Scottish Horse Races

Horse racing is believed to have been around in Scotland for nearly a millennium. Though it is not the first sport that comes to mind that we associate with this fine land, the old traditions paired up with the gambling culture of the Scotts still persist. It isn’t uncommon for a Scotsman to follow races closely and try to find the most relevant information for educated guesses and betting by using online tips like racing-tips.org. Here is a brief run-down of the state of horse racing in Scotland.

History

One of the oldest racing trophies in the world is the Lanark Silver Bell, though the original most likely no longer exists. It is said that the first bell was a gift from King William the Lion in 1160. However, there are a few things wrong with this theory, as the oldest discovered bell bears marks that were present in the 16th century. In other words, the Bell, or one of its descendants, was built around the 1610s by Hugh Lindsay and Deacon Robert Dennistoun. The Lanark Racecourse was closed in 1977.

The written history offers little in terms of recorded horse races and the Scottish love for them. Another early entry regarding horse racing is concerned with the payments made by King James IV in 1504. Currently, there are five racecourses in Scotland: Ayr Racecourse, Hamilton Park, Kelso Racecourse, Musselburgh Racecourse, and Perth Racecourse.

Ayr

The first known races in Ayr have been around since the late 16th century, though the official ones didn’t take place for two hundred years since then. Every year, there are 35 fixtures and one of the best-known events is the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival, sponsored by, you’ve guessed it, William Hill. It takes place from 20-22 September. What’s interesting about this racecourse is that it is a combination of flat and jump races.

Hamilton Park

13 miles south of Glasgow, you will find Hamilton. It was opened between the two World Wars and now hosts flat races from May till September. It’s not just the races that draw the crowd in, it is the entertainment as well. The racecourse has utilized the touristic potential of the horse races to come up with interesting restaurants and top music performers.

Kelso

This is the friendliest course in all of Britain, at least according to its website. The original name of the place was Duke Racecourse, as it was honoring the Duke of Roxburghe. It is a National Hunt course with 15 jump fixtures. Minors are welcome free of charge.

Musselburgh

It welcomes the families and the ladies and there are over 25 fixtures for everyone to enjoy, regardless of their age and budget. One of the best-known and the oldest races there is the New Year Sprint which takes place on January 1st. It is a handicap jump race, meaning that the faster runners are given longer distances to run.

Perth

Perth is one of those places that have been into horse races since the 17th century, though this racecourse is barely over a century old. The reason for this racecourse is the drinking ban until which races were conducted at North inch. Every year it houses the events from August to September, and it has top-quality entertainment along with the thrilling races.