Beverley Racecourse Guide


One of nine racecourses in Yorkshire, the picturesque Beverley track has been in operation since 1690 and offers racing enthusiasts some cracking race days including Listed action throughout the flat racing season.

Beverley is a flat racing-only track, offering a good test for horse and jockey due to its’ design and nature with its’ stiff uphill finish and tight turns.

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Beverley Major Meetings


Beverley hosts a number of meetings throughout the flat racing season but the Beverley Bullet fixture is perhaps the jewel in the crown of the track’s fixtures where some of the fastest sprinters compete in a fast and furious handicap over the minimum trip of five furlongs. 

The feature race of the season at the track takes place in August and notable past winners include Dakota Gold, Judicial, Take Cover and Borderlescott. It is often a race that can throw up high-class sprinters who go on to land Group honours in their careers.

Beverley Track Characteristics


Beverley is a right-handed round course which measures just over one mile and three furlongs with tight turns and a stiff uphill finish from turning into the straight. It is generally a galloping track with some undulation although the five furlong course is particularly stiff and places a premium on stamina for horses especially when the ground is testing. 

All sprints at Beverley take place over five furlongs; there are no six furlong races at the track. 

Beverley Draw Bias


Being draw low over the sprint course as Beverley can be a huge advantage as low numbers are closest to a tight turn into the main straight from the starting chute; horses drawn wide have an additional disadvantage due to the camber of the track meaning they start lower down the hill than those drawn low. 

Races over the extended seven furlongs can suffer a similar low-draw bias due to the proximity of the stalls to the first of the tight turns into the downhill far bend before meeting the rising ground in the straight although beyond this trip the draw has much less of an effect on races.

Front-runners often do well at the track and it is hard for horses coming from behind to make an impact especially in sprints.

Beverley Leading Trainers


Mark Johnston enjoys plenty of success at Beverley with a 23% strike-rate from his runners over the past five years although backing all his runners at the venue would leave followers out of pocket. 

Over the same period Nigel Tinkler has a much more modest strike rate - 13% - but shows a healthy profit over the time of almost £50 to a £1 stake. David O’Meara also shows a decent return on his runners and boasts a respectable 17% strike-rate over the five-year period.

Tim Easterby however might be one to avoid; over the past five years the trainer has accounted for the most runners at the track although his strike-rate trades at just 11% over the period.

Beverley Leading Jockeys


Ben Curtis rides his fair share of winners at Beverley and shows a profit in the process; the rider having won on 20% of his rides over the past five years and boasting a £6 profit if backing them all with £1. 

Danny Tudhope is a rider to keep onside at Beverley also; the jockey boasting the best strike-rate of 22% over the five-year period although he does show a slight loss. Joe Fanning and Kevin Stott also have decent win percentages from their mounts although both also show a loss.

Beverley Track History


Racing has been taking place at Beverley since 1690, making it one of the oldest UK racecourses. Action originally took place on the Westwood Pasture and following the formation of The Jockey Club in 1752 formally recognised before the founding of the Beverley Racecourse we know today.

The first annual meeting took place in 1767 although the track has undergone periods of inactivity in its’ lifespan with no racing occuring at the track for several years at a time which led the course to fall into disrepair. 

It wasn’t until a three-day meeting being introduced in the-late 19th century when the course really started to blossom and while there was no racing at the track during WW2 the track’s home-straight served as an RAF runway for the airbase that was sited there. 

Since 2012 Beverley Racecourse has played host to 19 meetings each season, headed by the Beverley Bullet raceday in August while the Listed Hilary Needler Stakes earlier in the season is another highlight of the Beverley season.

Beverley Racecourse Address


The official address of Beverley Racecourse is:

Beverley Racecourse
York Road
Beverley
East Yorkshire
HU17 8QZ

Beverley Racecourse Directions


The ways to get to Beverley Racecourse are:

By car – Beverley Races is easily accessible by road via the M62, taking junction 37 and following signed for Market Weighton to the A1079/A1035. There is free parking on the nearby grassy Westwood Pasture although the on-course parking is subject to a fee which is pre-booked in advance.

By train – Beverley train station is located on the Hull-Scarborough line with trains running approximately every 25 minutes. The station is less than two miles away from the course but due to the one-way road system in operation it is often quicker to reach the track on-foot rather than by road.

By bus – bus services to Beverley town centre run regularly from Hull, York and Leeds and there is a bus-stop outside the racecourse.