Ayr

Ayr Racecourse is located on the west coast of Scotland and is home to both flat and jump racing throughout the yearly racing calendar. Of the big races it hosts, the Scottish Grand National and Ayr Gold Cup stand out as must see events on course (or in front of your TV if you can’t make it!). Both races draw in the best of the best in terms of trainers, horses and jockeys, and they most certainly draw in the crowds to this prestigious venue too.

The racecourse has been in use since the 16th century (the first documented racing in Ayr goes back to 1576 – and the course itself opened in 1907), so is steeped in history, but also has everything you might want from a modern racecourse. As such it’s no surprise its coined ‘Scotland’s Premier Racecourse’. It offers numerous dining and hospitality packages and hosts exciting events such as ‘Summer Raceday’ where top music acts like Martin Kemp of Spandau Ballet, perform after the races have taken place. This mix of sport and entertainment is perfect for a family day out, and bring horse racing to a brand new audience at a time where there’s no shortage of sports and enterainment options for the masses.

The track itself hosts races over several distances over the flat, from 5 furlongs to 2 miles 1 furlong 105 yards and is a left handed track of 12 furlongs in distance. Known for its long straight, it’s a wide course and with a 210 yards run in. Over the jumps (the course has 9 fences), races range from 2 miles 1 furlong to 3 miles 3 furlongs 110 yards (with Chases from 2 miles to 4 miles 110 yards –  the latter being being the Scottish National. The racecourse is routinely voted as the best in Scotlandand and it’s easy to undsterstand why. Perhaps you’ll one day pay it a visit?