The History of Uttoxeter Racecourse

Racing in the Uttoxeter area predates the current course by nearly two centuries. The earliest recorded meetings took place at Netherwood in the early 1700s — a time when organised horse racing was still finding its feet in the English countryside. The sport was informal, local, and tied to the hunting calendar.

The Meynell Hunt Connection

In the early 1800s, Uttoxeter combined with the nearby Meynell Hunt Group to stage steeplechase meetings. The Meynell Hunt was one of the oldest and most respected packs in the country, and the link between hunting and racing was natural. Steeplechasing had grown out of the hunting field — riders racing from church steeple to church steeple across open country. The Uttoxeter area, with its mix of farmland and woodland, was ideal for the sport.

These early meetings were rough-and-ready affairs. The courses were not always clearly defined, and the fences were whatever the landscape provided. But they established Uttoxeter as a racing town and built a tradition that would eventually lead to the creation of the current course.

The Closure of Keele Park

The catalyst for change was the closure of Keele Park. Keele Park had been a racing venue in the Staffordshire area, but by 1907 it had ceased to operate. A group of local enthusiasts saw an opportunity. They formed a company to take over Keele Park's licence and establish a new course at Uttoxeter.

The Inaugural Meeting

The inaugural meeting at the new Uttoxeter course was held on 3 and 4 May 1907. It was an Edwardian affair — the era of King Edward VII, when racing was booming and the National Hunt calendar was expanding. The new course was purpose-built for jumping, with a left-handed oval layout that remains largely unchanged today.

The location was shrewd. Uttoxeter was accessible by rail — the station had opened in 1889 — and the town was a market centre with a population that could support race meetings. The course sat on the edge of rural Staffordshire, with room to grow.

The First World War

Racing continued through the Edwardian and early Georgian years, but the First World War brought a halt. From 1914 to 1921, there was no racing at Uttoxeter. The course fell silent. When peace came, it took time to restart — horses, jockeys and staff had been lost to the conflict, and the country was rebuilding. But by 1922, Uttoxeter was back.

The interwar years saw Uttoxeter establish itself as a reliable National Hunt venue. The fixture list was modest by modern standards, but the racing was honest and the crowds turned up. The course had survived the First World War and was building a reputation.

The Second World War

The Second World War brought another halt. From 1939 to 1945, there was no racing at Uttoxeter. The course was used for other purposes — as was common across the country. When peace came, the future was uncertain. The original company had been wound down, and the course needed new ownership.

The Council Takes Over

In 1952, the Uttoxeter Urban District Council took over the running of the racecourse. It was a bold move — local authorities rarely ran racecourses — but it proved successful. The inaugural meeting under council ownership was held on 12 April 1952, and it attracted over 12,000 spectators. The appetite for racing was clearly there.

The council invested in the course. Facilities were improved, and the fixture list was expanded. Uttoxeter became a key venue in the Midlands, attracting trainers and owners from across the region. The course's reputation for fair, testing jumping was established.

The New Grandstand

In 1968, a new grandstand was opened at a cost of £167,000. It was a significant investment for a small town council, and it transformed the viewing experience. The stand gave racegoers proper cover and a raised view of the track. Uttoxeter was no longer a rudimentary venue — it was a modern racecourse.

The Birth of the Midlands Grand National

The defining moment came in 1969. The Midlands Grand National Handicap Steeplechase was run for the first time. It was a Listed race over four miles and two furlongs — a proper stamina test. The race gave Uttoxeter a flagship event that could compete with the best courses in the country. Trainers began to target it. The Midlands Grand National was born.

The Midlands Grand National has produced some of the most memorable moments in Uttoxeter's history. Past winners include horses who went on to win the Grand National at Aintree — proof that the race is a genuine trial for the biggest prize in jumping.

Rag Trade (1975)

Rag Trade won the Midlands Grand National in 1975, carrying 10st 5lb to victory. Later that season, he won the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, and the following spring he won the Grand National at Aintree — one of the most famous victories in the race's history. Trained by Fred Rimell and ridden by John Burke, Rag Trade was a genuine stayer who relished the testing conditions. His Midlands Grand National win put Uttoxeter on the map as a producer of Aintree winners.

Lord Gyllene (1997)

Lord Gyllene won the Midlands Grand National in 1997, and a month later he won the Grand National at Aintree. Trained by Steve Brookshaw and ridden by Tony Dobbin, he was another horse who proved that form at Uttoxeter could translate to the biggest stage. The race had established itself as a proper trial.

Other Notable Winners

Over the years, the Midlands Grand National has been won by numerous classy staying chasers. The race attracts full fields and competitive handicaps. The ground is often testing — soft or heavy — and the distance takes its toll. Horses that win here tend to be genuine stayers who can handle a battle.

The Summer Programme

Uttoxeter's decision to run National Hunt racing through the summer was another defining moment. When most courses switch to the flat, Uttoxeter keeps jumping. The summer programme runs from May through August, with evening meetings and weekend cards. It's a unique selling point — trainers and punters who prefer jumps have somewhere to go when the rest of the calendar has gone flat.

The Intimate Atmosphere

What sets Uttoxeter apart is the intimacy. The stands sit close to the track. You're right on top of the action. The crowd of around 5,000 creates a lively atmosphere without feeling overwhelming. It's the sort of place where you can have a good day out without the corporate gloss of the bigger venues. That atmosphere has been cultivated over decades.

The modern era of Uttoxeter began in 1988, when Sir Stanley Clarke's Northern Racing purchased the course. Clarke was a prominent racecourse owner who had transformed several venues, and Uttoxeter was next in line.

The Northern Racing Era

Northern Racing invested heavily. New paddocks, new grandstands, improved facilities across the board. The Prince Edward and Staffordshire Stands were developed, offering private boxes and premium hospitality. The 1907 Restaurant was added — named after the year the course opened. The course was no longer run by the local council; it was part of a professional racecourse group.

Arena Racing Company

Northern Racing eventually became part of Arena Racing Company (ARC), which owns and operates a portfolio of British racecourses. Uttoxeter benefits from that infrastructure — shared expertise, marketing, and investment. But it has retained its character. The compact layout, the intimate atmosphere, the focus on National Hunt — these things haven't changed.

The Fixture List

Uttoxeter stages around 19 to 25 fixtures a year. All National Hunt. The Midlands Grand National in March remains the highlight, but the summer programme has grown in importance. The course has carved out a niche as one of the few venues that keeps jumping through the warmer months.

Today

Uttoxeter is in good health. The course is well maintained, the facilities are solid, and the racing is competitive. It may not host Grade 1 events, but it doesn't need to. It knows what it is — a proper National Hunt venue in the heart of Staffordshire, with a signature race that matters and a summer programme that sets it apart.

Uttoxeter's legacy is built on three things: survival, the Midlands Grand National, and summer jumping.

The course has survived two world wars, changes of ownership, and the ups and downs of the racing industry. It was born in 1907, silenced by conflict, revived by the council, and transformed by private investment. Through it all, it has remained a National Hunt stronghold in the West Midlands.

The Midlands Grand National is the centrepiece. First run in 1969, it has produced Grand National winners and established Uttoxeter as a venue that matters. Trainers target it. Punters follow it. The race defines the course.

Summer jumping is the differentiator. When most tracks have switched to the flat, Uttoxeter keeps the jumps flag flying. It's a service to the sport — and a point of pride for the course. The summer programme has become part of Uttoxeter's identity.

What endures is the atmosphere. Compact, intimate, right on top of the action. Uttoxeter doesn't try to be something it's not. It's a proper jumping track in rural Staffordshire, and it's been that way for over a century. That's the legacy.