Catterick Racecourse

James Dooley avatar

Written By:

Updated:

Welcome to our official guide to Catterick Racecourse.

We explore this Yorkshire racecourse in detail, looking at its history, hotel picks, race fixtures, travel information and betting guides.

Catterick racecourse is situated near the hamlet of Catterick Bridge and that is why some racegoers call the venue Catterick Bridge Racecourse.

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

Find out more about Catterick Racecourse:

Catterick Racecourse

Overview of Catterick Bridge Racecourse

Catterick Bridge Racecourse, as Yorkshire natives refer to this venue, is a fascinating amalgamation of traditional and modern. Located in North Yorkshire, the always-bustling Catterick offers meets in every month of the year. Both flat and National Hunt races are run – are depending on the season.

Catterick is the busiest racecourse in Yorkshire thanks to a year-round program. Under 18s are invited to attend racedays for free, and the venue offers a wide range of themed race meets throughout the year.

The first thing you’ll notice at Catterick is the respect for tradition. The main grandstand has retained the same framework and structure since 1906. This doesn’t make the venue old and rickety, though. Essential improvements and modernisations have been made to ensure safety and comfort. You’ll just be able to take a glimpse into the venue’s past.

Catterick has a shorter track than some, stretching to a little over one mile and nine furlongs. The track is flat and well-maintained, but it does have some sharp bends. This means that experienced horses and jockeys tend to perform well. This applies to both flat and National Hunt races.

If placing a bet, it’s advisable to look out for past winners and regular riders at the course.

Catterick is a very relaxed racecourse, with less focus on pomp and ceremony than some may expect. This is reflected in the dress code. Smart casual is the official policy, though it’s unlikely that you’ll be questioned as long as you are not clad in anything potentially offensive.

This leads some equestrian devotees to sniff at Catterick as, “unglamorous”, though it is also referred to as, “the friendly racecourse.”

The main race is the North Yorkshire Grand National held in January.

Overall, Catterick Bridge offers a great day out for families and casual race attendees.

Catterick Races

History of Catterick Racecourse

Horse racing and Yorkshire have long been bedfellows. Catterick hosted events in the mid-17th Century in an unofficial capacity, with the first sanctioned meet taking place in 1783.

A permanent track was laid down in 1813, and the course has been a mainstay of the Yorkshire racing scene since.

The grandstand of the venue was built in 1906, and as discussed, the framework still exists – with all necessary improvements in the intervening years.

Interest in the venue steadily grew in the early 20th Century, and by the early 1920s, it was a staple of the area. This led to the formation of the Catterick Racecourse Company who still manage the venue to this day.

Improvements continue to be made at Catterick, and while the events it hosts lack the prestige of some competing venues, it has made a contribution to racing history. Perhaps the most notable is the emergence of Collier Hill, a horse that went on to win the Hong Kong Vase, Irish St. Leger and Canadian International Stakes – all after first making his mark with victory at Catterick.

Main Races, Fixtures and Meetings at Catterick Racecourse

Catterick Bridge is one of the busiest courses in the country and is certainly at the heart of Yorkshire horse racing.

Open all year round, the venue hosts 17 flat race meets a year, alongside 10 National Hunt events.

A typical fixture list for Catterick will entail:

  • January – Four National Hunt race meets (including the North Yorkshire Grand National)
  • February – Two National Hunt race meets
  • March – One National Hunt race meet
  • April – Two flat race meets
  • May – Three flat race meets (one of which takes place during the evening)
  • June One flat race meet
  • July Three flat race meets
  • August – Three flat race meets (two Family Days and Ladies Day)
  • September – Two flat race meets
  • October – Three flat race meets (including The Catterick Dish, the most prestigious race of the track, and The Flat Finale)
  • November – One National Hunt race meet
  • December – Two National Hunt race meets (both festive-themed)

As always, be sure to investigate that a racing event is going ahead before making arrangements and check an official fixture list released by the racecourse directly.

All race meets are subject to change due to a wide array of external circumstances.

Catterick Racecourse Map

Below is a map of the flat and jumps courses at Catterick Racecourse.

Catterick Racecourse Flat Track

Catterick Racecourse Map
Courtesy of At The Races

The flat course is left-handed and sharp in nature.

It is oval and measures 9 furlongs around.

There is a straight 5-furlong course and the final 3 furlongs on all races are downhill.

Course form is more significant here than many other racecourses, and many horses having their first experience of the track take time to adapt, to the undulations.

Catterick Racecourse Jumps Course

Catterick Jumps Track

The jumps course is similar to the flat one and is left-handed and sharp with undulations.

The fences are easy.

Catterick Racecourse Address

Where is Catterick racecourse? The official correspondence address of Catterick Racecourse is:

Catterick Bridge
Richmond
North Yorkshire
DL10 7PE

How to Get To Catterick Races

The ways to get to Catterick Racecourse are:

  • By road – private transport is the easiest way to get to Catterick Bridge Racecourse if this is an option for you. The venue is located just off the A1. Exit the A1 at Junction 52, regardless of whether travelling from North or South and follow the brown signposts that populate the roads.
  • By train – if using public transport, the best rail station is Darlington – Catterick no longer has its own railway station. Darlington is about 15 miles from the racecourse, so take a bus into the market town of Richmond upon arrival. Once you get to Richmond, you can take a free shuttle from the town centre to the racecourse.

Hotels Near Catterick Bridge Racecourse

Booking accommodation to attend Catterick can be something of a balancing act.

On the downside, you’re unlikely to find anything within walking distance of the track. Some degree of travel is unavoidable. To temper this, however, are numerous reasonably-priced options – in addition to a couple of luxury selections if you’re keen to push the boat out.

Budget chains Travelodge and Premier Inn both have a presence within three miles of the racecourse.

If you’re prepared to spend a little bigger, The Frenchgate and The King’s Head are luxurious standalone options in neighbouring Richmond.

There is also a range of local B&Bs with varying levels of availability.

Further afield, investigate Darlington. There is a sizable Holiday Inn on the A1 here, bordering Yorkshire and Durham. You’ll have to make more effort to get to Catterick from here though, so aim closer if you can.

Other Events Held at Catterick Bridge Racecourse

Catterick Bridge Racecourse can be hired for private functions throughout the year, with the obvious exception of racedays. The venue welcomes booking requests and frequently doubles up as a party reception venue or corporate retreat.

One note of caution – do not venture to the racetrack on a Sunday looking for some retail therapy.

For years, Catterick hosted the biggest Sunday market in the North of England. This has now been discontinued, despite advertisements continuing to run online.

Catterick Racecourse

Catterick Races 2024

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

DateRacecourseWeekday
1/1/2024Catterick BridgeMonday
11/1/2024Catterick BridgeThursday
24/1/2024Catterick BridgeWednesday
2/2/2024Catterick BridgeFriday
12/2/2024Catterick BridgeMonday
27/2/2024Catterick BridgeTuesday
6/3/2024Catterick BridgeWednesday
3/4/2024Catterick BridgeWednesday
24/4/2024Catterick BridgeWednesday
30/4/2024Catterick BridgeTuesday
13/5/2024Catterick BridgeMonday
23/5/2024Catterick BridgeThursday
31/5/2024Catterick BridgeFriday
8/6/2024Catterick BridgeSaturday
18/6/2024Catterick BridgeTuesday
10/7/2024Catterick BridgeWednesday
24/7/2024Catterick BridgeWednesday
6/8/2024Catterick BridgeTuesday
19/8/2024Catterick BridgeMonday
28/8/2024Catterick BridgeWednesday
10/9/2024Catterick BridgeTuesday
2/10/2024Catterick BridgeWednesday
19/10/2024Catterick BridgeSaturday
29/10/2024Catterick BridgeTuesday
22/11/2024Catterick BridgeFriday
17/12/2024Catterick BridgeTuesday
28/12/2024Catterick BridgeSaturday

Check out our guide for the full list of British horse racing meetings in 2024.

Catterick Racecard and Catterick Tips

The racecards for Catterick races will be released the day before the races are set to happen (Catterick races today). You can view full racecards in advance, check out – horse racing cards tomorrowandhorse racing cards today. In these, you will get an advance look at all the runners, trainers, form and riders (Catterick races tomorrow).

You can also of course purchase a racecard from the track which carries much of the same useful information. Many like to keep these as souvenirs, especially from major horse racing events.

Catterick Bridge Racecourse Facts

  • Catterick Racecourse is located in North Yorkshire, England, and is one of the oldest and most famous horse racing venues in the country.
  • Catterick Racecourse hosts both flat and National Hunt racing, with the most popular meetings being the Catterick Summer Festival, the Catterick Christmas Festival, and the Catterick Summer Hurdle.
  • The Catterick Summer Festival is the longest-running event at the track, having been held annually since 1876.
  • The Catterick Christmas Festival is the most popular meeting, with over 30,000 spectators attending each year.
  • It has a total of 32 race meetings per year.
  • It has a total of 1,800 acres of land.

Popular Questions

✅What is the address of Catterick Racecourse?

The address of Catterick Racecourse is:

Catterick Bridge Racecourse
Richmond
Yorkshire
DL10 7PE

✅What is the dress code for Catterick?

Smart casual is the official dress code for Catterick Racecourse, though it’s unlikely that you’ll be questioned as long as you are not clad in anything potentially offensive.

Catterick is a very relaxed racecourse, with less focus on pomp and ceremony than some may expect.

✅How do I get to Catterick Racecourse?

The ways to get to Catterick Racecourse are:

  • By road – private transport is the easiest way to get to Catterick Racecourse, if this is an option for you. The venue is located just off the A1. Exit the A1 at Junction 52, regardless of whether travelling from North or South and follow the brown signposts that populate the roads.
  • By train – if using public transport, the best rail station is Darlington – Catterick no longer has its own railway station. Darlington is about 15 miles from the racecourse, so take a bus into the market town of Richmond upon arrival. Once you get to Richmond, you can take a free shuttle from the town centre to the racecourse.

Summary of Catterick Racecourse

A charming, old racecourse Catterick offers a packed calendar of both jumps and flat racing throughout the year.

It is a unique left-handed track that is well attended by locals and also those from further afield.

It feels both traditional yet modern, has great customer service, competitive racing and is very relaxed.

If you are looking to enjoy an afternoon racing with friends and family, look no further, Catterick is a fantastic option.

Other Racecourses in the UK and Ireland

Our team as of March 2024 have reviewed these racecourses that are also worth a visit:

Don’t forget to read our blog as well which covered lots of interesting horseracing news and view. And check out our free bet calculator if you have been lucky enough to win!