Race type - Flat
Redcar
Course details
Redcar is Yorkshire's 'Seaside Racecourse' being within walking distance of a long and sandy beach, which is often used by local trainers in wintertime to keep their horses on the go.
GUIDE - For Racecourse
Left-handed, flattened oval circuit of about 1m6f.
Redcar is Yorkshire's 'Seaside Racecourse' being within walking distance of a long and sandy beach, which is often used by local trainers in wintertime to keep their horses on the go. In fact, early meetings in the area were held on the beach until the 1870's when the current site first came into use. The course was in a state of disrepair after World World II with just four meetings being staged annually and it took the appointment of Major Leslie Petch as Manager in 1946 to help transform its fortunes into the well-run, family orientated venue it is today. There are no pretensions of grandeur here - there is no dress code with racegoers are advised to dress for the weather - and that helps swell the crowds which pour in from the surrounding Teeside catchment area, especially for the popular Bank Holiday meetings.
Track / Draw Bias:
This is one track where the draw rarely makes much of a difference, even in bigger fields. To put it simply, don't let the draw put you off when having a bet.
Principal Races:
The racing is modest and prize money amongst the lowest in the country, but there is one very notable exception every October, when the Listed 'Two Year Old Trophy' is staged over the straight 6f. As the name suggests, it's for juveniles and with over £150k in prize money up for grabs a huge field is guaranteed. The weights carried by horses are determined by their sales price so the cheaper the horse, the less weight it has to carry. Favourites have a poor record winning with just one obliging in the last nine runnings. Market leaders have a better record in the Zetland Gold Cup, which is a valuable handicap over 1m2f and is the centrepiece of the two-day Spring Bank Holiday meeting.
Course Characteristics:
The course is actually located inside the town of Redcar on a piece of ground that is perfectly flat. The flattened oval shape creates bends that are quite sharp but to compensate the straights are long with the home straight measuring a full 5f in length. This is extended at the far end by the addition of a 3f chute which creates a straight mile course. This was influential in the decision to switch the Lincoln Handicap (traditionally run over a straight mile) to here in 2006 while Doncaster was being developed. All in all, it's a very fair track with no one horse favoured and horses can win from the front or from behind.
Top Trainers:
Richard Fahey leads the way numerically with 34 winners over the last five seasons and at a more than respectable strike rate of 19%, making him a trainer to keep on your side. Tim Easterby, David Nicholls and Mark Johnston are all based in the north-east and they are regularly on the scoresheet here, as is Bryan Smart whose 21 winners have come at a decent strike rate of 16%.
Top Jockeys:
The success of Fahey is mirrored by his stable jockey Paul Hanagan, who has ridden 34 winners at a 19% strike rate. With him expected to ride more in the south due to his retainer for Sheikh Hamdan, there could be more winning opportunities for the likes Tony Hamilton, Freddie Tylicki, Lee Topliss, Tom Eaves and David Allan. It's rare for a big-name jockey to be in action here but when they do it's always worth giving their mounts a close look as they are not here for the seaside air!