The History of Wincanton Racecourse

The story of Wincanton Racecourse begins in the 1920s, when National Hunt racing was growing in popularity across Britain. Cheltenham had established itself as the home of jumps racing. Sandown, Kempton and Ascot staged quality fixtures. But the South West — Somerset, Dorset, Devon — had limited options. Taunton ran meetings, but there was room for another venue. Wincanton, a market town on the old London to Exeter road, had the geography and the ambition to fill that gap.

The Site

The land chosen for the racecourse lay on the edge of Wincanton, with good access from the main road. The ground was suitable for a track — well drained, with enough space for a circuit of roughly a mile and a half. The layout would be right-handed, with an oval configuration that allowed for races over a range of distances. From the start, the course was designed for jumps racing. The fences were built to test chasers properly — a tradition that continues today.

The First Meeting

The first meeting was held in 1927. The exact date and the names of the winners have faded into the archives, but the significance is clear. Wincanton was on the map. Local landowners, farmers and racing enthusiasts had come together to create something new. The crowd would have been modest by modern standards — perhaps a few hundred — but the foundations were laid. The course would run through the 1930s, building a reputation for competitive racing and a friendly atmosphere.

The 1930s and Pre-War Growth

Through the 1930s, Wincanton established itself as a regular fixture in the southern jumps calendar. The programme grew. The fences — already known for their size — became a talking point. Horses that jumped well at Wincanton could handle most tracks. The course attracted trainers from the region and from further afield. The railway at Templecombe, a few miles away, brought racegoers from London and the South East. Wincanton was no longer just a local concern — it was a destination.

Wartime Interruption

The Second World War brought disruption to racing across Britain. Many courses were requisitioned for military use. Wincanton was no exception. Racing was suspended or severely curtailed. The exact details vary by source, but the course survived. When peace returned, the sport picked up where it had left off. Wincanton resumed its programme and continued to build its reputation. The post-war years would see the course consolidate its position as a key venue in the South West.

The Kingwell Hurdle

The Kingwell Hurdle was inaugurated in 1971. Run over two miles, it was designed as a Champion Hurdle trial — a chance for horses to sharpen up before Cheltenham. The timing, in February, was deliberate. It gave connections a final opportunity to assess their horses before the Festival. The race would go on to attract some of the best hurdlers of the era. Desert Orchid won it in 1984. Kribensis, Azertyuiop, Binocular and Zarkandar would follow. The Kingwell Hurdle put Wincanton on the map for quality racing.

The 1980s and early 1990s were Wincanton's golden era. The course had established itself as a venue that attracted top horses and top trainers. The Kingwell Hurdle was a recognised Champion Hurdle trial. The fences had a reputation for being big and fair. And one horse in particular would define the era: Desert Orchid.

Desert Orchid's Era

Desert Orchid first won at Wincanton in 1984, taking the Kingwell Hurdle as a novice. It was the start of a love affair. The grey would return again and again, winning five times in total. He loved the right-handed track — it suited his tendency to jump to his right. The crowd loved him back. When Dessie ran at Wincanton, the place was packed. His front-running style, his bold jumping and his iron will made him a favourite. The course would eventually name a race after him: the Desert Orchid Chase.

Television and Exposure

Wincanton benefited from the growth of racing on television. Channel 4 had taken over the racing coverage from the BBC, and the sport was reaching a wider audience. Wincanton's key fixtures — the Kingwell Hurdle, the Badger Beers, the Desert Orchid Chase — were shown on screen. The course became familiar to viewers who had never set foot in Somerset. The exposure helped attract crowds and reinforced Wincanton's reputation as a venue that mattered.

The Badger Beers

The Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap Chase became one of the course's flagship races. Sponsored by the local Badger brewery, it was run over three miles and a furlong — a proper test for staying chasers. The race attracted quality fields and became a key early-season target. The sponsorship gave the course a strong local identity. Wincanton was Somerset through and through.

Quality Fields

The golden era saw Wincanton attract horses that would go on to Cheltenham glory. The Kingwell Hurdle produced Champion Hurdle winners and placed horses. The chases attracted Graded performers. The three fences in the straight produced drama — leaders made mistakes, closers pounced, and the crowd roared. It was the sort of racing that made people come back.

Wincanton has witnessed its share of memorable moments — from Desert Orchid's triumphs to dramatic finishes at the famous three fences.

Desert Orchid's Five Wins

Desert Orchid won five times at Wincanton. The first was the Kingwell Hurdle in 1984, when he was still a novice hurdler. He made much of the running and held on to win — a sign of things to come. He would return as a chaser, winning in the 1986-87 season after his famous King George victory. In 1989, with Richard Dunwoody in the saddle, he won twice more. The crowd adored him. When he was beaten in his final outing at the course — in the race that now bears his name — there was a sense that an era had ended. But the Desert Orchid Chase ensures his memory lives on.

The Kingwell Hurdle Roll of Honour

The Kingwell Hurdle has been won by some of the best hurdlers of the past fifty years. Desert Orchid in 1984. Kribensis, who went on to win the Champion Hurdle in 1990. Azertyuiop, the brilliant two-miler. Binocular, who won the Champion Hurdle in 2010. Zarkandar, another Champion Hurdle contender. The race has a habit of producing horses that go on to Cheltenham glory. The roll of honour is a who's who of jumps racing.

The Three Fences

The three fences in quick succession in the home straight have produced countless dramatic finishes. Leaders have come to the first of the three with a clear advantage, only to make a mistake and hand the race to a closer. Horses have jumped the last in a line, with the race decided in the run to the line. The configuration is unique — there aren't many tracks with three fences so close together in the straight. It creates a test of nerve and accuracy. Jockeys know that one mistake can cost everything. The crowd holds its breath.

Paul Nicholls and Ditcheat

Paul Nicholls built his training empire at Ditcheat, a few miles from Wincanton. The course became his local track. He sends his young horses here to gain experience. His established stars have run here too. The connection has brought quality fields and a sense that Wincanton is part of the jumps establishment. When Nicholls has a runner, the crowd takes notice. The course has benefited enormously from having one of the sport's greatest trainers on its doorstep.

The Jim Ford Challenge Cup

The Jim Ford Challenge Cup — now the CGA Chase — was run at Wincanton until 2012. It was a significant Gold Cup trial, run on the same card as the Kingwell Hurdle. The day became known as a double-header of Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup trials. The race has since been discontinued, but the memory of those cards — with the best hurdlers and chasers in the country — lingers. Wincanton had a day that mattered.

The modern era has seen Wincanton consolidate its position as a key venue in the Jockey Club portfolio. The course was acquired by the Jockey Club in the late 20th century, and the investment in facilities and fixtures has paid off. Wincanton stages around 15 meetings a year, all National Hunt, and the quality of the racing remains high.

Jockey Club Ownership

Jockey Club Racecourses owns and operates Wincanton alongside Cheltenham, Aintree, Sandown and others. The ownership has brought stability and investment. The facilities have been upgraded. The course benefits from the Jockey Club's marketing and television deals. Racing is shown on Racing TV and ITV. Wincanton is no longer a provincial outpost — it's part of the national jumps circuit.

The Fixture List

The modern fixture list is built around the key races. The Kingwell Hurdle in February remains the flagship. The Badger Beers day in November is one of the best handicap chases of the autumn. The Desert Orchid Chase in December honours the grey. The Elite Hurdle and the Rising Stars Novices' Chase add Grade 2 quality to the Badger Beers card. Wincanton punches above its weight.

Paul Nicholls and the Local Connection

Paul Nicholls continues to send horses to Wincanton. The Ditcheat yard is just down the road. His novices cut their teeth here. His established stars sometimes run here as a prep for bigger targets. The connection gives the course a sense of relevance. When Nicholls has a runner, the form is worth noting. The crowds turn out. Wincanton feels like a place where things happen.

The Desert Orchid Chase

The Desert Orchid Chase is run each December. It's a two-mile chase that attracts speedy two-milers — often horses on their way to the Tingle Creek or the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The race honours Desert Orchid, who won five times at the course. The meeting has a special atmosphere. Fans turn out to remember Dessie. The race has become a fixture in the winter calendar.

Wincanton's legacy is built on a few simple things. Big fences. Quality racing. A connection to the great horses and trainers of the jumps game. And a sense of place — Somerset through and through.

The Fences

The steeplechase fences at Wincanton are among the biggest in the country. They test a chaser properly. The three fences in the straight have produced countless dramatic finishes. Horses that jump well here can jump well anywhere. The course has a reputation for fairness — no hidden quirks, just a proper test. That reputation has endured for nearly a century.

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid will always be associated with Wincanton. He won five times here. The crowd adored him. The Desert Orchid Chase ensures his memory lives on. When people think of Wincanton, they think of Dessie. It's a legacy that money can't buy.

The Kingwell Hurdle

The Kingwell Hurdle has been a Champion Hurdle trial for over fifty years. Past winners include some of the best hurdlers of the modern era. The race puts Wincanton on the map each February. It's a fixture that matters — to connections, to punters, to the sport.

A Friendly Course

Wincanton has never lost its friendly, local character. The capacity is around 5,000. The crowd is a mix of regulars and visitors. The atmosphere is relaxed. You're in Somerset, and it feels like it. For a day out or a serious afternoon of betting, Wincanton delivers. That's the legacy.