Ripon Racecourse Guide

Welcome to our official guide to Ripon Racecourse.

We explore this beautiful flat racing racecourse (known as the Garden Racecourse) in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the tracks, hotel picks, fixtures, travel information, and betting guides.

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

Find out more about Ripon Racecourse:

Overview of Ripon Racecourse

Referred to by locals as Yorkshire’s Garden, and the track as the”Garden Racecourse”, Ripon is a hugely popular destination in North Yorkshire.

Located in a cathedral city a little over 20 miles from Leeds and running a full summer program of flat racing events, Ripon is a premium location for racing in the North of England.

Ripon may not the busiest and most hectic racecourse in the UK, but it’s certainly one of the most picturesque. Based in the cathedral city of Ripon, a popular tourist attraction in its own right, the racecourse is referred to as Yorkshire’s Garden for good reason.

Owned by Go Racing in Yorkshire, Ripon is a well-designed and largely relaxed day out. The family days are a huge draw, and unless you’re attending the Club Stand, there is no dress code. Shirts are mandatory here, no matter how bright the sun may be on a summer’s day.

The track itself hosts flat racing on a right-leaning oval. The turns here can be very sharp, so when placing a wager, concentrate on horses with high numbers. The opposite is true on straight sprints, which tends to favour horses closer to the stand rail.

Overall, Ripon is not as glamorous as other courses when it comes to prestigious racing. For a fun day out, however – without or without the kids in tow – it’s hard to beat.

History of Ripon Racecourse

Ripon is a small racecourse, but it holds a notable place in history – in 1723, the city of Ripon was the first in the UK to permit female jockeys to race. This is part of Ripon’s illustrious history of horse racing, which dates back to the 17^th Century.

The course as we know it, however, opened in 1900.

During World War One, Ripon Racecourse temporarily closed and acted as an RAF base. Civilian aircraft were still permitted to use the grounds into the 1920s, but eventually, Ripon entered its own as a must-visit attraction for relaxed, enjoyable equestrian events.

Main Races and Fixtures for Ripon Racecourse

Ripon offers a wide array of family-friendly events and racing meets throughout the summer months.

The fixture calendar for this course runs from June through to September, offering a mixture of afternoon and evening race meets. As discussed, due to the season in which these meets take place, all of these events are Flat races.

A typical fixture list for Ripon Racecourse will look like this:

• June – Ripon’s opening month hosts three events. These include two evening race meets, the second of which features the Wells Memorial Cup as a feature race. June also hosts Ripon’s Ladies Day during the afternoon and evening, which is referred to as, “the Royal Ascot of the North.”
• July – one evening meeting which encompasses Gentleman’s Evening, with a featured race of the Handicap Stakes. July will also see Ripon host the first fixture of the Go Racing in Yorkshire (GRIY) Festival, celebrated with the Bell-Ringer Handicap.
• August – the biggest month in Ripon’s calendar, with five meets. The first two events of August are Family Days, the first of which encourages children to attend in fancy dress. These are followed by an afternoon meet that hosts the Great St Wilfrid Handicap (The Great St Wilfrid for short), the most prestigious and valuable race in the Ripon calendar. The month is rounded out by an evening meeting, and a final Family Day on August Bank Holiday Monday, which features the Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy.
• September – the final month of racing in Ripon sees two afternoon meets. The first will host the City of Ripon Handicap race. The second is a season-closing Beer and BBQ festival, headlined by the Cathedral City of the Dales Handicap.

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

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

Ripon Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Ripon Racecourse:

Ripon is a right-handed track that is oval in shape and measures 13 furlongs around.

It has a home straight of five furlongs, and a straight six-furlong course which the sprints are run over.

Due to the tight bends, Ripon is known as being a sharp track.

s there a draw bias at Ripon Racecourse?

Yes, there is a draw bias at Ripon Racecourse, particularly over certain distances.

In terms of pace bias, Ripon is generally considered to favour front-runners, particularly over 5 furlongs and 6 furlongs, where the tight turns can make it difficult for horses to come from behind.

However, this bias is not as strong as at some other courses, and a horse with a more patient running style can still win from off the pace.

One factor that can affect the draw at Ripon is the state of the ground. When the going is soft or heavy, there is often a tendency for runners to come up the stands side, which can give an advantage to high-drawn horses.

However, this bias is not consistent and can vary from race to race.

What is the Draw Bias at Ripon 5 Furlongs?

Ripon racecourse has a notable draw bias, particularly over 5 furlongs. When the ground is good or better, the high draws hold a significant advantage in fields of 12 runners or less.

However, in bigger fields, the horses tend to split into two groups, and the far side of the track appears to be quicker, resulting in low drawn horses winning more often.

On soft ground, the draw bias seems to disappear altogether.

It is worth noting that the draw bias at Ripon can be affected by rail movements, and the bias may vary from meeting to meeting.

Additionally, as with any draw bias, the knowledge of this fact may already be built into the price of certain horses, making it harder for punters to profit from it.

Nonetheless, the draw bias at Ripon is something to keep in mind when analysing the field for 5 furlong races.

What is the Draw Bias at Ripon 6 Furlongs?

There is a draw bias at Ripon over 6 furlongs, favouring high drawn runners on good or better ground. This advantage is more pronounced in larger fields when the horses split into groups.

The high drawn runners usually race against the stands rail, which is the favoured side of the track. The only exception to this bias is when the ground is soft, in which case there is no clear advantage to either high or low drawn horses.

One of the reasons for the high draw bias at Ripon over 6 furlongs is the course layout. The track has a dogleg to the right, and the runners race up a steady climb for the first two furlongs before a sharp bend to the left.

After this bend, the horses race downhill to the finish line. Due to the uphill start, high drawn runners are better placed to tackle the bend and take advantage of the downhill run-in.

What is the Draw Bias at Ripon 1 Mile?

The 1 mile course at Ripon reveals an intriguing draw bias with a notable advantage towards low drawn runners. This may come as a surprise to some, especially given the course’s tight right-handed track.

The innermost position could potentially provide an advantageous position for low drawn horses, allowing them to save ground while keeping up with the pace.

Additionally, Ripon has a reputation as a front-runners’ course, which could further explain the preference for low drawn runners.

If a front-runner can take advantage of the inside position, they may be able to dictate the pace and hold off any challenges from the outside.

As with any bias, it is worth noting that other factors such as the ground and the specific race conditions may also come into play.

Ripon Racecourse Address

The official address of Ripon Racecourse is:

Ripon Racecourse
Boroughbridge Road
Ripon
North Yorkshire
HG4 1UG

How to Get to Ripon Races

The ways to get to Ripon Races are:

• By road – if you prefer to drive to Ripon, it’s easy to access from the A1.  If travelling from the south, leave at Junction 48. This is shortly beyond the Harrogate exit. From here, follow the brown signs that will clearly direct you to Ripon Racecourse. If travelling from a northerly direction, leave the A1 at Junction 50 to join the A61 – Ripon Racecourse is literally around the corner. Traffic can build up in either direction, so leave plenty of time for your journey. Details for your sat nav are – Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1UG
• By train – Ripon no longer has a railway station, with the closest being Harrogate some ten miles away. Harrogate is reachable from most major cities, though you may need to change at Leeds. You should also fly into Leeds and continue your onward journey from there is you are planning air travel.
• By bus – upon arrival in Harrogate, take a bus to Ripon Town Centre. From here, a shuttle bus collects racegoers from the bus station and escorts them to and from the racecourse. If you prefer not to wait, you can take a public bus or a taxi. The journey should only take around five minutes.

Hotels Near Ripon Racecourse

If you’re planning to stay in Ripon, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to hotels.

Just be aware that Ripon is a popular tourist destination outside of racing meets, especially during the summer months when the season unfolds, so plan ahead.

The Old Deanery and The Royal Oak are a little over a mile away from the racecourse. The Ripon Spa is a little further, closer to 1.5 miles away, but still easily accessible. These are all small unique hotels, so they may sell out. Do not despair if that’s the case – there are a plethora of hotels and B&Bs in the area. You just may need to travel slightly further to make your way to the racecourse.

Best Ripon Races Betting Sites

At British Racecourses, we often recommend betting online or betting apps. This is because you can often get the best odds, great offers and free bets when signing up and you can place bets quickly and safely without having to queue with online bookmakers.

If you are looking to bet online we recommend checking out some of the bookies on this page. All of them made our list of the best sports betting sites.

Ripon Races 2024

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

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

Ripon Racecard

The racecards for Ripon races will be released the day before the races are set to happen (Ripon 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.

Other Events at Ripon Racecourse

Ripon Racecourse is available for private hire throughout the year, but no other major events unconnected to racedays typically unfold at the venue.

Summary of Ripon Racecourse

A stunning racecourse, known as the “Garden Racecourse”, Ripon is another great Yorkshire horse track that hosts flat racing throughout the summer months.

The quality of racing is good with the highlights being the Great St Wilfrid and the Listed Ripon Champion Two Year Old Trophy.

Ripon however it not just known for good racing but as being a great day out for families and friends – it has a very relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It really is a course for anyone, whether a racing fan or someone just looking for a great day out.

It’s a course we like very much and is definitely worth a visit.