Redcar
Date of Review: 4th November 2025
RCA Reviewers: Dave, Ray & Peter
Address: Redcar, Cleveland, TS10 2BY
Website: https://www.redcarracing.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedcarRacing/
Email: info@redcarracing.co.uk
Phone: 01642 484 068
Accommodation: https://www.booking.com/landmark/gb/redcar-racecourse.en-gb.html
Track Layout: Redcar Racecourse (Images acknowledged & credited to Timeform & At The Races)
Redcar Racecourse is a flat racing-only, left-handed, narrow track in the shape of an elongated oval, 1 mile and 6 furlongs in circumference, and is pan-flat. It has two 5-furlong sections with tight bends, particularly the bottom turn into the home straight, which can upset the balance of the horses. It features a 3-furlong chute, creating a flat 1-mile course. All races below 1 mile in distance are run on the straight track, and those above this distance take in at least one of the tricky bends. Overall, the course is considered fair, suitable for both gallopers and nippy front-runners. The course hosts around 18 meetings each year, from April to November.
Course Information: The Racecourse Advisor Guide to Redcar Racecourse: The seaside-based racecourse is set in 80 acres of land in Redcar, North Yorkshire.
Location Map – Redcar Racecourse
Racing on the sands at Redcar beach dates back to the early 18th century. The racecourse that stands today was opened in 1872, with the first grandstand being erected in 1876. A second stand was constructed in 1876. A year later, stables were built, so horses no longer had to be stabled in yards around the town and brought through the traffic on race days. During the two World Wars, the racecourse was used as an airfield and an army camp. Immediately after World War II, the racecourse underwent a major revamp and upgrade. A new grandstand was built in 1964 and remains in place at the racecourse today. In 1981, part of the land occupied by the racecourse was sold off to a supermarket chain, and the proceeds were used to finance further developments, including a new stable block and hostel for overnight accommodation.
The racecourse can proudly boast several notable firsts, including being the first in the UK to introduce a timing clock and the now-familiar furlong marker posts. The late Queen Elizabeth II had her first ever winner at the course, winning the Zetland Gold Cup in 1968 with Castle Yard. In the same year, the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, rode her first ever winner here when on board Gufland in the Mommessin Amateur Riders' Stakes. The legendary Lester Piggott won the William Hill Gold Cup three times at Redcar, and in 1976, Willie Carson rode five winners in a day. Even the TV personality Claire Balding rode a winner as an apprentice at Redcar in 1992. And last but not least, the famous racing commentator and personality Derek “Thomo” Thompson launched his broadcasting career at Redcar with his first-ever commentary on a horse race. The three feature races hosted at Redcar Racecourse are the Two Year Old Trophy, the Guisborough Stakes (Listed), and the Zetland Gold Cup.
Course Access:
By Road: Redcar Racecourse is situated in the centre of Redcar and is easily accessible by road, with connections via the A1, A66, A19, and A174 Parkway. It is well signed from around 2 miles out. Once on the outskirts of Redcar, follow the yellow directional signage to the main car park. The entrance road is literally through the middle of a graveyard.
By Rail: Redcar Central Station offers regular services connecting the rest of the Tees Valley, as well as the East Coast Main Line from Darlington. It is approximately half a mile from the racecourse, so it is about a 10-minute walk.
By Air: The nearest airport to Redcar Racecourse is Darlington (MME), which is 23 miles away. Newcastle (NCL) is 58 miles away, Leeds/Bradford (LBA) is 68 miles away, and Manchester Airport (MAN) is 133 miles away. Helicopter landing facilities are available by prior arrangement with Redcar Racecourse.
Parking: Ample, hard-standing, free parking is available immediately adjacent to the main entrance, just a short walk away. Rating: 10/10.
Pricing: On the day of our visit, it was a Tuesday “Poppy Appeal Raceday,” with an eight-race card: three Class 6 races, four Class 5 races, and one Class 3 race. Tickets at the gate for the Grandstand Enclosure were £18.00. However, if booked online in advance, “early bird” tickets could have been purchased for £14.00, £15.00, or £16.00 each, depending on how far in advance the booking was made. Tickets for the Course Enclosure (located in the centre of the track) were £8.00 on the day but could have been purchased for £6.00 or £7.00 each with the above-mentioned early-bird offer. Children aged 18 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Concessions are available at the gate for OAPs. The good news is that you can pay by either cash or card at the turnstiles (and all of the bars and catering options).
There were two hospitality upgrade options available, including the Voltigeur 2 Course Package, which included admission, a racecard, a table in the Voltigeur Bistro Restaurant, and a two-course meal, all available for the day for £53.00 per person. A three-course version of the same was available for £61.00 a person. Rating: 9/10.
Racecard: The good news is that the racecard is free at Redcar Racecourse. That’s a saving of around £3.50 that most other courses charge you for a card. It was 18 pages in total, including the inside front and rear pages. Around seven of those pages were advertisements, which is 39%, lower than some of the ones we have been charged for in recent times. It provided the usual list of runners and riders, along with Timeform comments for each race and a few helpful statistics. It also had a thumbnail sketch of the starting position on the track for each race. Our only observation is that a one-page map of the facilities and layout of the racecourse is always very helpful and was absent from the free race card; however, numerous layout maps were located around the course. However, hats off to Redcar Racecourse for giving it away free as part of the entry price.
Viewing: The overall viewing experience from the main Petch Stand at the Redcar is good. In races over 1 mile and 2 furlongs, the horses go out of sight for approximately 8 seconds as they go up the back straight and behind the clock tower “Welcome To Redcar Racecourse” stand.
The Petch Stand – Redcar Racecourse
This stand is vast in size and is on three levels. The lower ground level is concrete terracing with approximately 23 steps and numerous barriers. The stand does have a roof, but if you are standing near the front, then there is no protection from the elements. However, there is plenty of cover further back. The owners and trainers have a reserved section, located right at the winning post. The stand has bench-style seating along its length at the top of the terracing. The second floor is home to both the Moulton and Middleham bars, which we cover in more detail later in the review. The third floor is where the Crow’s Nest and Voltigeur restaurants are located for the corporate hospitality racegoers.
The View From the Petch Stand – Redcar Racecourse
To the left of the Petch Stand and further down the home straight is the Secondary Stand.
The Secondary Stand - Redcar Racecourse
This stand again is large in size and more of the “traditional” type with rows of concrete terracing and crash barriers, but no seating whatsoever. It is situated a good distance from the finishing post, and the one single large TV screen on the course is positioned after the winning post. So once the horses go past, you are relying on the commentary from the racecourse Tannoy system to know how they finished. On the day of our visit, this stand was deserted.
We then walked over to the Course Enclosure, which is located in the centre of the track—this is where the Clock Tower Stand is situated.
The Course Enclosure - Redcar Racecourse
The stand features 10 concrete terraced steps leading up to the back, where there is bench-style seating. There is a small canopy that offers some protection from the elements. It also features a tarmacked concourse directly in front, complete with wooden picnic-style tables and benches for seating. Picnics are permitted in this area. A small café is also located at the rear of the stand, offering a limited selection of food and drinks. It is surrounded by a vast area of lawn, which we must say was in immaculate condition, so all credit to the ground staff on the racecourse for such great work.
To the right of the enclosure situated on the lawn area is a large grassy knoll, which you can walk up and watch the racing from there if so desired. We did try it, and the view of the horses coming down the straight was tremendous; however, you had no idea who won the race from this vantage point.
The Grassy Knoll - Redcar Racecourse
Being in this enclosure also allows you to get right up to the running rail on the side of the track, where the winning post is located, and watch the horses as they cross the line.
The Course Enclosure Winning Post View - Redcar Racecourse
Overall, in our opinion, the viewing experience at Redcar Racecourse is good. Rating: 8/10.
Parade Ring / Winners Enclosure: Here at Racecourse Advisor, we do like a good Parade Ring, and we are pleased to say that the one at Redcar Racecourse is excellent
The Parade Ring – Redcar Racecourse
It is oval in shape and large in size, which is always a positive. It is immaculate, featuring a turfed area in the centre, with colourful flower beds situated in the middle and around most of the perimeter. The viewing is excellent and one of the best we have seen on our travels.
At the back of the ring is a large, covered viewing area with eight large concrete terraced steps and wooden bench-style seating at the back. Immediately next to this, on the left-hand side, is a small, canopied drinks area and a seating area with tables and chairs. It really is very pretty. On the right-hand side of the stand are the saddling enclosures. When sitting in the viewing stand, on the other side of the Parade Ring, is the modern-looking Paddock Suite, which also serves as the area for owners & trainers.
The Paddock Suite – Redcar Racecourse
The Jockeys/weighing room is to the left of the viewing stand, past the bar area. The jockeys walk down a chute to get to the Parade Ring, and once again, the viewing is excellent
The Jockeys/Weighing Room – Redcar Racecourse
Overall, the setup is superb, and once again, hats off to the ground staff for preparing and maintaining such a well-kept and attractive area. Rating: 10/10.Bookmakers / Betting Facilities: The main on-course bookmakers are located on a large concourse area, immediately in front of the Petch Stand.
The On-Course Bookmakers – Redcar Racecourse
On the day of our visit, there were eight bookmakers in this area and a further three in the Course Enclosure. There is also a large William Hill concession on the ground floor of the Petch Stand. Additionally, there are numerous Tote outlets located throughout the course, making it easy to place a bet and pick up your winnings. Rating 8/10.
Catering: Here at Racecourse Advisor, we enjoy doing “racecourse reviews” rather than restaurant reviews. We do not pretend to be food critics. We aim to provide you with an overview of the culinary options and prices available at the racecourse on race days.
The first bar you run into after entering the racecourse is the Zetland Bar.
The Zetland Bar – Redcar Racecourse
It is smallish in size, but it does have a large patio area out at the front with aluminium tables and chairs for seating. Inside, it has a contemporary feel. It was serving up a selection of sandwiches for £5.95 each: cheese or cheese and ham toasties for £6.30. A selection “bakes” for £3.90 each and teas and coffees for £3.30 per cup. The undoubted star of the show is the famous “Flat Cap Wrap”, a giant Yorkshire pudding stuffed with mash, carrots, peas, and onion gravy, for £10.35. We first saw this local delicacy at Pontefract Racecourse some time ago. It's not for the faint of heart, but we can recommend it.
At the bar, a pint of draught Fosters was £5.20. John Smith's £6.20. Amstel was £7.20, Moretti was £7.60, and Guinness was £7.20, as was Inch’s cider. A glass of house wine was £4.40, and a bottle of the same was £25.50. Spirits varied from £4.95 to £6.00 depending on your tipple.
The next bar was the Malton Bar on the second floor of the Petch Stand.
The Malton Bar - Redcar Racecourse
A large, modern, wide-open space with tables and barstools. Serving the same range of drinks at the same prices as above. They also served a range of food, including a selection of sandwiches, priced at £5.95 each. Pie of the day with chips was £11.30. A good old-fashioned chip butty was £5.20, and if you added gravy, it was £6.20. The same selection of “bakes” as the Zetland bar for £3.90 each.
On the same level and a short walk from here was the Middleham Bar, which was almost identical to the Malton Bar. In here, the bar served the same drinks at the same prices as the Malton Bar.
The Middleham Bar - Redcar Racecourse
On the ground floor of the Petch Stand, there is a “Food Court”; however, the catering selections available here were limited, to say the least. There was a bar serving a “Pie & a Pint deal for £10.30 and a coffee shop. Outside of this, on the ground floor, there is the traditional sweet shop.
The Food Court - Redcar Racecourse
The only other catering outlet on the racecourse was a Burger Van, which was located at the front of the Secondary Stand.
The Burger Van - Redcar Racecourse
This was knocking out the staples such as a bacon or sausage butty for £7.50. A 5oz burger for £8.50. Add cheese and it's £9.00. A double cheeseburger with bacon was £12.00, and a veggie burger was £9.00. A hot dog was £8.50, and a portion of chips was £5.00.
Overall, in our opinion, the food and catering options on the day were disappointing. A very limited selection of foods was available, and this needs to be improved. Rating: 6/10.
Guinness Standard: Draught Guinness was served at all the bars and priced at a reasonable £7.20 per pint. As always, we did sample the black stuff, and it was a decent pint, but as is the norm on most racecourses, it was served in those super flimsy plastic pint pots, where you need at least two, if not three, of them to be able to pick it up without spilling it all over the place. Rating: 7/10.
Friendliness of Course Staff: The racecourse staff we met and interacted with on the day were excellent. Polite, friendly and chatty. Rating: 10/10.
Pros & Cons: For us, the pros include the Parade Ring, which is one of the best we have encountered during our visits to dozens of racecourses across the country. The lawn and garden areas on the racecourse are immaculate. The pricing was reasonable, and the free racecard was a pleasant surprise. The cons are the catering, which was subpar and needs improvement. The overall viewing experience was fine, but the Secondary Stand is extremely dated with no facilities whatsoever. Something needs to be done with it. Either update and refurbish it or demolish it. It is a bit of an eyesore and, in our opinion, spoils the overall ambience of the racecourse. Rating: 7/10.
As always, here at Racecourse Advisor, after each visit to a racecourse, we ask ourselves the question: would we return? The answer is that we would, but more likely on a summer's day, when the course would be at its finest. Redcar is a fine racecourse, and we had a very enjoyable visit.
Overall Racecourse Advisor Rating: 8.1/10.
The entire day's racing results can be found here: https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/2025-11-04/redcar/115419
Facilities & Location Map Redcar Racecourse: (Image acknowledged & credited to the Redcar Racecourse Ltd.) .
Aerial View of Redcar Racecourse: (Image acknowledged & credited to Google Earth)
Disclaimer: The reviews contained in this website's content are just the authors' opinions. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to any other group or individual. Any content or opinion provided in our reviews is not intended to malign any party, group, club, organisation, company, individual, or anything whatsoever.
