the substitute and then damaged the venue’s power supply, knowing it would cause confusion. Their horse won easily but bookmakers became suspicious of the rapid and high betting levels and contacted the authorities. The gang were subsequently all arrested and brought to justice.

In 2016, the most recent development of the course was finished and the new Langridge Grandstand opened. This included a canopied roof garden and wedding license, which has led to Bath Racecourse becoming a popular venue fixture on the local wedding scene.

Bath Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Bath Racecourse:

Bath Racecourse Map

Bath is a left-handed course.

The round course is a long oval-shaped course that is just over 1 and a half miles around.

The home straight is 4 furlongs with a steady rise and turn.

It is galloping in nature so often a strong stayer or an ability to see the trip out is very important.

It is the highest flat racecourse in the country and has no watering facility so the ground can get very firm during a dry summer.

The Main Races and Events Held at Bath Racecourse

The two main events at Bath Racecourse are the Lansdown Fillies’ Stakes and the Beckford Stakes.

The former takes place in April annually and is run over five furlongs and ten yards. Set up in 1999, it recently celebrated its 20th birthday and is easily the most attended race at Bath Racecourse!

The latter is held every October and is a listed flat race run over one mile and four furlongs. It was created in 2016 as a new listed race and has already gained such popularity that it’s become a firm fixture in Bath’s schedule and is renowned by all ‘in the industry’.

The Dick Hern Fillies’ Stakes was one of Bath’s most popular race meets but was moved to Haydock Park in 2011.

Bath Racecourse Address

The address of Bath Racecourse is:

Bath Racecourse
Lansdown
Bath
BA1 9BU

How To Get To Bath Racecourse

The most popular ways to get to Bath Racecourse are:

  • By car – Bath Racecourse is well signposted on all main roads from both Bath and Bristol and offers free car parking year-round (with the choice to upgrade to priority parking for a fee on race days). The address for your sat nav is Bath Racecourse, Lansdown, Bath, BA1 9BU.
  • By rail – the nearest rail station is Bath Spa, which is about a 15-min cab ride away and takes only 10-mins from Bristol.
  • By air – passengers are best to arrive at Bristol International Airport, less than 20 miles away, and the on-site helipad can be booked in advance.

Hotels near Bath Racecourse

Nearby Bath is an absolutely beautiful place to visit and stay. It’s quite a tourist destination, so you may find you need to book well in advance if you are going to enjoy Bath horse racing, but check out The Bear, The Z Hotel and The Harington’s Hotel.

You’ll find all of the usual chain hotels in the city, too (and in nearby Bristol, where you may find greater availability).

Bath Betting Guide

Attending Bath Racecourse doesn’t always mean you need to place a bet, however, it can be a fun part of the race day experience.

With good 3G, 4G and Wifi, punters at Bath can bet online and if you are looking for a new betting website there are lots of great options on the market today. Many of these offer a host of benefits from live horse race streaming, best odds guaranteed betting and also the occasional free horse racing bets

At British Racecourses, we often recommend betting online and via apps and if you are looking to bet online we recommend the following great deals with some amazing offers for new customers:

The betting sites shown on this page are what we consider the best new horse racing betting sites and are worth checking out, many offer cash out betting as well.

Local Bath Betting Shops

Here are thelocal bookmakers closest to Bath Racecourse:

If you are looking for more betting shops near me – check out our dedicated page which features an interactive UK betting shop map.

On Course Bookmakers at Bath’s Racecourse

You’ll find Tote shops and traditional bookmakers shops on-site at Bath Racecourse, as well as independent bookmakers outside the Langridge Grandstand. It is a vibrant racecourse close to two incredible cities in Bath and Bristol.

These on-course bookies at Bath are the best part of the betting experience, the best odds on every race are worth the search for.

Bath Racecourse Guide

Bath Races 2024

Here is the horse racing calendar for Bath Races in 2024:

DateRacecourseWeekday
7/4/2024BathSunday
19/4/2024BathFriday
28/4/2024BathSunday
6/5/2024BathMonday
15/5/2024BathWednesday
24/5/2024BathFriday
7/6/2024BathFriday
15/6/2024BathSaturday
24/6/2024BathMonday
3/7/2024BathWednesday
17/7/2024BathWednesday
2/8/2024BathFriday
17/8/2024BathSaturday
4/9/2024BathWednesday
14/9/2024BathSaturday
15/9/2024BathSunday
1/10/2024BathTuesday
10/10/2024BathThursday
21/10/2024BathMonday
31/10/2024BathThursday

Check out our guide for the full list of 2024 UK horse racing fixtures.

Bath Racecard

The racecards for the Bath races are released the day before the races take places, find out where to view racecards here – tomorrow’s racecardsandtoday’s racecards. In these you will get an advance look at all the runners and riders, some people like to do this and select their horses before getting to the track.

You can also of course purchase a racecard from the track which carries much of the same useful information.

Other Events Held at Bath Racecourse

Bath hosts a whole range of non-horseracing events, including live music gigs, weddings and themed occasions.

Their ‘Gin and Fizz’ tasting evenings are exceptionally popular for those looking for a bit of a different night out, second only to ‘Rum and Reggae’!

Bath Racecourse is also an extremely popular wedding venue and is often booked up some years in advance.

You can exceptional hospitality in the Somerset countryside here.

Fun Facts About Bath Racecourse

  • Bath Racecourse is a racing venue located in the Avon Valley near Bath, in Somerset, England.
  • The course is a left-handed oval of about 1 mile 6 furlongs (2.4 km) in circumference.
  • The first recorded race meeting at Bath was in 1728.
  • The course was used for racing in the 18th and early 19th centuries, but racing ceased in 1839 due to the growth of racing at nearby Bristol.
  • Racing at Bath resumed in 1884, and the current grandstand was built in 1903.

Popular Questions

✅What do you wear to Bath races?

The course officially state that smart denim and tailored shorts are acceptable, however, ripped denim, sports wear, trainers, gentlemans flip flops or sandals and bare chests are not acceptable! Basically it’s smart casual, however, some people make a real effort so don’t be afraid to dress to impress.

✅How far is Bath racecourse from city Centre?

Bath Racecourse is situated just three-and-a-half miles north of spa city Bath, and five from Bristol.

✅How do you get to Bath Racecourse?

  • By car – Bath Racecourse is well signposted on all main roads from both Bath and Bristol, and offers free car parking year-round (with the choice to upgrade to priority parking for a fee on racedays). The address for your stat nav is Bath Racecourse, Lansdown, Bath, BA1 9BU
  • By rail – the nearest rail station is Bath Spa, which is about a 15-min cab ride away and takes only 10-mins from Bristol.
  • By air – passengers are best to arrive at Bristol International Airport, less than 20 miles away, and the on-site helipad can be booked in advance.

Summary of Bath Racecourse

Bath is a stunning and historical course.

Popular with tourists and locals alike it is the highest course in the country with views looking over the beautiful city.

A visit to the city is always superb and we highly recommend combining a race meeting with a stay for a few days.

Quality racing and a quintessentially English feel, make sure Bath is on your to-do list!

Other UK Racecourses

Our team as of March 2024 have reviewed these racecourses that are also worth a visit, we have reviewed all of the racecourses in the UK and also Irish racecourses: