Wetherby Horse Races

Wetherby Races has a long history which can be traced back to 1891 although racing in the town can be traced back even further than that.

With such a long history, it is no surprise that Wetherby is home to notable races with the Castleford Chase and Charlie Hall Chase the most well-known.

Other races of note at Wetherby are the Towton Novices Chase, the Wetherby Mares Hurdle, the West Yorkshire Hurdle and the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

Located in the market town of Wetherby, Wetherby racecourse is well located just off the A1 and near to the large city of Leeds.

Wetherby racecourse is one of the most historic in the United Kingdom and makes up 1 of a number of racecourses found on or near to the A1 trunk road that helps the course to attract a number of star names to the course, especially those located at the relatively close Malton training and stable area.

First opened in 1891, the course spent most of its existence offering only National Hunt racing with a range of chase and hurdle racing but the great news for fans of horse racing is that you can now enjoy racing not only through the winter but ever since 2015, the course offers flat racing so you can enjoy action through the summer.

With so much on offer from the West Yorkshire course, the great news for all racing fans is that you can watch each and every race from Wetherby races live online via our Wetherby races live stream partners.

As you would expect from a racecourse with so much history, there are a number of stand out races at Wetherby that are well worth watching with most of them coming towards the end of the calendar year in November and December.

Popular and top races at the course include the Towton Novices Chase (a grade 2 race run over 3 miles and 1 furlong for 5 year old horses and above), the Wetherby Mares Hurdle (raced over 2 miles and 110 yards for 4 year old and above mares), the West Yorkshire Hurdle (a grade 2 race run over 3 miles and 1 furlong for four year old horses and above), the Charlie Hall Chase (a grade 2 race run over 3 miles and 1 furlong for horses aged 5 and above), the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (a grade 3 race run over 3 miles and 1 furlong for horses aged 4 years old and above) and the Castleford Chase (a handicap race run over 2 miles for horses aged 4 years old and above).

No matter if you are wanting to watch any of those stand out chase and hurdle races above or any other races from Wetherby including the relatively new flat racing summer season, the great news is that you can watch each and every race from the course via our Wetherby race live stream partners.

No longer do you need to beat the course in person to watch the action live or to try and find the race that you would like to watch on a pay tv channel or at your local bookies, now you can simply watch just the race that you want to watch and how you want to watch it.

No matter if you want to watch via your phone, laptop, tablet or computer, you can watch every race live.

Whilst there is a wagering requirement to be able to watch live via online bookmakers, we are sur that if you are looking to watch racing from Wetherby live, the chances are that you will also be wanting to bet on the action.

If you have already placed a bet on Wetherby races and your chosen bookie does not allow you to watch the action live, make sure that you next bet is with one of the bookies on this page who allow you to watch the action live so that you can cheer on your chosen horse to a hopeful victory.

History of Wetherby Racecourse

Early racing in Wetherby: The nineteenth century

The history of Wetherby Races begins well before the opening of the modern racecourse on York Road in 1891. Horse racing had long been part of the sporting culture around Wetherby, a market town in West Yorkshire positioned on the historic Great North Road between London and Edinburgh. Its location made it an important stopping point for travellers, and its inns and stabling facilities supported the movement of horses through the area.

According to the official history published by Wetherby Racecourse, regular organised racing began locally in 1842 at Linton, on land now occupied by Wetherby Golf Club. These early meetings were supported by people connected with farming, hunting and the military. The events were initially informal, but racing grew in popularity as local interest increased.

The surrounding countryside was particularly suitable for the development of steeplechasing. The sport had emerged from cross-country contests in which horses raced over natural obstacles, often using church spires as visible landmarks. A local route between Kirk Deighton and Walton churches became associated with this tradition, linking the area to the origins of jump racing in Yorkshire.

By the late nineteenth century, demand for more organised racing had increased. In 1878, a committee of local sports enthusiasts and businessmen was established under the leadership of Henry Crossley, a stationer, printer and founder of the Wetherby News. The committee sought to improve the organisation and financial sustainability of the meetings, helping lay the foundations for a permanent racecourse.

One controversial decision came in 1884, when organisers introduced a sixpence admission charge for the popular enclosure, where entry had previously been free. According to the racecourse’s historical account, the change caused considerable opposition and nearly provoked a riot. It was an early demonstration that racegoers could be just as passionate about admission prices as they are today.

The move to York Road and the opening in 1891

By 1890, rising rents at the Linton site had made it increasingly difficult to continue racing there. Organisers therefore searched for a new location that could accommodate a permanent racing facility. They identified land on York Road that had previously been farmed by Henry Crossley and was owned by Captain Montagu of Ingmanthorpe Hall.

The final meeting at the old Linton course took place on 8 April 1890. The main race was won by Riston, owned by Mr Lycett Green and ridden by Mr Wilmot-Smith. The same combination would enjoy another notable success at the new venue the following year.

Wetherby Racecourse officially opened at its present site on Easter Monday, 30 March 1891. The first meeting marked a major milestone in the town’s racing history, establishing the permanent venue that continues to operate today. The opening race was won by Alberta, the 4/6 favourite, according to the Wetherby Civic Society’s historical account.

The early facilities were relatively basic, but the new course provided the space needed to develop organised meetings. Its location on York Road offered a more sustainable home for racing, allowing the committee to improve the track and build facilities for spectators, officials and competitors.

1906: The first major grandstand

The early twentieth century brought further improvements to Wetherby Racecourse. By 1906, a grandstand known as Bramham and a weighing room had been established, providing more substantial facilities for spectators and the professionals involved in racing.

The weighing room is an essential part of a racecourse. Jockeys must meet the weight specified for their mounts, and officials oversee the weighing procedures required before and after races. The development of dedicated facilities reflected the increasing professionalism of the sport and the growing importance of Wetherby as a permanent racing venue.

Progress was interrupted by the First World War. Racing ceased in 1915, and a hospital was established on the course. Like many sporting venues across Britain, Wetherby was affected by the demands of wartime, when land and buildings were repurposed to support the national effort.

After the war, the organisers faced the task of restoring racing and strengthening its long-term future. The reopening period would prove important in shaping the racecourse’s business structure and facilities for the decades ahead.

1920–1953: A new company and permanent ownership

In 1920, the Wetherby Steeplechase Committee Ltd was formed as part of the reorganisation of the racecourse. The company brought together members of the earlier organising committee, including Henry Crossley and other local figures. Rowland Francis Meyrick was appointed Clerk of the Course, a position he held until 1947.

The new organisation concentrated on improving the venue, increasing prize money and attracting better-quality horses. These developments helped strengthen Wetherby’s reputation and support the gradual expansion of its racing programme.

Transport played a significant role in the racecourse’s development. A railway station serving the venue opened in 1924, making it easier for spectators to attend meetings from further afield. Special trains, known as racecourse specials, carried visitors from Leeds and other locations, helping boost attendance. Historical accounts report that some meetings attracted crowds exceeding 40,000 people.

The station remained in operation until 1959, when the railway branch closed. Its existence nevertheless represented an important period in Wetherby’s history, demonstrating how improved transport connections could help a regional racecourse attract large audiences.

In 1953, the racecourse company purchased the freehold of the site. This gave the organisation greater control over its long-term future and provided a stronger basis for continued investment in buildings and facilities. The purchase was a particularly important step in securing Wetherby as a permanent fixture in Yorkshire’s sporting landscape.

1967–2000: Modernising the racecourse

Further redevelopment took place during the second half of the twentieth century. A new Club Stand was opened in 1967 by Lord Willoughby de Broke, marking another stage in the improvement of the racecourse’s spectator facilities.

Wetherby continued to host National Hunt racing, developing its reputation as a venue for winter jump meetings. Its track layout, fences and hurdles provided a distinctive challenge for horses, while the race programme attracted trainers and jockeys from across Britain.

The course also experienced setbacks. In 1958, a fire destroyed a block of buildings that included restaurants, bars, the weighing room and jockeys’ changing facilities. Repairs took approximately two years, disrupting facilities but allowing the venue to rebuild and continue operating.

As spectator expectations changed, further investment became necessary. The Wetherby Millennium Grandstand, costing approximately £4 million, opened in February 2000. The development brought the racecourse into a new era, providing improved facilities and a more contemporary environment for racegoers.

Subsequent projects included improvements to the parade ring and weighing room, redevelopment of Bramham Hall and further changes to the Millennium facilities. These upgrades helped the venue respond to the needs of modern racing, from owners and trainers to hospitality customers and families attending a day out.

2015: Flat racing arrives at Wetherby

For much of its modern history, Wetherby was known exclusively for National Hunt racing. That changed in 2015, when flat racing was introduced to the fixture list. The first flat meeting took place on 26 April 2015, opening a new chapter in the racecourse’s development.

The decision expanded Wetherby’s appeal by giving the venue a broader racing programme. Flat races do not feature hurdles or fences, instead testing horses over measured distances on a track. The new meetings created additional opportunities for trainers, owners and jockeys, while allowing spectators to experience another major branch of British horse racing.

Wetherby retained its strong association with jump racing, including its prominent autumn and winter fixtures. The introduction of flat racing was therefore an expansion rather than a replacement of its established identity. Today, the course hosts jump racing from autumn through winter and into spring, followed by flat meetings during the spring and early summer.

The Charlie Hall Chase and Wetherby’s racing identity

One of Wetherby’s most important modern traditions is the Charlie Hall Steeplechase. The race has become a major fixture in the early part of the National Hunt season, attracting leading staying chasers and providing an early indication of form ahead of the winter’s bigger contests.

The meeting is named after Charlie Hall, a figure associated with the local racing community. Its reputation has grown over time, making it one of the signature events on the Wetherby calendar. The race is particularly significant because it tests horses returning to competitive action after the summer break, when trainers begin preparing their leading jumpers for the season ahead.

The course is also known for its Yorkshire Christmas Meeting, held on Boxing Day and 27 December. These festive fixtures have become an established part of the venue’s annual programme, offering spectators a chance to enjoy jump racing during the holiday season.

Together, these events help define Wetherby’s character. The Charlie Hall Chase brings early-season prestige, while the Christmas meeting combines sport with the atmosphere of the festive period. Both contribute to the racecourse’s place in the wider British racing calendar.

Wetherby Racecourse today

Today, Wetherby Racecourse remains an established sporting venue in West Yorkshire, combining its historic association with jump racing with a modern flat racing programme. Its left-handed circuit measures just under a mile and four furlongs, with nine steeplechase fences and six flights of hurdles. The home straight’s slight incline provides an additional test as horses approach the finish.

The venue offers a range of facilities, including grandstands, hospitality suites, dining options, bars and different spectator enclosures. Its facilities also support conferences and other events outside the racing calendar, allowing the site to serve a wider community.

Recent investment has continued to shape the racecourse. The new turnstile entrance, improved approach roads and a lit footpath to the coach park were completed in 2021. Further upgrades to the weighing room facilities were scheduled to begin during 2025–2026, according to the racecourse’s published history.

From the early meetings at Linton in 1842 to the opening of the York Road course in 1891, Wetherby has developed from a local racing venue into a well-established part of British horse racing. Its history includes the creation of a permanent course, the construction of grandstands, wartime disruption, railway connections, major redevelopment and the introduction of flat racing.

For modern visitors, this heritage adds meaning to the experience of attending Wetherby Races. Every meeting continues a tradition built over generations by local organisers, racing professionals, owners, trainers and spectators. Whether you arrive to watch the Charlie Hall Chase, enjoy a festive meeting or discover flat racing for the first time, Wetherby Racecourse offers a genuine connection to Yorkshire’s sporting past and an exciting place to enjoy its racing future.