Carlisle Horse Races

Carlisle offers year round racing with a flat racing throughout the summer and National Hunt racing in the winter over its 1 mile and 4 furlong track and features a steep incline for the last half a mile.

The most notable race held at Carlisle racecourse is the Carlisle Bell, one of the oldest horse races in the world run in June over a flat course of 7 furlongs and 200 yards.

Over races of note include the Cumberland Chase, Cumberland Plate and the Graduation Chase.

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Carlisle racecourse has a long history of action with racing at the present day site going back to 1904 but racing the town can go back much further.

As one of the North West premier racecourses and as the leading racecourses in the borders area, the course offers lots of great action all year around thanks to having both National Hunt 9over jumps and hurdles) and flat racing on offer.

The course made history when in 1929 it was the site of the first Tote Betting services offered at any British racecourse by the Totalisator Board.

As you would expect from a course with so much history and prestige, there are a number of standout races that feature at both flat and National Hunt meetings.

These include the Carlisle Bell (a flat handicap raced over 7 furlongs and 200 yards for horses aged 23 and over) that is one of the oldest races still in existence and the Eternal Stakes (a flat handicap raced over 6 furlongs and 192 yards for fillies aged 3).

If you prefer steeplechase racing over flat racing, then Carlisle has a couple of must watch races for you to enjoy including the Colin Park Memorial Intermediate Chase (a listed race run over 3 miles and 4 furlongs for horses aged 4 and over) and the Houghton Mares Chase (a listed race run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs for fillies aged 4 and over).

No matter if you are wanting to watch one of those fantastic races listed above or any other flat, hurdle or steeplechase race run at Carlisle, the great news is that it has never been easier to do so.

All of the great horse racing live streaming services offered by the bookies that feature on this page bring you each and every race from Carlisle races live online.

No matter if you prefer to watch at home on your computer or laptop or on the go on your tablet or mobile phone, you can.

Whilst there is a wagering requirement that must be met to be able to the watch the races on these services, in all likelihood, if you are looking for a Carlisle races live stream, you are also interested in betting on the action, so why not choose to bet and watch along at one of the great bookies featured on this page?

Nothing can match been at the racecourse in person to cheer on your chosen horse but watching along live is the next best experience and if you are lucky enough to back the winning horse, you can still cheer it on down the home straight at Carlisle.

Sixteenth-century origins: The story of the Carlisle Bell

The history of Carlisle Races stretches back more than four centuries, making it one of the most historically significant racing traditions in Britain. The earliest documented racing associated with Carlisle took place at a venue known as the Swifts, near the city centre. The Jockey Club’s official history records racing there in 1599, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, when the famous Carlisle gold bell was presented as a prize.

The bell was donated by Lady Dacre, a member of a prominent northern English family. Its inscription reads, in the original spelling, ‘The sweftes horse thes bel to tak for mi lade Daker sake’. In modern English, this means that the swiftest horse should take the bell in Lady Dacre’s name. The inscription provides a fascinating glimpse into the language and sporting customs of the period, when a bell could serve as a prestigious racing trophy.

There is a small historical wrinkle worth noting. The larger bell is commonly associated with the date 1559, while the Jockey Club records the first presentation of the prize in 1599. These dates appear in different historical accounts, so it is sensible to distinguish the date associated with the artefact from the official record of the race and prize presentation. Either way, the Carlisle Bell has an exceptionally long history and remains central to the identity of Carlisle Racecourse.

The early races took place long before modern racecourses, starting stalls and electronic timing became standard. Racing was a public spectacle, and prizes helped attract competitors and spectators. The Carlisle Bell’s survival through the centuries gives the modern race a direct link to the earliest documented traditions of the sport in the area.

The Swifts: Carlisle’s original racing venue

For centuries, the Swifts served as the principal venue for organised racing in Carlisle. Situated close to the city, it offered space for races and was connected to the local community’s sporting life. By the eighteenth century, meetings had become more established, and racing increasingly formed part of Carlisle’s calendar of public events.

One important race introduced during this period was the King’s Plate. In 1763, under King George III, a royal plate race was established for five-year-old horses competing in heats over a distance of three miles. Unlike many modern races, which are decided in a single contest, heat racing required competitors to demonstrate their ability over repeated efforts. It was a demanding test of stamina and consistency.

The King’s Plate originally offered a prize of 200 guineas, a substantial sum at the time. However, interest in the contest declined during the nineteenth century, and the prize was reduced by half around 1839. The change reflected the challenges faced by traditional racing events as public tastes, finances and the organisation of the sport evolved.

In 1839, a grandstand was built at the Swifts, improving the experience for spectators. The development reflected the growing importance of race meetings as social occasions, where visitors came not only to watch horses compete but also to meet friends and enjoy the atmosphere.

1904: Moving to the present site at Blackwell

By the early twentieth century, the Swifts was no longer suitable for the long-term development of Carlisle’s racing facilities. In 1904, Carlisle Racecourse moved to its current location at Blackwell, south of the city centre. The new site provided a more practical setting for a modern racecourse and established the location that continues to host Carlisle Races today.

The move marked a significant change in the venue’s development. At Blackwell, the racecourse could expand its facilities and provide improved arrangements for spectators and competitors. A grandstand was constructed not long after the relocation, supporting the continued growth of organised meetings.

The course developed into a dual-purpose racing venue, hosting both flat racing and National Hunt events. Flat racing places emphasis on speed, stamina and tactics over a course without obstacles, while National Hunt races involve horses jumping hurdles or steeplechase fences. This combination allowed Carlisle to attract different types of competitors and offer a varied programme throughout the year.

The Blackwell location also provides the setting for the course’s distinctive undulating layout. The track is right-handed and approximately one mile and four furlongs in circumference, with a challenging uphill finish. These features can make the closing stages particularly testing, especially when winter ground conditions become soft.

1929: A landmark in British betting history

One of the most important milestones in Carlisle Racecourse’s history occurred on 2 July 1929. On that date, the newly formed Totalisator Board, commonly known as the Tote, operated its pool-betting system for the first time on a British racecourse at Carlisle.

The Tote introduced an alternative to traditional bookmaker betting. Rather than offering fixed odds in the same way as a bookmaker, pool betting combines stakes placed on an event, with winnings distributed according to the rules of the pool and after applicable deductions. The system became an important part of British racing and helped broaden the ways in which spectators could participate in betting.

Launching the system at Carlisle placed the racecourse in a significant chapter of racing history. The innovation reflected wider efforts to modernise the sport and establish a more structured approach to betting at race meetings. Today, betting is only one part of the race-day experience, but the introduction of the Tote remains a notable achievement associated with Carlisle.

The Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate traditions

The Carlisle Bell remains the racecourse’s most recognisable historic contest. Run each June, it is a flat handicap over seven furlongs and 200 yards for horses aged three and above. Its combination of modern competition and historical significance makes it a distinctive fixture on the summer calendar.

The original bell is preserved as an important part of Carlisle’s civic and sporting heritage, rather than being treated as an ordinary piece of racing equipment. The annual race keeps its story alive, allowing new generations of owners, trainers, jockeys and spectators to participate in a tradition that began centuries ago.

The Cumberland Plate is another historic feature of Carlisle’s summer racing programme. Run over a longer distance than the Carlisle Bell, it provides a different test of stamina and tactical judgement. Together, the two races help make the summer meeting an important occasion for the region’s racing community.

Their enduring appeal demonstrates how traditional sporting events can remain relevant by combining established customs with contemporary competition. The horses and jockeys change, the facilities evolve and racegoers have more ways to follow the action, but the excitement of competing for a historic prize remains much the same.

2002: A modern grandstand for a historic course

In 2002, Carlisle Racecourse opened a new, state-of-the-art grandstand, marking another important stage in the venue’s modern development. The project improved the facilities available to spectators and helped create a more contemporary race-day experience.

The new grandstand reflected the changing expectations of racegoers, who increasingly wanted a combination of good viewing, comfortable surroundings, food and drink options, and hospitality facilities. Modern racecourses must serve dedicated racing fans as well as visitors attending for social occasions, and investment in spectator facilities helps accommodate both groups.

Carlisle is now part of The Jockey Club, the organisation responsible for a number of major British racecourses. Its position within this wider racing group supports the delivery of fixtures, the development of facilities and the promotion of horse racing to new audiences.

Modern Carlisle Races: Flat racing, jump racing and special events

Today, Carlisle Racecourse hosts a varied calendar of flat racing in the spring and summer, followed by National Hunt racing through autumn and winter. This seasonal pattern gives the venue a distinctive rhythm, with summer meetings bringing faster flat contests and winter fixtures introducing the challenges of jumping and testing ground conditions.

Alongside the Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate, the course hosts events such as the Colin Parker Memorial Chase meeting. The Colin Parker Memorial Chase honours the memory of a respected figure in the racing industry and forms part of the autumn jump racing programme. Such races can help horses prepare for more prominent targets later in the National Hunt season.

Carlisle also stages social fixtures, including Ladies Night, which combines racing with entertainment and a lively summer atmosphere. Other meetings support community causes and local charities, demonstrating that the racecourse plays a role beyond professional sport alone.

The venue’s location near the M6 and a short drive from Carlisle city centre makes it accessible to visitors from Cumbria, northern England and southern Scotland. Its facilities include a modern grandstand, viewing areas, bars, dining options and hospitality packages for groups and special occasions.

From the early racing traditions associated with the Swifts to the modern course at Blackwell, Carlisle Racecourse has adapted to changing times while preserving its historic identity. The Carlisle Bell provides a tangible link to the past, the 1929 Tote milestone highlights the venue’s contribution to the development of British betting, and the modern racing programme ensures that Carlisle remains an active part of the sport.

For today’s visitors, Carlisle Races offers the opportunity to experience that history while enjoying live competition. Whether attending the Carlisle Bell, watching a winter chase or making an evening of Ladies Night, racegoers become part of a tradition that has connected horses, people and the city for generations. And if your chosen horse fails to win, at least you can console yourself with the knowledge that you have spent the afternoon at a racecourse with a remarkable story to tell.