Perth Racecourse Guide

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Welcome to our official guide to Perth Racecourse.

We explore this great Scottish racecourse looking at its history, a course overview, local hotel picks, fixtures, main races, and travel information.

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

Find out more about Perth Racecourse:

Perth Racecourse

Overview of Perth Racecourse

As the northernmost racecourse in the UK, Perth already has a claim to fame that sets it apart from competitors. The fact that it is also located beside the legendary Scone Palace ensures that itโ€™s a fantastic day out for enthusiasts of jumps racing.

A right-handed track it is a little over a mile in length and the course is the exclusive domain of jump racing. The bends are long and the fences comparatively easy, so picking a front runner or those that race handy is often advisable.

That said, as the going can get tough stamina is also required.

The Perth season is designed to appeal to tourists and holidaymakers, running from April through to September.

This may not appeal to hardened racing aficionados, but it certainly makes for a fun day out for casual attendees. This leads to a relaxed atmosphere throughout the venue.

The fact that you visit can also be tied in with a day trip around historical Scotland is just a bonus.

Perth Racing Tips

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History of Perth Racecourse

Perth has been hosting racing events since the 17th Century.

Previously, these meets took place in the North Inch Park, also located in Perth. Alas, a ban on alcohol was enforced in this open ground in the early 20th Century. This deterred many attendees from indulging their gambling habits.

Lord Mansfield, owner of the Scone Palace Parklands and avowed equestrian enthusiast, offered to provide land for the construction of a specialist racecourse and the rest, as they say, is history.

As of 1908, Perth Racecourse was open to the public, remaining a key location in Scottish sport to this day.

The Main Races and Meetings at Perth Racecourse

As discussed, Peth runs a horse racing season from April to September.

This ensures that it captures that all-important tourist spending power โ€“ but also means that events are unlikely to be cancelled or shortened by unpredictable weather conditions.

A typical Perth fixture list, which is exclusively made up of jump meets, looks like this.

  • April โ€“ Perth Racecourse kicks off its season with the Perth Festival, a three-day celebration of National Hunt racing. There are countless headline races at this event, including the Stallions Gold Castle Novices’ Hurdle, the River Tay Handicap Chase, the Hunter Chase, the Fair Maid of Perth Chase and the Highland National – arguably the jewel in the venue’s crown. The best and brightest jockeys and runners descend upon the Highlands for The Festival, so if you only make one trip in the year, this weekend is worthy of serious consideration.
  • May โ€“ May sees two events at Perth. A traditional race day is largely a warm-up for the much-vaunted Ladies Day, which features all the usual awards for impressive outfits and styles.
  • June โ€“ The Gold Cup is one of the biggest racing events in Scotland, and that’s the focus of Gold Cup Day in early June. This event frequently sells out in a flash, so book early if you’re keen on some weekend racing in the sunshine. Later in June comes the BRAW Raceday, which is headlined by the Inveralmond Handicap Steeplechase, the winner of which takes home the Kilmany Cup.
  • July โ€“ July is a little lower-key, with no significant races to speak of. Perth does host two events during this month though, so itโ€™s a great chance to enjoy some jump racing in the sunshine.
  • August โ€“ August at Perth is defined by the Summer Carnival Raceday, which takes place around the Bank Holiday Weekend. The Stone of Destiny Handicap Hurdle is the featured race here, but there’s plenty more entertainment to sink your teeth into throughout the day.
  • September โ€“ September sees the end of Perth’s season, but dry your eyes – the venue makes sure to close out with a memorable month. An Autumn Raceday early in the month is another chance to get through the gate, but it’s the self-proclaimed Glorious Finale at the end of September that really captures the imagination. This is a two-day event, followed by drinks and dancing, with tweed clothing recommended. See out the season in style.

Always be sure to investigate that a racing event is going ahead before making arrangements and check an official fixture list released by Perth Racecourse directly.

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

Perth Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Perth Racecourse:

Perth Racecourse Map
Courtesy of At The Races

Perth is a right-handed track of one and a quarter miles around.

It has eight fences/hurdles per circuit.

The racecourse has sweeping turns and is flat.

There is a water jump in front of the stands whilst the run-in after the last is quite a long one.

Official Perth Racecourse Address

The official correspondence address of Perth Racecourse is:

Perth Racecourse
Scone Palace Park
Perth
Perthshire
PH2 6BB

How to Get To Perth Races

The ways to get to Perth races are:

  • By car – driving to Perth is also comparatively simple. Leave the M90 at Junction 11, which is signposted Scone Palace & Blairgowrie. This will place you on Dundee Road, which you should follow through two sets of traffic lights. Take a third, which will be signed as Blairgowrie & A93. Take another left to Stormontfield Road and follow the brown signs from here. Details for your sat nav are Scone Palace Park, Perth, PH2 6BB.
  • By train – rail is the easiest way to access Perth Racecourse. Perth has its own station which is located just three miles from the venue. This station boasts a busy taxi rank, so you won’t struggle to find somebody willing to make the short drive to the track.
  • By bus – make your way to Mill Street in the centre of Perth. From here, a Stagecoach bus service runs to and from the track for a return fare of ยฃ4.
  • By air – if you prefer to fly, Dundee is the closest airport at around 20 miles away. Edinburgh and Glasgow are 40 and 70 miles from Perth respectively, so landing at such destinations is largely impractical.

Hotels Near Perth Racecourse

As Perth is such a tourist hotspot, itโ€™s advisable to book accommodation early to avoid disappointment. It is also worth asking if a hotel will offer a discount to racegoers, as this is common practice in the area.

The Holiday Inn in Perth is the closest hotel, just a mile from the racetrack. Slightly further afield is a Mercure and an extremely budget-friendly Travelodge. Equally reasonable is the Premier Inn, located in the city centre of Perth.

For a less corporate and more authentically Scottish experience, give consideration to the Royal George, Leonardo Boutique or Parklands Boutique. Youโ€™ll have to travel a little further to the racecourse from these hotels, but theyโ€™ll offer a memorable stay.

Best Perth Races Betting Sites

Betting for many is part of the race day experience, from our research, here are the top betting brands at the moment.

The betting sites on this page made the list of our best horse racing betting sites, check out our top independent reviews now.

Other Events at Perth Racecourse Throughout The Year

As you may expect from such a scenic location, Perth Racecourse is a hugely popular venue for private bookings and parties.

Other than this, no events are open to the public โ€“ but donโ€™t forget, there are countless tourist attractions in the local vicinity.

Perth Races 2024

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

DateRacecourseWeekday
24/4/2024PerthWednesday
25/4/2024PerthThursday
26/4/2024PerthFriday
15/5/2024PerthWednesday
16/5/2024PerthThursday
9/6/2024PerthSunday
4/7/2024PerthThursday
14/7/2024PerthSunday
17/8/2024PerthSaturday
9/9/2024PerthMonday
25/9/2024PerthWednesday
26/9/2024PerthThursday
22/10/2024PerthTuesday

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

Perth Racecard

The racecards for Perth races will be released the day before the races are set to happen. You can view full racecards in advance, check out  โ€“ 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

โœ…What is the address of Perth Racecourse?

The official address for Perth Racecourse is:

Perth Racecourse
Scone Palace Park
Perth
Perthshire
PH2 6BB

โœ…What is the best way to get to Perth Races?

The best ways to get to Perth races are:

  • By car – driving to Perth is also comparatively simple. Leave the M90 at Junction 11, which is signposted Scone Palace & Blairgowrie. This will place you on Dundee Road, which you should follow through two sets of traffic lights. Take a third, which will be signed as Blairgowrie & A93. Take another left to Stormontfield Road and follow the brown signs from here. Details for your sat nav are Scone Palace Park, Perth, PH2 6BB.
  • By train – rail is the easiest way to access Perth Racecourse. Perth has its own station which is located just three miles from the venue. This station boasts a busy taxi rank, so you won’t struggle to find somebody willing to make the short drive to the track.
  • By bus – make your way to Mill Street in the centre of Perth. From here, a Stagecoach bus service runs to and from the track for a return fare of ยฃ4.
  • By air – if you prefer to fly, Dundee is the closest airport at around 20 miles away. Edinburgh and Glasgow are 40 and 70 miles from Perth respectively, so landing at such destinations is largely impractical.

โœ…When is the Perth horse racing Festival?

The Perth horse racing festival is held annually over 3 days in April. It is a hugely popular event with locals and holiday-makers.

โœ…How long is Perth Racecourse?

Perth Racecourse is 10 furlongs long.

โœ…Where is The Lodge At Perth Racecourse located?

The Lodge at Perth Racecourse is situated in the grounds of the course called Scone Palace Parklands.

โœ…What is the most cost-effective way to get from Perth to Perth Racecourse?

The most effective way to get to Perth Racecourse from the centre of Perth is via taxi.

Summary of Perth Racecourse

A small but charming racecourse, Perth is the most northern racecourse in the whole of the UK.

Staging just jumps racing, the races may not always be top quality but they are competitive and the highlights include their own Gold Cup!

Situated next to Scone Palace Park and with racing held from May through to September, the meetings are hugely popular with both locals and tourists visiting the stunning area.

It may not have been a racecourse you’ve heard much of before but it is most certainly worth a visit.