Racing at Bath began in the early 18th century at Claverton Down, but meetings were intermittent until the 1770s. A few meetings were held on Lansdown before a fifteen year gap around the turn of the century. Racing resumed there in July 1811, courtesy of the Blathwayt family, local landowners who owned Dyrham Park. The original Lansdown course used to be nearer the site of Beckford’s Tower. In the 1840s annual steeplechases were held in the area too. For most of the 19th century there was just one meeting a year in May, lasting two days. This was usually a week before the Epsom Derby and for a time contenders for that classic race ran in the Somersetshire Stakes, Bath’s biggest race.

After World War I the Blathwayts sold the course to a syndicate who owned Newbury racecourse. Gradually the number of meetings increased. In 1954 Bath hit the headlines with the famous Francasal case, where a superior horse ran in the name of an inferior one. The telephone wire to the course was cut, so that the racecourse bookmakers did not know about all the bets being placed around the country, which meant the starting price was a tasty 10/1.

The course has often served a useful purpose for trainers with young or promising horses, to introduce them in a little race before going on to contest big races elsewhere. Its steady uphill finish provides a good test. A notable example was Gilt Edge Girl, who won at Bath in April 2010 and climaxed her season by winning Europe’s top sprint at Longchamp in Paris. It was often used in the past by trainers for exercising their horses prior to a big race.

Now owned by Northern Racing, the racecourse is increasingly a venue for conferences, events and weddings throughout the year when the courses isn’t racing utilising both the indoor and outside spaces. In 2011 the racecourse celebrated 200 year of racing at Lansdown with the celebrations climaxing at the glamorous Ladies Day. In 2012 Bath will host 17 fixtures and lets hope there are many more to come.

The History of Bath Racecourse book was launched in 2011. Written by Jim Beavis the book looks back over the courses colourful history and is a must read for regular visitors, horseracing enthusiasts and for those fascinated with the City of Bath.

Copies can be purchased for just £10 (+p&p)