Guide to Royal Windsor Racecourse

Windsor Races News from Eclipse

Straight from the Horses' Mouth...
Windsor Racecourse News

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About Windsor Racecourse

Flat / National Hunt

Henry VIII – Royal Hunting Ground

Being enclosed as a royal hunting ground Windsor Great Park and Datchet Mead have links to horseracing dating back to the reign of Henry VIII.

Flat Racing

However, the first official Flat race meeting at Royal Windsor on Rays Meadow (the current site) was not held until 1866. It became popular as a base for horses racing at Royal Ascot and Jump racing soon followed.

Figure-of-eight course

It is one of only two courses in Britain shaped in a figure-of-eight. In 1923, a photographer attending the races managed to uniquely capture a triple dead heat – it was before photo finishes had been invented, but his shot was perfectly timed to snap the three horses crossing the line at the same time.

Winston Churchill

In 1926 the bookies at Windsor went on strike after Winston Churchill introduced an unpopular betting tax. The tax was later scrapped and Churchill went on to become a racehorse owner himself – his popular horse, Colonist II, won at Windsor in 1949.

Racing during both World Wars

Windsor continued racing during both World Wars – even when a bomb was dropped during a meeting (no casualties).

Queen Mother’s Local

Its popular Monday evening meetings began in the 1960s – the Queen Mother often attended if she was staying in Windsor Castle on racenights. Jump racing was discontinued at Windsor in 1998 but in 2004 and 2005 it resumed temporarily while Ascot was closed for redevelopment.

Richard Hughes

Jockey Richard Hughes made the headlines at Windsor in 2012, when he rode seven winners in one afternoon at combined odds of 10,168/1.

Important Races/Festivals

  • May – Royal Windsor Stakes; Leisure Stakes
  • July – Midsummer Stakes
  • August – August Stakes; Winter Hill Stakes

Directions

  • Road: The course is on the A308 between Windsor and Maidenhead.
  • Rail: Windsor Central and Eton stations are the closest to the course.
  • Website: www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk
  • Telephone: 01753 498400

The Royal Windsor Racecourse Directory - Local Services

Travelling to Windsor 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. 

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