Bath Horse Races

Bath racecourses is a thoroughbred racecourse that offer flat racing. Located on Landsdown Hill just to the North of the historic city of Bath in Somerset, Bath racecourse is a left handed oval track of 1 mile 4 furlongs and 25 yards with the final run in been about half a mile.

Bath holds the record as the UK’s highest flat race track at 780 ft. above sea level, only Hexham and Exeter (both jump tracks) are higher.

The most notable race at Bath is the Landsdown Fillies Stake which is run in April each year.

100% Legal Live Streams

All of the live horse racing streams featured on GGTV are 100% legal and 100% safe. Many websites feature illegal streams that simply steal the content direct from the likes of At The Races and Racing UK and whilst there may be a small cost to watch the races via legal streams (but let’s face it you are likely to be betting on the action anyway!) you can be sure that there are no computer viruses and/or other nasty’s infecting your computer/phone/tablet when watching.

So How is GGTV Different?

The streams that we feature here on GGTV are offered by bookmakers who have paid for the rights to bring you live horse racing action, so you can watch races that you have bet on.

What Can You Watch?

Different bookies have different services with some only focusing on the UK and Ireland whilst some bring you the action from all around the world. If you are after a specific race, please visit our preview section or for all races from a specific track, check out our track guides.

You can also click on the bookies in the table above for all the info you need.

Whilst horse racing in the city of Bath can be traced back to 1728, it wasn’t until 1811 when the first major race meeting at the racecourse was held. Originally the action happened at just 12 meeting spread out over 2 days but the popularity of it soon saw it expanded and that has continued to were the course now hosts over 20 meetings a season.

Traditionally the Somerset Stakes kicks of the season racing and it is still held at the course to this day but in the modern era there are just the 2 standout races held at the course.

Landsdown Fillies Stakes is a listed race run over 5 furlongs and 11 yards for 2 and 4 year old fillies whilst the Beckford Stakes is a listed race run over 1 mile and 6 furlongs for 3 year old and above fillies.

The track currently only features flat racing so most of the action takes place through the warmer summer months and makes it the ideal track for those who enjoy watching a mixture of up and coming horses and jockeys battling it out with more established horses and jockeys.

The course has undergone some improvements recently and now offers good facilities for fans which has helped to attracted a whole new level of support for the course and that helps to create a great atmosphere.

No matter if you are wanting to watch one of the great races listed above or any other race from Bath racecourse, you can.

It has never been simpler to watch each and every race from the track live as our live stream partners bring you all of the action live.

No longer do you need to be a local and able to head to the track to watch every race live from Bath, you can now register with one of the great services listed on this page and watch live via your phone, laptop, computer or tablet.

Whilst there is a wagering requirement that needs to be met before you can watch racing from Bath, the chances are that if you are looking for a live stream of the action, you will also be wanting to bet on the races as well, so why not bet at a bookies that allow you to watch along and to cheer on your backed horse as it races around bath racecourse and hopefully on to victory?

Choose Where To Watch Racing From Bath

All of these bookies offer live Bath races streaming, choose your favourite or simply the bookie requiring the lowest stake (the bet you need to place to watch live horse racing via the bookmaker).

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Whilst Bath has been a relatively small course throughout its history and to this day retains a community feel and charm to it, the track broke into the national limelight for all of the wrong reasons.

In 1953, the course was the site of a criminal plot that make for a good film as the course was the location for a plot that saw a gang use 2 identical horses to substitute a strong horse for a weak one. They then back the horse heavily and damaged the power supply to the course which meant that bookie could not update their odds, which remained at 10-1.

The horse went onto win of course but the officials soon became suspicious and called in the authorities and the gang were caught and sentenced.

Thankfully there is little chance of a repeat of that happening nowadays, so simply sit back, relax, pick your horse and place bet and then you can enjoy watching the great racing action from Bath racecourse via our bath races live stream partners.

1728: The earliest recorded Bath race meetings

The history of Bath Races stretches back to the early eighteenth century. According to Bath Racecourse’s official historical account, the first results from a Bath meeting appeared in the Racing Calendar in 1728. During the eighteenth century, meetings were held intermittently on Claverton Down, south-east of the city.

Horse racing was an important part of Britain’s social and sporting culture during this period. Meetings attracted spectators from different backgrounds, while the races provided opportunities for owners to demonstrate the quality of their horses. Bath’s popularity as a fashionable spa city helped create an audience for sporting and social events, although racing at this stage was not yet permanently established at its modern location.

During the 1770s, racing in Bath reached a high point of popularity. However, the number of horses entered subsequently declined. One difficulty was the firmness of the ground at the original venue, which made racing less attractive to some competitors. From 1784, meetings were moved to Lansdown, a change intended to improve the prospects of the sport in the area.

1793–1811: Setbacks and the revival of racing

The early history of racing at Lansdown was not without difficulties. In 1793, part of the grandstand collapsed while it was occupied by spectators. Several people suffered broken limbs, and the incident became one of the most serious episodes in the racecourse’s early history.

Racing then entered a prolonged period of decline. Following the 1796 season, there were no meetings at Bath for fifteen years. The local economy was struggling, while fears of war and a possible invasion by Napoleon made expensive leisure activities less attractive. Under these circumstances, maintaining a race meeting was difficult.

Racing resumed in 1811 with the permission of the landowner, Mrs Frances Blathwayt. The course used at that time was on Lansdown, between the site of Beckford’s Tower and Weston Lane, rather than on the exact site occupied by today’s racecourse. The meeting was a success and marked an important revival of organised racing in the area.

The early nineteenth century was a significant period for Bath as a fashionable destination, and race meetings benefited from the city’s wider appeal. Visitors could combine sporting entertainment with the social activities associated with the spa town. This connection between racing and leisure helped establish the foundations for the venue’s later development.

1823–1831: The Somersetshire Stakes and a permanent location

In 1823, Bath introduced the £100 Somersetshire Stakes, which became its most famous prize during the nineteenth century. The race attracted attention from the wider racing community and helped raise the profile of the local meeting. Lord Palmerston, who later became Prime Minister, won one of its early runnings, illustrating the links between horse racing and prominent figures of the period.

The 1824 meeting was described in contemporary accounts as the best yet, with Clerk of the Course Mr Margerum credited for helping make it a success. The event reflected the growing organisation of racing at Bath and the importance of strong management in attracting competitors and spectators.

In 1831, the course moved to its present location on Lansdown. The official historical account notes that the precise reason for the move was not recorded, but the new site offered practical advantages. It avoided the need for spectators and horses to cross roads and allowed organisers to create a reasonably sized circuit.

The move established the geographical foundations of modern Bath Racecourse. Parts of the original grandstand from this period are still incorporated into the venue’s historic fabric, linking the present racecourse with its nineteenth-century development.

1851–1862: The Somersetshire Stakes and Derby contenders

A change to the racing calendar in 1851 proved particularly important. Bath’s meetings were moved to just after the middle of May, placing the Somersetshire Stakes close to the Epsom Derby. The timing gave owners and trainers an opportunity to assess potential Derby runners shortly before the famous Classic race.

Bath consequently developed a reputation for exposing horses whose Derby prospects had been exaggerated. A promising performance could encourage confidence, but a disappointing run at Bath could quickly undermine expectations. In modern terms, the Somersetshire Stakes had become an important form guide, although the results did not always follow the script.

One notable exception came in 1862, when Caractacus won the Somersetshire Stakes despite having shown relatively modest form beforehand. He then went on to win the Epsom Derby, producing one of the most memorable stories associated with Bath’s nineteenth-century racing.

His Derby victory was not without controversy. Questions were raised about the weight he carried, followed by an objection alleging that he had taken the wrong course. The objection was ultimately considered too late. The episode added an extraordinary postscript to a race that had already attracted attention and demonstrated how a single result could generate intense debate in Victorian racing.

1918–1921: A new owner and turbulent times

The end of the First World War brought fresh uncertainty for Bath Racecourse. News of the sale of two large estates, including Lansdown, left members of the race committee questioning whether they could continue managing the meetings. Their concern was that the future success of the racecourse was highly speculative.

However, Mr Bushby, the pre-war Clerk of the Course, remained convinced that Bath could be made commercially viable. He persuaded directors of the Newbury Racecourse Company to consider acquiring the venue. A syndicate was formed, and Bath Racecourse was purchased at auction for £12,750.

The early 1920s were a turbulent period in the wider region. In August 1921, gang violence reached Bath, with clashes reported in the city centre, on Lansdown Hill and at the racecourse itself. A gun was produced during a disturbance before racing, although the afternoon’s racing and the following day’s meeting passed without further trouble at the venue.

The episode illustrates the sometimes unpredictable circumstances in which the racecourse operated. Despite economic uncertainty and social unrest, Bath continued to host meetings and gradually strengthened its position as a recognised British racing venue.

1953: The Francasal betting fraud

One of the most notorious episodes in Bath Racecourse history occurred in 1953, when a criminal gang attempted to manipulate the outcome of a race using a so-called ringer. The plan involved running a good horse under the name of a less capable horse, creating the opportunity to secure favourable betting odds before the substitution became known.

The conspirators also planned to cut telephone wires serving the racecourse. By disrupting communications, they hoped to prevent information about the horse being heavily backed from reaching on-course bookmakers, allowing them to place bets at more generous odds. The intended winnings were reportedly £60,000, a substantial sum at the time.

However, bookmakers became suspicious when the telephone service failed. Their enquiries led to the discovery of the severed wires, and the investigation eventually brought the scheme to the attention of the police. The suspects were arrested and prosecuted for conspiracy to defraud.

The first trial ended without a unanimous verdict, leading to a retrial. It subsequently emerged that one of the jurors had been improperly influenced. During the second trial, the authorities took precautions to prevent further interference, and the majority of those accused were convicted.

The Francasal affair remains one of the most extraordinary stories in the history of Bath Races. It also illustrates why racing authorities and bookmakers place such importance on horse identification, communication and the integrity of betting markets.

2000 onwards: Modern redevelopment and a new era

In 2000, Northern Racing, now part of Arena Racing Company (ARC), acquired Bath Racecourse. The ownership change helped set the stage for renewed investment and efforts to strengthen the relationship between the venue and the local community.

The racecourse began placing greater emphasis on fixtures that could attract local residents, including weekend meetings and summer evening racing. These events reflected the venue’s historic role as a social destination for Bath and the surrounding area, while appealing to modern audiences looking for flexible entertainment options.

A major redevelopment followed in 2016, transforming the facilities and creating the contemporary venue visitors see today. The investment improved the racecourse’s hospitality and event spaces while retaining connections with its historic setting. Bath Racecourse subsequently received recognition for its visitor experience, including the Racecourse Association’s Showcase Awards and the Racehorse Owners Association Gold Standard Award in 2017. In 2023, it received the Racecourse Association’s Warmest Welcome award.

The modern racecourse hosts flat racing from spring through autumn, with fixtures typically running from April to October. Its calendar combines ordinary race meetings with feature days, family events and entertainment-led occasions. Facilities are also used for weddings, conferences, parties and other private functions, extending the venue’s role beyond the racing season.

Bath Racecourse today: A historic sporting destination

Today, Bath Racecourse remains a distinctive part of Somerset’s sporting landscape. Its position on Lansdown Hill, approximately 780 feet above sea level, makes it the highest flat racecourse in the UK. The left-handed oval circuit is just over a mile long, offering a different test from the longer courses found elsewhere in British racing.

The racecourse has retained its connection with the city’s history while developing modern facilities for racegoers. Visitors can choose from different enclosures, dining options and hospitality packages, while the annual programme includes feature meetings such as Ladies Day and a range of afternoon and evening fixtures.

From the first recorded results in 1728 to the modern racecourse on Lansdown, the story of Bath Races reflects the changing fortunes of British horse racing. The venue has experienced periods of popularity, long interruptions, dramatic accidents, financial uncertainty and major redevelopment. Yet racing has continued to return, sustained by the enthusiasm of owners, trainers, jockeys and spectators.

For visitors today, that history adds character to every meeting. The horses may compete with modern equipment and professional preparation, but the essential appeal remains familiar: athletic competition, a lively crowd and the excitement of watching a race unfold. Bath Racecourse continues to combine its historic roots with contemporary entertainment, making it a memorable destination for anyone interested in horse racing or looking for a distinctive day out in Somerset.