Cash Machines
There is no cash machine on site so please bring cash with you to the Racecourse. The nearest cash machine is located on Castle Street, a 5 minute walk from the Racecourse. Cards are accepted in the Croft Suite bar on the first floor of the Grandstand, and in the Severn Restaurant on the second floor of the Grandstand. Please note we are not currently able to accept cards for payment of tickets on the gate.
Picnics
You are welcome to bring your own food & drink into the Centre Course enclosure on all of our racedays, however there is a specific alcohol policy in place for Ladies Day and Super Irish Saturday. Please refer to the fixture pages for full details. Food & drink cannot be brought into the County Enclosure, and any customers found with food & drink on their person will be asked to consume or dispose of the items before entering the County Enclosure.
Race Times
Race times are available online prior to each race meeting. Sometimes if there are multiple entries into the same race a race may ‘divide’ which means there will be an additional race on any particular day. Equally on certain race days there may only be 6 races instead of the usual 7. Final timings for the day are confirmed 24 hours before the fixture once the horses have declared, so we advise you to check the website after 1pm the day before racing for any changes to the race programme.
Race Cards
Race cards are an invaluable guide for your day at the races. They can be purchased for £3 from the race card kiosk which is located by the turnstiles in front of the main entrance to the County Enclosure, and lists the times of each race, the runners and riders, and also includes maps and other useful information. Race cards are also on sale inside the Centre Course beside the entrance turnstiles.
The Best View
There are plenty of places for you to enjoy the racing action, stand by the rails as the horses thunder down the finishing straight, or on the Grandstand steppings in the heart of the crowd to enjoy the atmosphere as your horse comes home. To get the best position, you should find your spot 5-10 minutes before the start of the race.
Horse Racing Beginners Checklist
- Check that anything you would like to bring is allowed into your admission area. Please refer to the relevant fixture page for restrictions on the day.
- Ensure you are suitably dressed for the weather conditions and for the theme of the race day.
- Make sure you have brought cash with you.
- Keep your tickets and badges in a safe place, unfortunately lost or stolen tickets cannot be replaced.
- eTickets for the County Enclosure should be printed out onto A4 paper and brought with you on the day, or you can download the PDF to your phone but please ensure you have the ticket open on screen at the turnstiles to allow the ticket to be scanned. If you have not received your eTicket via email prior to your raceday please call us 24-48 hours before racing on 01905 253 64 so we can re-issue your tickets.
How to Bet
Putting on a bet at the races is all part of the experience and we challenge anyone to not scream with frustration or delight as their horse approaches the winning line!
You can put as little as £2 on a horse and to help you choose a horse, our raceday programme will give you tips for picking your fancy and details on how to read the form. However, you may have as much luck picking the horse because you like its name or you like the colour of the jockey’s silks.
There are two ways to bet - either with the tote or with the ‘bookies’ that can be found in front of the viewing grandstands or inside in the cold, winter months.
The Tote
Whether you are planning to make a first visit to the races or you’re a huge fan, cheering home a winner while clutching a successful betting ticket is, for many, an exciting part of the raceday experience.
When you bet on-course with the Tote, your stake (the amount of money you place on a bet) is pooled together with all other bets on that race and then shared out amongst customers with winning tickets. Your betting on the racecourse with the Tote supports racing, with the majority of revenues flowing back to that racecourse.
There are several bet types available with the Tote such as win, place, each way (win and a place bet) and an exacta (picking the first two in the correct order). One of the most famous tote bets is the placepot which rewards customers who can pick a horse to place in each of the first 6 races. The average dividend of the Placepot is over £454* to a £1 stake so it is a fun bet where you can a large amount for a small stake.
You also have the option to place a ‘Lucky Pick’ bet, which is similar to the lucky dip on the National Lottery. However, the Lucky Pick is designed to be smarter than a random lucky dip as it uses a special formula which is weighted towards the more likely outcomes in an event.
The Tote has a minimum bet of just £2 and accepts cash and card across all courses.
So, if you’re a seasoned racegoer or having a day out with friends, there are plenty of betting options and the friendly Tote team are always on hand to help with your selections. By choosing to bet with the Tote during your visit to the races, you’ll be doing so in the knowledge that racing is benefiting from your support.
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