Friday 11 September 2026
1:37 'British Stallions Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes' at Chester
Drawn: 9
North Coates 9
2yo b g Belardo - Harvest Day
Owned by: Mrs C Mason
Jockey: Shane Gray

Chester

grass Soft
partly_cloudy_day Partly sunny 		directions


Stables: Racecourse Serviced Apartments, Chester CH1 4JE

 Chester Racecourse, known as the Roodee, is officially recognised as the oldest racecourse still in operation, with organised racing recorded from 1539 and some sources tracing activity back to 1512. It sits on a 65‑acre flat expanse beside the River Dee, on land that was once a Roman harbour before the river silted up and created the island‑like ground on which the course now stands. A small raised mound in the infield carries the stone cross that gave the Roodee its name, derived from 'Rood Eye', meaning 'Island of the Cross'.

The course's early history is tied to the banning of the violent Goteddsday football match in the 1530s, after which the mayor Henry Gee introduced annual horse racing, awarding silver bells to the winners — a tradition that helped give rise to the term “gee‑gees.” The May Meeting began in 1766, and the Tradesman's Cup, now the Chester Cup, soon followed, becoming one of the most prestigious staying handicaps in Britain.

Chester is also one of the smallest significant racecourses in the UK, just one mile and one furlong in circumference, with constant turning and a very short straight that strongly favours prominent, agile horses. Its tight, left‑handed layout creates a distinctive, intimate atmosphere, amplified by the city walls that overlook the finishing straight.

The racecourse has hosted a wide range of events beyond racing, from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1903 to major civic gatherings, and it remains a central part of Chester’s cultural life. Today it stages popular fixtures including the May Festival and continues to blend its deep historical roots with a busy modern programme.