Guide to Kelso Racecourse
News from Kelso Racecourse
Straight from the Horses' Mouth...
Kelso Racecourse News
About Kelso Racecourse
National Hunt
Berrymoss Track – Originally Flat Racing
Racing moved to the current Berrymoss track in 1822 after trials at other locations around the town. Kelso, then known as the Duke’s Course (the Duke of Roxburghe is a patron), was originally a Flat racing venue until 1888, when the United Border Hunt moved there and National Hunt racing took over.
Heritage Grandstand
The grandstand building, designed by John Carr, was sponsored by the Duke of Roxburghe and opened in 1823. It remains generally unchanged today, despite a group of Suffragettes attempting to burn it down in 1913. Because of its history and state of preservation in 2011 it was given Category A Listed Building status by Historic Environment Scotland, being noted as “the finest example of its building type in Scotland and a particularly rare and important survival in a wider UK context.”
Britain’s Friendliest Racecourse
One of just two purely Jumps courses in Scotland, Kelso Racecourse is known as “Britain’s Friendliest Racecourse”. It is good to visit in January and February, as many trainers use the course as a try-out for their Grand National hopefuls.
Unusual Layout
The layout of the racetracks at Kelso Racecourse is slightly unusual, as the hurdles course cuts a shorter course inside the outer steeplechase course. The hurdles course is around a furlong shorter and consequently has even sharper corners. Stamina is also tested by the Kelso courses as the final run of 3 furlongs is uphill – this makes for fairly frequent dramatic racing finishes, as tiring front runners can see victory snatched in the final stages by a stronger rival.
As well as its horseracing facilities, Kelso Racecourse has a full 18-hole golf course inside the track.
Famous Names
The Premier Chase is a relatively ‘new’ race launched 2009 but is already attracting top names – the 2016 renewal was won by Grand National champion Many Clouds.
The Morebattle Hurdle, named after the village of Morebattle in the Scottish Borders near Kelso, is a trial for the Champion Hurdle Race at Cheltenham. Famously, Jinxy Jack trained by Gordon Richards, won the race four times consecutively between 1990 and 1993; but it is Simonsig who’s the most famous horse to have won the race, in 2012.
Important Races/Festivals
- February – Morebattle Hurdle
- March – Premier Kelso Hurdle
- December – Borders National
Directions
- Road: The course is north of Kelso, off the A6089 and the A699.
- Rail: At 22 miles away, Berwick is the nearest station.
- Website: www.kelso-races.co.uk
- Telephone: 01573 224767.
The Kelso Racecourse Directory - Local Services
Travelling to Kelso Races? Want to know where to stay, where to eat, where to get your hair and nails done? How about where the best pubs are and the name of a reliable taxi? We can help. Check back frequently – this section is updated on a regular basis.
