Leicester Racecourse

Leicester Racecourse is a horse racing venue used for both flat and jump (National Hunt) racing and is located in Oadby, Leicestershire, about three miles south of the city centre of Leicester.

There is evidence that racing took place in the Leicester area as far back as 1603, on the day before Queen Elizabeth I died. The highlight of these early meetings was the Corporation Town Plate which was discontinued towards the end of the century but was re-introduced in 1720. In 1740 meetings were transferred to St. Mary's Field, and the first meeting at the present racecourse at Oadby took place on 24 July 1883. The racecourse had its heyday in the late nineteenth century when it staged some of the most valuable races in the United Kingdom, including the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Portland Stakes, both of which carried more prize money than any of the 5 British flat racing Classics in 1889.

The course is an oval of about 1 mile 5 furlongs, with a straight 7-furlong course that joins the round course 4½ furlongs from the winning post. Its most notable flat race is the Listed King Richard III Stakes held annually in April. The steeplechase course - which is also about 1 mile 5 furlongs - has 10 fences. There are 6 fences, including the water jump and an open ditch, down the back straight, which runs inside the flat course.