Market Rasen Horse Races

Although the majority of National Hunt racing in the UK takes place through the winter, racing at Market Rasen takes place all year round, which means you can watch live racing all year round via GGTV.

The meeting with the highest profile to take place at Market Rasen is Summer Plate, which takes place in July.

As is the case at the majority of racecourses up and down the country, there area number of standout races run throughout the season at a track and that is certainly the case at the Lincolnshire course.

Popular races at this fixture are the 2 mile and a quarter mile Summer hurdle, the two and ¾’s mile Summer Plate chase.

Another race of note is the Prelude Handicap Chase.

In the winter months, a left handed point to point course is laid inside of the main National Hunt course.

The Lincolnshire market town of Market Rasen is home to year round horse racing thanks to the course that shares the towns name as whilst the majority of National Hunt only offer racing through the colder months, Market Rasen racecourse offers racing on its hurdle and steeplechase 12 months a year.

That allows the course to take advantage of many courses not featuring National Hunt racing in the summer to bring fans some of the biggest meetings and races in the predominantly flat racing season.

The course summer Plate meeting offers great races including the Summer Hurdle, run over 2 and a quarter miles and the Summer Plate, run over 2 and 3 quarters of a mile.

Other top races held at the course include the Prelude Handicap Hurdle (a listed race run over 2 miles and 110 yards) and the Prelude Handicap Chase (a listed race run over 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 110 yards).

No matter if you want to watch one of the biggest meetings listed above or any other meeting from the course or one of the great races listed above or a smaller race, the great news is that it has never been simpler to watch live racing from Market Rasen.

In the not too distant past, you either had to be at the course in person, subscribe to expensive pay tv channels that may or may not feature the races you are interested in or head to your local bookie in any hope of watching live racing from the Lincolnshire course but now you can simply watch at any of the fantastic online bookmakers featured on this page.

No matter if you prefer to watch live racing on your phone, tablet, computer or laptop, you can do via the fantastic live streaming services of the online bookmakers featured here.

There is a wagering requirement that must be met to be able to watch live racing from the course but the chances are that if you are on this page, you are interested in watching live horse racing and if you are interested in watch racing, you are also interested in betting on horse racing from market Rasen, so why not simply choose to watch along live with one of the great bookies on this page that allow you to watch races you have bet on?

Whilst nothing can match been at the course in person, and with summer racing and a great rural location, Market Rasen racecourse is one of the best small courses to watch live racing, watching along live online is the next best thing.

Watch any race you have bet on and cheer on your backed horse as it races around the racecourse and hopefully onto victory via our live streaming partners.

History of Market Rasen Racecourse

1828–1887: The origins of Market Rasen Races

The history of Market Rasen Races dates back to the early nineteenth century, when horse racing formed part of the social and sporting life of the Lincolnshire market town. According to local historical accounts, the White Hart Friendly Society helped establish organised racing in the town around 1828. The races formed part of Feast Week, an annual period of local celebrations organised with the involvement of publicans and friendly societies.

In the early years, the races were quite different from the professionally managed meetings seen today. Some contests followed a point-to-point format, with horses and gentleman riders travelling across farmland between designated starting and finishing points. Local inns played an important role by providing refreshments, meeting places and land for racing. The event was as much a community occasion as a sporting competition.

Feast Week racing was held in autumn from 1828 until 1887. The popularity of the races gradually increased, attracting larger crowds and greater local interest. A historical account published by Market Rasen Heritage Tour records that around 3,000 spectators attended the races in 1857, a substantial gathering for a town of its size at the time.

The arrival of the railway in Market Rasen in 1848 helped make the meetings more accessible. Horses could be transported to the area by rail, while spectators could travel from further afield. This improved connectivity helped the races develop beyond a purely local event and strengthened the town’s relationship with organised horse racing.

1871: The development of steeplechasing

As jump racing became more popular during the nineteenth century, Market Rasen expanded its programme. A second annual fixture was introduced in spring in 1871, featuring steeplechasing. This meeting became a lasting part of the racecourse’s identity and continues to influence the modern calendar.

Steeplechasing evolved from races across open countryside, in which horses were required to negotiate natural obstacles such as ditches, hedges and fences. Over time, the sport became more organised, with established courses, defined race distances and formal rules. The introduction of a spring steeplechase meeting reflected this wider development in British racing.

Market Rasen’s location in an area served by three hunts—Brocklesby, Southwold and Burton—also influenced the organisation of racing. These local connections helped shape the name of the company formed to establish a permanent venue: Market Rasen United Hunts Steeplechases Limited.

The development of organised steeplechasing provided a foundation for the modern racecourse. It also helped establish a more consistent annual programme, attracting racing enthusiasts who wanted to watch horses compete over obstacles rather than simply attend the town’s autumn festivities.

1924: A permanent home on Willingham Road

For almost a century, racing took place at various locations around Market Rasen. The move to a permanent site became a major turning point in the history of the venue. In 1924, the racecourse found its established home on Willingham Road, where it has remained ever since.

The company behind the development raised enough money to purchase 50 acres of land for the permanent course. A further 50 acres were initially rented for race-day use, although the rented land was eventually purchased by the company. This arrangement provided the space needed for the track and its associated facilities.

The first meeting at the new course took place in April 1924. According to the Market Rasen Heritage Tour, the first race at the permanent venue was won by Have a Care, owned by J. G. Lyall and ridden by his son Bob Lyall. The victory was particularly notable because Bob was the grandson of George Rowell, a local publican who had supported earlier race meetings.

The opening marked the transition from a series of temporary racing locations to a permanent sporting facility. Having a settled home made it easier to plan improvements, maintain the course and develop facilities for spectators, jockeys, trainers and owners.

1945–1971: Victor Lucas and the modern layout

A particularly important figure in the development of Market Rasen Racecourse was Victor Lucas, who took responsibility for running the course in 1945. He remained in charge until his death in 1971 and played a major role in shaping the venue’s layout and operations.

Lucas planned the course, paddock, parade ring, stands and weighing room. His work created an arrangement that remained largely in place for decades, demonstrating the lasting impact of his approach to racecourse design and management.

The parade ring is an important feature of a racecourse, allowing spectators to view the runners before a race and assess their condition and appearance. The weighing room is essential for checking that jockeys meet the required weight conditions, while the stands and enclosures provide different vantage points for watching the racing. Lucas’s planning brought these elements together within a more organised venue.

During his time at Market Rasen, the fixture list expanded considerably. The course held three meetings each year when Lucas began managing it, but by 1967 the calendar had grown to 12 meetings. The expanded programme included Easter Monday, Boxing Day and a number of Saturday fixtures, helping establish racing as a more regular feature of the town’s sporting life.

1967: The racecourse joins the Jockey Club group

In 1967, Market Rasen Racecourse was sold to the Racecourse Holdings Trust, a subsidiary of the Jockey Club. It is now part of Jockey Club Racecourses, which operates a network of venues across Britain.

The change in ownership connected Market Rasen to a wider organisation with experience in managing racecourses and developing the sport. It also formed part of the broader evolution of British racing, as racecourses adapted to changing spectator expectations, commercial requirements and the professional organisation of fixtures.

Market Rasen retained its strong local identity despite becoming part of a larger group. Its rural setting, approachable atmosphere and emphasis on jump racing continued to distinguish it within the national racing calendar.

The rise of summer jump racing

Although National Hunt racing is often associated with winter, Market Rasen developed a particularly strong reputation as a summer jumping venue. Its summer programme became one of the racecourse’s defining features, offering high-quality jump racing during months when some other courses place greater emphasis on flat racing.

The Summer Plate and Summer Hurdle became the principal races associated with the venue’s major July meeting. The Summer Plate is a valuable handicap steeplechase, while the Summer Hurdle is a prominent hurdle contest. Both races have helped attract horses and jockeys from across Britain, strengthening Market Rasen’s standing in the summer racing calendar.

The meeting evolved into Summer Plate Ladies Day, combining competitive sport with fashion, hospitality and social entertainment. This broader offering has helped the fixture appeal to established racing fans and visitors who are more interested in a special day out than in studying every line of the form guide.

Boxing Day racing and local tradition

Another important part of Market Rasen’s history is its Boxing Day meeting. The fixture has become a well-established part of Christmas in Lincolnshire, attracting local families, groups of friends and racing enthusiasts.

Boxing Day racing reflects the wider tradition of National Hunt meetings during the festive season. Across Britain, racecourses host events between Christmas and New Year, giving spectators the opportunity to enjoy live sport during the holiday period. At Market Rasen, the meeting has become one of the year’s most popular fixtures, reinforcing the racecourse’s connection with the local community.

The tradition also demonstrates how racing can become part of a region’s annual calendar. For some visitors, attending the Boxing Day meeting is an occasional treat; for others, it is a regular family tradition that continues from one generation to the next.

Market Rasen Racecourse today

Today, Market Rasen Racecourse is an established National Hunt venue in Lincolnshire and part of Jockey Club Racecourses. It stages more than 20 jump racing fixtures each year and is widely recognised for its summer programme, particularly the Summer Plate Ladies Day in July. The course also continues to host its traditional Boxing Day meeting.

The venue offers several enclosures, bars, restaurants and hospitality facilities, as well as spaces for conferences and other events. Family Fun Days and selected fixtures provide additional entertainment, helping make the racecourse accessible to a wider audience. The course’s rural location remains an important part of its character, giving visitors a scenic setting in which to enjoy the racing.

Market Rasen’s history stretches from informal Feast Week contests in the nineteenth century to the permanent course established in 1924. Along the way, the arrival of the railway, the development of steeplechasing, the work of Victor Lucas and the expansion of the fixture list all helped shape the venue.

Its continuing popularity reflects a combination of local heritage, competitive jump racing and an accessible race-day experience. Whether attending Summer Plate Ladies Day, watching the Boxing Day races or discovering National Hunt racing for the first time, visitors are participating in a tradition that has evolved over nearly two centuries.

From its early beginnings on farmland around the town to its modern facilities on Legsby Road, Market Rasen Racecourse remains an important part of Lincolnshire’s sporting identity. The crowds may now enjoy better viewing areas and more extensive hospitality, but the central attraction remains unchanged: talented horses, skilled jockeys, the challenge of the fences and the excitement of seeing which runner reaches the winning post first.