Beverley Racecourse Guide

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Welcome to our official guide to Beverley Racecourse.

We explore this great northern flat racing racecourse in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the track, hotel picks, fixtures, travel information, betting guides for this Yorkshire horse racing track.

Find out more about Beverley Racecourse:

Beverley Racecourse

Overview of Beverley Racecourse

Situated in the East Yorkshire town of Beverley, Beverley Racecourse has a long and rich history. It’s a small, friendly course, considered ‘fair’ and is popular with locals and horseracing fans alike.

One of six horseracing courses in Yorkshire, Beverley has long been a small, but firm, fixture on the British racing scene.

Situated within walking distance from the town centre of Beverley, the course is small (but perfectly formed!) and always considered friendly as it takes on a typical ‘Yorkshire hospitality’ feel.

Its proximity to the town means that you’re as likely to find locals at a day at the races as you are hardcore racing fans, and everyone in the area is on-hand to give directions, advice and recommendations.

Beverley isn’t the smallest racecourse in the country, but it certainly feels like it once you experience its inclusive, welcoming atmosphere; everyone can feel at home here.

Industry experts have described Beverley as “unpretentious but agreeable”, and we’d agree!

Beverley is particularly accessible for all, due to its transport links and low ticket prices – day passes can be obtained for basic enclosures from just £4. There are no dress codes anywhere in the course other than in the premier enclosure.

Beverley’s track is a right-handed round course measuring just over a mile and three furlongs. There’s an uphill finish, but it isn’t considered particularly stiff or tough and has a relatively short run-in of two and a half furlongs. It’s a good galloping course and tends to favour different types of horses, dependent on the going.

Beverley prides itself on its equine welfare. It works extremely closely with the British Horseracing ‘The Horse Comes First’ campaign to help ensure the utmost quality care is supplied to the horses who train in the area, race at the course and retire after having had a career in racing.

Beverley Racecourse

Beverley Racecourses

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Beverley Racecourse History

Racing in Beverley can be documented as far back as over 300 years ago, and the founding of The Jockey Club in 1752 really formalised its presence in the town.

With the founding of The Jockey Club, the occasional racing at nearby Westwood Pasture was recognised, and Beverley Racecourse was founded.

The first grandstand at the site of Beverley Racecourse was funded, and it was completed in 1767. It cost £1,000 and gave locals somewhere to go with a structured race calendar and up-to-date (for the time then!) facilities.

Despite there definitely is an appetite for horseracing locally, the sport never quite found its regular home at Beverley. Racing halted for years at a time, and the course fell into disrepair periodically. It wasn’t until the 19th century that racing finally settled and demand grew to spectate the sport. A three-day meeting was booked in every spring, and local trainer Richard Watt began to gain notoriety as he trained his horses locally. Four of those horses went on to win St Leger, including the now-famous Altisidora!

Beverley Races continued to grow from strength to strength. It began to feature some of the more prominent races in the British calendar, even giving the nearby York Racecourse a run for its money competition-wise!

Legendary Grand National winner Red Rum raced at Beverley in his flat racing days but only finished fifth!

Main Beverley Races and Annual Meeting Events

Whilst Beverley Racecourse is no longer one of the most prominent venues in the British horseracing scene; it does still host some big-name races.

The two biggest are the Hilary Needer Trophy and the Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes.

The former takes place every May, over five furlongs for horses aged three years and up, and the Beverley Bullet Sprint every August, over five furlongs for horses aged two years and up.

Beverley Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Beverley Racecourse:

Beverley Racecourse Map
Courtesy of At The Races.

Beverly is a right-handed course that is oval in shape.

The course itself is just over a mile and three furlongs around, it isn’t a particularly stiff course although it does have an uphill climb to the line.

The five-furlong track has a dog leg to the right and is on the rise throughout; this is the course for the Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes.

Is there a draw bias at Beverley Racecourse?

There is a draw bias at Beverley Racecourse, particularly over shorter distances.

Horses drawn low are generally favoured over 5 and 7 furlongs, especially when the ground is firm.

On the other hand, when the ground is soft, high numbers tend to have an advantage. Over 1 mile, there appears to be no significant bias at Beverley, and the same is true for the longer distances.

It’s worth noting that the track has a slight bend after the start, so being drawn close to the rail is also advantageous in terms of saving ground.

What is the Draw Bias at Beverley 5 Furlongs?

The 5-furlong course at Beverley is renowned for its strong draw bias, particularly favouring horses drawn low. This is comparable to the bias seen at Chester’s 5-furlong course.

The reason for this bias is not only due to the inside position on a tight turn, but also the course’s undulating nature. Wider drawn runners start lower down the hill, giving an added disadvantage.

However, it’s worth noting that this bias is well-known in the industry, so it may already be reflected in a horse’s odds, making it harder to profit from this knowledge.

What is the Draw Bias at Beverley 7 Furlongs?

There is a significant draw bias at Beverley over 7 furlongs, with low draws having a major advantage.

The course’s layout, which features a right-hand turn, is believed to contribute to this bias. In fact, it appears that the bias is even stronger than the one at 5 furlongs.

As with other courses, this bias is something that trainers and jockeys will take into account when making their race plans, which can affect the prices of specific horses.

However, it is important to note that this bias is not a guarantee of success, and other factors such as form, fitness, and ground conditions should also be considered when placing bets.

What is the Draw Bias at Beverley 1 Mile?

At Beverley, the 8 furlongs racecourse has a slightly different draw bias than the 5 and 7 furlongs. High drawn runners appear to hold a slight advantage over a mile, contrary to the massive draw bias that exists over 5 and 7 furlongs.

This could be something to take advantage of as the common belief is that low drawn runners have a large advantage over one mile at Beverley.

Beverley Racecourse Address

The official address of Beverley Racecourse is:

Beverley Racecourse
York Road
Beverley
East Yorkshire
HU17 8QZ

How To Get To Beverley Racecourse

The ways to get to Beverley Racecourse are:

  • By car – Beverley Races are easily accessible by road and has plentiful free parking on the nearby grassy Westwood Pasture. Parking on-site (only a few minutes’ walk closer) is payable and can be booked in advance with tickets. Details for your sat nav are York Road, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 8QZ
  • By train – Beverley train station is less than two miles away from the course, and due to a one-way road system, is quicker to reach on foot rather than by road! As a result, lots of people walk from the station.
  • By bus – bus services to Beverley town centre run regularly from Hull, York and Leeds.

Hotels Near Beverley

Beverley isn’t a large town, but there are some hotels and accommodation options in the centre.

The Tudor Rose Hotel and the Beverley Arms Hotel are the two most formal options, with more budget-friendly choices including Hunter’s Hall, the Lairgate Hotel and The King’s Head Restaurant and Rooms, all with family and private rooms.

There are no chain hotels in Beverley itself, but you’ll find all the usual names in nearby Hull and York.

The proximity of the train station to the racecourse means that lots of racegoers attend for the day then use the train to travel elsewhere thereafter, rather than staying in Beverley itself.

Booking early is recommended particularly if you are attending the Hilary Needler Trophy Two-Year-Old meeting.

Beverley Betting Guide

When visiting Beverley for a very British raceday, it doesn’t mean you have to place a bet, for many people it’s the race day experience that matters. However, there are plenty of betting options to consider. David O’Meara as a trainer always does well here!

On Course Bookmakers at Bev Races

In the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure, you can bet with the Tote or one of the on-course bookies, located right outside Rapid Lad and near the Parade Ring.

They’re usually found outside the Duchess Grandstand or by the rails, betting capacity is expanded at busy meetings for all enclosures so everyone can have a flutter.

Beverley On Course Bookmakers

Local Beverly Betting Shops

Beverley has Tote betting facilities and independent bookmakers alongside the track if you fancy a flutter.

There’s a branch of Betfred in Beverley town centre and independent bookies called Chisholm Bookmakers Ltd.

If you’re after a specific brand of the betting shop, Hull is the nearest city with lots of options to bet. However, there are branches of William Hill, Megabit and Ladbrokes in residential suburbs nearby where you may also pick up some racing tips.

Here are the local betting shops near to Beverley Racecourse:

Beverley Races 2024

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

DateRacecourseWeekday
17/4/2024BeverleyWednesday
25/4/2024BeverleyThursday
6/5/2024BeverleyMonday
14/5/2024BeverleyTuesday
29/5/2024BeverleyWednesday
8/6/2024BeverleySaturday
18/6/2024BeverleyTuesday
25/6/2024BeverleyTuesday
5/7/2024BeverleyFriday
6/7/2024BeverleySaturday
16/7/2024BeverleyTuesday
22/7/2024BeverleyMonday
30/7/2024BeverleyTuesday
14/8/2024BeverleyWednesday
15/8/2024BeverleyThursday
25/8/2024BeverleySunday
31/8/2024BeverleySaturday
18/9/2024BeverleyWednesday
24/9/2024BeverleyTuesday

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

Beverley Racecard

The racecards for the Beverley races are released the day before the races take place, find out where to view racecards here – tomorrow’s racecards and today’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.

Check out the Beverley racecard tomorrow.

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

Beverley Races

Other Events Held at Beverley

Beverley Racecourse is too small a course to host a packed calendar of non-racing events, but there are some party nights and music performances, particularly over the summer months.

The venue is also open for private hire and frequently hosts weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.

Beverly Races Facts

  • Beverley Racecourse is a horse racing venue located in the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
  • The course is owned by the Yorkshire Racing Club.
  • It is a left-handed, oval course with a 2 furlong straight.
  • The course has a capacity of 25,000.
  • It hosts flat racing only.
  • The Beverley Bullet Sprint is the most valuable race held at the course.
  • The course is also home to the Beverley Folk Festival.
  • The course has a total of 18 race days per year.
  • The first race meeting was held in July 1667.
  • The course was used as a filming location for the 1971 film, “The Railway Children”.

Popular Questions

✅Who owns Beverley Racecourse?

Beverley Racecourse is independently owned by Beverley Race Company Ltd.

✅How do I get to Beverley races?

The ways to get to Beverley Races are:

  • By car – Beverley Racecourse is easily accessible by road and has plentiful free parking on the nearby grassy Westwood Pasture (no need for a card park ticket). Parking on-site (only a few minutes’ walk closer) is payable and can be booked in advance with tickets. Details for your sat nav are York Road, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 8QZ
  • By train – Beverley train station is less than two miles away from the course, and due to a one-way road system, is quicker to reach on foot rather than by road! As a result, lots of people walk from the station.
  • By bus – bus services to Beverley town centre run regularly from Hull, York and Leeds.

✅What date is Ladies Day Beverley?

The Flemingate Ladies’ Day at Beverley  normally takes place around the middle of August.

✅Is there a dress code for Beverley Races?

There is no dress codes at Beverley racecourse other than in the premier enclosure.

Summary of Beverley Racecourse

Beverly is a charming Yorkshire course hosting two major races each year in the form of the Beverley Bullet and the Hilary Needler Trophy for two-year-old fillies both over 5 furlongs, these are part of the Very British Raceday.

It’s a peaceful, tranquil, countryside location that gives it a real warmth and it has enjoyed racing for over 300 years.

It’s a track loved by locals and racing fans with a decent amount of race meetings every year.

If you are looking for a great day out in beautiful Yorkshire and some great racing, look no further.