Hexham Racecourse

James Dooley avatar

Written By:

Updated:

Welcome to our guide to Hexham Racecourse. 

We explore this charming racecourse in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the track, hotel picks, travel info and betting guides.

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

Find out more about Hexham Racecourse now:

Hexham Racecourse

Overview of Hexham Races

As the only racecourse in Northumberland, Hexham boasts a unique location. Based in the rolling hills of The Last Hidden Kingdom, Hexham hosts fifteen National Hunt races throughout the year, commencing its season in March and wrapping up in December.

Hexham Racecourse is found in an undeniably beautiful location, with rolling hills and greenery surrounding the track.

If you can tear your eyes away from the racing action, you’ll be sure to experience a moment of pure contentment simply drinking in the scenery.

Hexham is a left-handed course, around a mile in length over four furlongs. The course is far from flat, with a number of undulations dotted throughout. The final straight in particular has a steep descent followed by a climb.

This means that stamina is all-important when picking a potential winner. Try to avoid frontrunners, too. Almost all winners at Hexham overtake on the final straight.

The dress code at Hexham is smart-casual, with the usual caveats surrounding weather. Northumberland can get pretty chilly during the autumn and winter, so be sure to wrap up warm.

History of Hexham Racecourse

Racing in Hexham dates back to 1720 when a venue was erected in Tyne Green to accommodate the growing interest in the sport. In 1793 the site in Yarridge Heights – the Hexham Racecourse that we know and love – was opened.

Hexham Racecourse closed down in 1880 but was rescued by a local enthusiast. Charles William Chipchase Henderson plunged significant funding into the course, eventually purchasing the very land it was built on to protect the future of the venue. The Henderson family still retain a controlling interest in the racecourse.

Although the venue is almost 125 years old, it has obviously been improved and renovated over the years. Most recently the Grandstand was completely remodelled and redesigned.

Main Races and Meetings at Hexham Racecourse

Hexham Racecourse runs an array of National Hunt meets from March to June, the racecourse takes a summer break, then reopens for more festivities between September and December. Due to the location of the venue, it is not possible to host events during January or February.

  • March – Hexham kicks off its annual season two race meets. The course kicks off with Cheltenham Festival Raceday, celebrating the landmark event in British racing. This is followed by a second standard meet later in the month.
  • April – Hexham has a single standard National Hunt race meet in April.
  • May – May is a big month at Hexham, with three meets – two in the evening, and one during the daylight hours. The two former events are standard meets. The outlier is the Heart of All England Raceday, which unfolds on a Saturday afternoon and is headlined by the Premier Hunter Chase of the North.
  • June – things continue to get crazy at Hexham in June, with three more meets. Ladies Day at the end of the month is the highlight of the month, with competitions for Best Dressed Lady, Best Dressed Couple, Best Hat and Best Dressed Little Miss. This event is preceded by two standard meets, with Ladies Day closing out the Hexham calendar for the first half of the year.
  • September – Hexham reopens its doors in September with a single evening meet, typically held at the very beginning of the month.
  • October – As we enter October, Hexham hosts two more events. The first is early in the month, dubbed the Autumn Raceday. The second is a traditional raceday held in the middle of the month.
  • November – Two more meets follow in November. The Winter Raceday is late in November, preceded by another traditional National Hunt meet two weeks previous.
  • December – The final event before Hexham closes up again for a short break is the Christmas Raceday in early December. Get into the festive spirit by entering the Christmas Jumper Competition and say goodbye to the calendar year, Hexham-style.

Hexham also hosts two point-to-point events for amateur jockeys. The Haydon Point to Point unfolds in late May, while the Border Point to Point is typically on the first weekend of December.

Double-check that a racing event is going ahead as planned before making your way to Hexham. The racecourse’s official website is the best source of information. Events can be cancelled at short notice due to external circumstances, including adverse weather.

Hexham Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Hexham Racecourse:

Hexham Racecourse Map

Hexham is a left-handed and undulating track.

It has a steep climb from the back straight to the finishing line.

The fences are generally known as easy.

Hexham Racecourse Address

Where is Hexham racecourse? The official address of Hexham Racecourse is:

Hexham Racecourse
Yarridge Road
High Yarridge
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 2JP

How to Get To Hexham Races

The ways to get to Hexham Races are:

  • By road – you’ll need the A69 toward Newcastle. You can reach this from the M6 from Carlisle, or the A1M from Newcastle upon Tyne. Once you’re on the A69, you’ll reach the Bridge End roundabout. This takes you into Hexham town centre, which is just a couple of miles from the track. Info for the sat nav – High Yarridge, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 2JP.
  • By bus – you can also reach Hexham Racecourse by bus – either to the course directly or into Hexham bus station. Again, a free shuttle will get you to and from the track here. Both railway and bus stations also have taxi ranks. Either location is less than ten minutes from the track by road.
  • By train – alternatively, you can take a train. Hexham has a dedicated railway station, and a free shuttle bus service operates on racedays.
  • By air – If you’re planning to fly to Hexham, head to Newcastle Airport. This is a little over 35 miles from the racetrack.

Hotels Near Hexham Racecourse

Hexham Racecourse has its very own self-catering accommodation options. The Hexham Lodge can sleep up to eight people, while there is also a caravan and camping site within two miles of the venue.

For a more traditional hotel, The Beaumont is around 1.5 miles from the racecourse. If you cannot get into either of these locales, you’ll have to travel around five miles. Options here include the Langley Castle Hotel, Walwick Hall and Slaley Hall. The travel will be worth it – each of these fine hotels are a credit to their industry.

Other Events at the Hexham Racecourse

Hexham Racecourse does not host any specialist events outside of racing meets. It is, however, available for hire for weddings, conferences and external parties with its great private box options. If interested, simply contact the racecourse.

During the off-season, you will be able to enjoy the run of the racecourse and all it entails.

Hexham Racecourse Guide

Best Hexham Races Betting Sites

At British Racecourses we often recommend betting online and via apps when going to the races. This is because you can often get the best odds, great offers when signing up and you can place bets quickly and safely.

If you are looking to bet online we recommend the following great deals for new customers shown this page, all of the above betting sites made out list of the best horse racing betting sites (UK).

Hexham Races 2024

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

DateRacecourseWeekday
14/3/2024HexhamThursday
9/4/2024HexhamTuesday
22/4/2024HexhamMonday
4/5/2024HexhamSaturday
11/5/2024HexhamSaturday
21/5/2024HexhamTuesday
1/6/2024HexhamSaturday
15/6/2024HexhamSaturday
23/6/2024HexhamSunday
4/10/2024HexhamFriday
12/10/2024HexhamSaturday
8/11/2024HexhamFriday
20/11/2024HexhamWednesday
11/12/2024HexhamWednesday

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

Hexham Racecard and Hexham Tips

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

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 UK horse races.

Popular Questions

✅How do I get to Hexham Races?

The ways to get to Hexham races are:

  • By road – you’ll need the A69 toward Newcastle. You can reach this from the M6 from Carlisle, or the A1M from Newcastle upon Tyne. Once you’re on the A69, you’ll reach the Bridge End roundabout. This takes you into Hexham town centre, which is just a couple of miles from the track. Info for the sat nav – High Yarridge, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 2JP.
  • By bus – you can also reach Hexham Racecourse by bus – either to the course directly, or into Hexham bus station. Again, a free shuttle will get you to and from the track here. Both railway and bus stations also have taxi ranks. Either location is less than ten minutes from the track by road.
  • By train – alternatively, you can take a train. Hexham has a dedicated railway station, and a free shuttle bus service operates on racedays.
  • By air – If you’re planning to fly to Hexham, head to Newcastle Airport. This is a little over 35 miles from the racetrack.

✅What is the address of Hexham Racecourse?

The address of Hexham Racecourse is:

Hexham Racecourse
Yarridge Road
High Yarridge
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 2JP

✅What is the dress code for Hexham races?

The dress code at Hexham Races is smart-casual, with the usual caveats surrounding weather. Northumberland can get pretty chilly during the autumn and winter, so be sure to wrap up warm.

✅Who owns Hexham Racecourse?

Hexham Racecourse is owned by Hexham and Northern Marts.

✅What county is Hexham Racecourse in?

Hexham Racecourse is in the county of Northumberland.

Summary of Hexham Racecourse

A charming small course and the only one in Northumberland, Hexham is hugely popular with locals and also racing fans who are looking for a great day out.

Whilst the racing is not officially top-class, it is always well contested and competitive.

With great customer service, a long and established history the future looks bright for the stunning Hexham.

It is one of our favourite small tracks. Good things come in small packages as they say, and that is certainly true of this stunning course.

Definitely worth a visit or two!

Other Racecourses in The UK and Ireland

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