Huntingdon Racecourse Guide

Situated in Cambridgeshire and close to the village of Brampton, Huntingdon Racecourse stages some competitive jumps racing action throughout its’ season which comprises of 19 fixtures. Often referred to locally as Brampton, the track has seen many household and famous names in the horse racing world contest around its’ course including the legendary Desert Orchid. 

Huntingdon is one of 15 racecourses around the country to fall under the ownership of the Jockey Club and its’ quality facilities has seen the course named ‘Best Small Racecourse’ several times.

Huntingdon hosts a good standard of racing action throughout its’ racing calendar, but the feature meeting at the track is surely Peterborough Chase day, typically taking place on a Sunday and attracting some big names to contest the Grade Two chase contest which can provide clues towards the Cheltenham Festival races in March. 

Taking place in December the Peterborough Chase has been won in the past by some of the biggest names in the history of the sport including fan favourites Menorah, Al Ferof, Monet’s Garden and four-time champion Edredon Bleu amongst others. The Listed Sidney Marnes Memorial Novices’ Hurdle is another feature of the track and run each February.

Oval in nature, Huntingdon’s track is right-handed and galloping with easy bends and measuring around one and and a half miles to a full circuit. The track is predominantly flat with nine fences to a circuit and with races often strongly-run the obstacles can prove quite tricky especially the open ditch in front of the stands which has claimed its’ fair share of casualties although the fences in general aren’t considered to be particulary stiff.

Given the topography of Huntingdon it isn’t a surprise to learn that speedy types of horses do well here and front-runners have a good record at the track, especially those which can jump quickly and accurately. The ground rarely gets too testing at Huntingdon so a big-striding galloping types are at a definite disadvantage around what is considered one of the fastest tracks in the country.

It isn’t uncommon for horses who once raced on the flat and are transitioning to obstacles to have their first experience of racing at Huntingdon due to the track being almost entirely without undulation - one less thing for horses to think about on their National Hunt debut!

Looking back over the past five seasons at the track and Fergal O’Brien and Olly Murphy come out as the trainers with the best strike-rate at Huntingdon over the period, each boasting respectable 25% returns with the former also showing a profit of almost 30 points in the process. 

Dan Skelton, Nicky Henderson and Gary Moore all have plenty of runners here - Skelton has saddled the most in the five year period - and all three have done well, saddling plenty of winners between them despite each failing to return a profit from their respective runners.

Looking at last season’s statistics (2021/22 campaign) it would have paid handsomely to keep onside with Tom Lacey’s runners, the trainer hitting almost 50% strike-rate from his runners at Huntingdon and showing quite a handsome profit return. Siding with runners from Gary Moore and Jonjo O’Neill’s respective yards would also have seen punters in profit last term. 

With Fergal O’Brien doing well at the track with his runners it perhaps is no surprise to learn that Paddy Brennan tops the jockey charts when looking over the five-year period; Brennan’s stats show a solid strike-rate - one winner for every four rides - and a profit in excess of 20 points making him the man to follow at Huntingdon, especially when teaming up with O’Brien!

Nico de Boinville also enjoys plenty of success at Huntingdon, his strike-rate being only slightly behind that of Brennan although Nicky Henderson’s main pilot shows a loss overall. Harry Skelton and Sam Twiston-Davies have traditionally done well here also.

It was all-change during the 2021/22 campaign with Stan Sheppard emerging as the main man in the saddle at Huntingdon, winning on every other ride at the track for a 50% strike-rate and a profit of almost 15 points. Jamie Moore and Jonjo O’Neill Jr also both registered strike-rates around the 30% mark  with both men showing some small profit.

There has been documenting of horse racing in the vicinity of Huntingdon since 1775 at Port Holme, continuing through to 1906  although Huntingdon Racecourse has been active since 1886 and is now the only track in the area for jumps racing although nearby Cottenham hosts point-to-point meetings.

The course’s biggest race, the Peterborough Chase was first run in 1969 where it was run on a Tuesday until 1997 and then on a Saturday until 2008. The feature race at the track was then run on a Thursday until 2014 when it switched to being contested on Sundays.

Henrietta Knight won the Peterborough Chase eight times, four times with Edredon Bleu who also won the Champion Chase in 2000 having won the Peterborough Chase earlier in the season.

Huntingdon racecourse sits on a floodplain and on occasion the course can be subject to flooding leading to the loss of fixtures in particularly inclement weather. 

The official racecourse address for Huntingdon racecourse is:

Huntingdon Racecourse

Thrapston Road

Brampton

Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire

PE28 4NL

If you’re planning a trip to Huntingdon Park Racecourse here’s how to get there:

By road – Huntingdon is well signposted by road and is situated less than half a mile from Junction 22 on the A14 which links with the M1, M11, A1 and M6 Motorways. Parking at the course is free

By train – Huntingdon  is the closest railway station to the course, sitting on the mainline from London Kings Cross. Taxis are available outside and the venue is less than three miles away. On racedays, complimentary transport is put on for those arriving and departing by train.

By air – private aircraft can land on the course by prior appointment and arrangement.