Goodwood Racecourse
Encyclopedia
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester
, West Sussex
, in England
controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond
, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House
. It hosts the annual Glorious Goodwood meeting, which is one of the highlights of the British flat racing calendar, and is home to 2 of the UK's 31 Group One flat races, the Sussex Stakes
and the Nassau Stakes
.
It is considered to enjoy a very attractive setting to the north of Trundle
Iron Age hill fort, which is used as an informal grandstand with views of the whole course. One problem is that its proximity to the coast means that it can get very foggy.
This is an unusual, complex racecourse with a straight six furlongs - the "Stewards' Cup Course" - which is uphill for the first furlong and mostly downhill thereafter. There is a tight right-handed loop at the far end of the straight on which there are starts for various longer distance courses. These include the 1 mile 2 furlongs "Craven Course", the 1m 4f "Gratwicke Course" and the 1m 6f "Bentinck Course". The start for the 2m 5f "Cup Course" is quite close to the winning post - horses travel outwards on the straight, around the loop and back. Throughout the loop there are severe undulations and sharp turns. The course is used for flat racing
only.
From 1968 to 1970 the course's late summer meeting was shown on ITV
, and from the early 2000s some races from the course occasionally appeared on Channel 4
, but otherwise the course had been covered exclusively by the BBC
for 50 years from 1956 (when it first appeared on television) to 2006. From 2007, the rights have passed to Channel 4 Racing
.
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond
Duke of Richmond
The title Duke of Richmond is named after Richmond and its surrounding district of Richmondshire, and has been created several times in the Peerage of England for members of the royal Tudor and Stuart families...
, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House
Goodwood House
Goodwood House is a country house in West Sussex in southern England. It is the seat of the Dukes of Richmond. Several architects have contributed to the design of the house, including James Wyatt. It was the intention to build the house to a unique octagonal layout, but only three of the eight...
. It hosts the annual Glorious Goodwood meeting, which is one of the highlights of the British flat racing calendar, and is home to 2 of the UK's 31 Group One flat races, the Sussex Stakes
Sussex Stakes
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
and the Nassau Stakes
Nassau Stakes
The Nassau Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 192 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:The title of...
.
It is considered to enjoy a very attractive setting to the north of Trundle
Trundle (hill fort)
Trundle is an Iron Age hill fort on Saint Roche's Hill about north of Chichester, Sussex, England. Trundle is one of just four hill forts built in Sussex. The fort was built around a Neolithic causewayed enclosure, of which very little can be seen on the ground.- History :St...
Iron Age hill fort, which is used as an informal grandstand with views of the whole course. One problem is that its proximity to the coast means that it can get very foggy.
This is an unusual, complex racecourse with a straight six furlongs - the "Stewards' Cup Course" - which is uphill for the first furlong and mostly downhill thereafter. There is a tight right-handed loop at the far end of the straight on which there are starts for various longer distance courses. These include the 1 mile 2 furlongs "Craven Course", the 1m 4f "Gratwicke Course" and the 1m 6f "Bentinck Course". The start for the 2m 5f "Cup Course" is quite close to the winning post - horses travel outwards on the straight, around the loop and back. Throughout the loop there are severe undulations and sharp turns. The course is used for flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
only.
From 1968 to 1970 the course's late summer meeting was shown on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, and from the early 2000s some races from the course occasionally appeared on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, but otherwise the course had been covered exclusively by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
for 50 years from 1956 (when it first appeared on television) to 2006. From 2007, the rights have passed to Channel 4 Racing
Channel 4 Racing
Channel 4 Racing is the name given to the horse racing coverage on the British television station Channel 4.-History:The first transmission of racing on the channel was on 22 March 1984 from Doncaster, as it took over midweek coverage which had previously been on ITV...
.
Notable races
- Celebration MileCelebration MileThe Celebration Mile is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August....
- Cocked Hat StakesCocked Hat StakesThe Cocked Hat Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 3 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
- Conqueror Stakes
- Festival Stakes
- Foundation Stakes
- Glorious StakesGlorious StakesThe Glorious Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:The event was established in 1979, and...
- Goodwood CupGoodwood CupThe Goodwood Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
- Gordon StakesGordon StakesThe Gordon Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August....
- Height of Fashion StakesHeight of Fashion StakesThe Height of Fashion Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 192 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
- King George StakesKing George StakesThe King George Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August....
- Lennox StakesLennox StakesThe Lennox Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August....
- Lillie Langtry Stakes
- March StakesMarch StakesThe March Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August....
- Molecomb StakesMolecomb StakesThe Molecomb Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
- Nassau StakesNassau StakesThe Nassau Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 192 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:The title of...
- Oak Tree StakesOak Tree StakesThe Oak Tree Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:The event was established in...
- On The House Stakes
- Prestige StakesPrestige StakesThe Prestige Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August....
- Richmond StakesRichmond StakesThe Richmond Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August....
- Select StakesSelect StakesThe Select Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 192 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.The event was established in 1965, and it was...
- Stardom StakesStardom StakesThe Stardom Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
- Starlit Stakes
- Stewards' CupStewards' Cup (Great Britain)The Stewards' Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August....
- Supreme StakesSupreme StakesThe Supreme Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August or early September.The event was established in 1981, and it...
- Sussex StakesSussex StakesThe Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
- Tapster Stakes
- Thoroughbred Stakes
- Vintage StakesVintage StakesThe Vintage Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...