Uttoxeter Racecourse

Welcome to our official guide to Uttoxeter Racecourse.

We explore this great Northern jump racing racecourse in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the unique course, top local hotel picks, racing fixtures, travel information, and betting guides!

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

Find out more about Uttoxeter racecourse today:

Overview of Uttoxeter Racecourse

Uttoxeter racecourse is far from the biggest or oldest racecourses in Britain, but it packs a punch in terms of the sport: it been home to some thrilling racing moments of the last millennium and is a superb day out for all. It is known as the leading national hunt tracks in the country.

Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire, not far from the border with Derbyshire, is a small town, but one with sport running through its veins – aside from the racecourse, you’ll find a local football club, rugby club, rifle club, swimming pool (named after its resident Olympic Gold Medal swimmer) and golf course!

Uttoxeter Racecourse, however, certainly draws more visitors to the town than the other sporting associations.

Uttoxeter racecourse is a left-handed oval-shaped course with a distance of 1 mile, 2½ furlongs. The back ‘straight’ (not actually straight) has a dog-leg to the right and is undulating, before continuing with a downhill run around the far bend. The home straight is flat and so often front-running tactics are successful here.

It has a reputation for a hardy ‘Northern’ attitude toward racing, with meets going ahead even in difficult weather conditions through the autumn and winter.

Uttoxeter racecourse has undergone a bit of a reputational transformation in recent years and has developed from being a traditional and perhaps somewhat dated venue to becoming a progressive and family-friendly venue, and a staple in the National Hunt race calendar that attracts several of the country’s top owners, trainers and jockeys.

Uttoxeter is home to twenty-five race days annually.

Uttoxeter Racecourse History

Considerably more modern than most racecourses in the UK, Uttoxeter was built in 1907 and held five race meetings a year.

It enjoyed moderate success as a venue but was forced to close along with all other racecourses seven years later with the start of World War I.

Racing resumed in 1921, but halted again for the second World War – then halted entirely.

In 1949, local authorities carried out research into the reasoning for the now-empty venue and found that the land was owned by a local farmer who leased it to the racecourse and was no longer willing to do so. Two years of to-ing and fro-ing in negotiations followed, but Uttoxeter racecourse finally re-opened in 1952.

To say the reopening was a success is to understate it. Over 12,000 people attended leaving the organisers overwhelmed. Uttoxeter Urban Council bought the racecourse, with public support, and in 1966, the facilities were refurbished and modernised.

Since then, several notable events have taken place at Uttoxeter racecourse.

In 1967, jockey Josh Gifford equalled the record of Fred Winter to ride 121 winners in a season, on a horse called Red Flush.

In 1976, the horse Rag Trade won the Midlands Grant National at Uttoxeter and went on to win the Aintree Grand National the following week. And in 2002, AP McCoy became the most successful National Hunt jockey at the course riding Mighty Montefalco!

Main Races and Events at Uttoxeter Racecourse

The biggest race of the calendar at Uttoxeter is the Midlands Grand National, held annually in March. It’s a handicap steeplechase, run over four miles and two furlongs, with twenty-four fences to be jumped. It is by no means an easy race, and still today no one horse has won it twice! It is firmly established as a tough and gruelling race. Even the leading jockeys on this course have only ever won twice. It’s the second-longest race to only the Aintree Grand National and has been run annually since 1969 (with three non-consecutive years out for weather issues and the foot and mouth crisis).

The Uttoxeter Summer Cup takes place in June or July every year and is run across three miles, two furlongs and thirteen yards. It was previously known as (and is still colloquially often called) ‘The Summer National’.

Uttoxeter Racecourse Map

Below is the map of Uttoxeter racecourse:

Uttoxeter racecourse is 1m and 2 furlongs around, which for a National Hunt is quite tight. For this reason, front-runners tend to fare quite well, even though stamina is required with quite a tough run-in.

There is a steady climb down the back straight but a downhill run into the home-straight.

Uttoxeter Racecourse Address

The address of Uttoxeter racecourse is:

Uttoxeter Racecourse
Wood Lane
Uttoxeter
Staffordshire
ST14 8BD

How To Get To Uttoxeter Racecourse

The ways to get to Uttoxeter racecourse are:

• By car – Uttoxeter Racecourse is easily reached by road and has ample parking that doesn’t need to be booked in advance. For your sat nav punch in – ST14 8BD
• Taxi – the course has a designated taxi rank which usually has a car or two present (and plenty on race days).
• Rail – Uttoxeter Rail Station is just across the road from the course so is within walking distance with no need for a transfer. Trains connect regularly with Derby and Stoke-on-Trent.
• By air – light aircraft (primarily helicopters) are permitted to land on the course for race events but must be agreed and arranged in advance. For international travellers, Manchester and Birmingham Airports are the closest.

Hotels Near Uttoxeter Racecourse

Uttoxeter is only a small town, but there are plenty of budget and mid-range hotel options for those visiting the area.

Premier Inn has a hotel just out of town, and slightly closer you’ll find the Bank House Hotel, White Hart Hotel and High View Cottage.

Travelling slightly further afield, the Boars Head Hotel in Sudbury is a reasonably priced spa hotel, and those with a taste for the outdoors can stay in Log Cabins in nearby Hollington.

If you choose to travel into the course by train, you’ll find an abundance of accommodation choices in Derby and Stoke-on-Trent.

Best Uttoxeter Races Betting Sites

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

If you are looking to bet online we recommend the following great deals shown on this page, particularly for new customers. They are what we onsider to be the current best betting sites, all of them are also reviewed in our best betting app guide.

Betting Shops Local to Uttoxeter Racecourse

Facilities for a flutter inside Uttoxeter Racecourse include independent bookmakers track-side, traditional betting shops and Tote pool bet kiosks.

The phone signal isn’t the best in all areas of the course, so if you wish to bet online, it’s advisable to do so before you arrive.

In the town of Uttoxeter, you’ll find two chain betting shops, William Hill racing and Betfred, both on the high street, Market Place.

Uttoxeter Races 2024

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

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

Uttoxeter Racecard and Uttoxeter Tips

The racecards for Uttoxeter races will be released the day before the races are set to happen. You can view full racecards in advance, check out  – tomorrow’s horse racing meetings and today’s horse racing meetings. 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 big horse racing events.

Other Events Held at The Track

In recent years, Uttoxeter has branched out into hosting non-horseracing events and fun events alongside its schedule of usual race meets. So far, this has included music concerts with the likes of Rick Astley performing, Oktoberfest style beer parties and family fun days to fundraise for charity and introduce a new generation to the sport of horseracing.

Uttoxeter continues to develop its events programme year on year, and it seems there’s always something new being added to the line-up!

Summary of Uttoxeter Racecourse

Home of the Midlands Grand National and many other great meetings throughout the year, Uttoexter is a wonderful racecourse that is enjoyed by experienced race-goers and families looking for a day out.

As a small course, you are always close to the action and offering quality racing whatever the weather, what’s not to love?

It’s a little gem of a Northern course that is certainly worth a visit.