Pontefract Racecourse & Betting Review: Popular Events, Best Offers and Facts

To get you started we’ve gone ahead and put together an easy-digestible table (shown above), which aims to provide a well-ordered, concise overview of what some of the better UK betting sites have in store when it comes to wagering on the different races at Pontefract. You’ll get an idea of what kind of welcome bonuses, special event promotions, payout prices and betting types are up for grabs and, as we continue, we’ll share some important facts and figures, some historical context, technical course info and more. When you’re done, betting on Pontefract horse races will be a piece of cake.

The Turf Itself

Pontefract Racecourse is oval-shaped, left-handed and anything but flat all the way around. In fact, there are numerous undulations and a sharp turn into the home straight, which is all uphill. It is for this reason that Pontefract is known to be a tough challenge – even for more experienced riders – where stamina is key. Runners that go for home too soon are almost certain to come unstuck and, due to some sharp turns later in the race, horses drawn low – i.e. in the inside lanes – are seen to be at an advantage. When the going is softer you’ll often see runners look to get on the outside and overtake, however, when the going is good the tactic tends to be: sit, be patient, and choose the right time to go for glory

Most Popular Pontefract Horse Racing Events

Despite being a small course there are a number of highly popular flat racing events held here. Pontefract horse racing is most famed for a handful of Listed events, among them the Silver Tankard Stakes, the Pomfret Stakes, the Pipalong Stakes and, arguably the pick of the bunch, the Pontefract Castle Stakes. The latter race is traditionally held in June, is run over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 5 yards and is reserved for fillies and mares aged four and above – it has also featured a few internationally renowned champions in the past. The Pipalong Stakes is a one-mile event in which only fillies and mares aged over four can compete; the Pomfret Stakes is open to three-year-olds and above and is run over a distance of one mile; and the Silver Tankard Stakes, normally held in October is for two-year-olds and is £35,000. The richest race, the Flying Fillies’ Stakes, is worth £55,000.

Some Interesting Facts

Did you know that the most successful trainer of the Pontefract horse racing track is Richard Fahey?! The Malton-based trainer has recorded 29 wins from 200 runners at Pontefract over a period of just four years, winning an estimated £219,925 in prize money and earning a track strike-rate of 14.5%. As well as his success here, he’s also won a number of races at major UK courses that we’ve reviewed, including the Queen Anne Stakes, the Lockinge Stakes and the July Cup, and a number of races in France and Ireland, including the Heineken Gold Cup (ROI), the Prix Jacques Le Marois (2016) and the Prix du Moulin (2017).

Racecourse Information:
First Opened:	1908	Pontefract Racecourse logo The Grandstand at Pontefract Racecourse
Max. Race Distance:	2m 2f
Surface:	Turf
Event:	Flying Fillies’ Stakes
Average Temperature:	0°/20°
Racecourse Capacity:	13000

The most successful jockey at the Pontefract racecourse is none other than Silvestre de Sousa, the Brazilian flat racing jockey based in the UK. From 90 runners, he’s recorded 19 wins, 39 places – making his strike-rate 21.11% – and has accumulated £132,222 worth of prize money! He’s saddled some truly great horses of this generation, including Africa Story and Far, he’s won the Champion Stakes (2013), the Lockinge Stakes (2013), and the Dubai World Cup (2014) and he’s won the British flat racing Champion Jockey (2015, 2017) and the Lester Award for Flat Jockey of the Year (2015). Pontefract betting has been greatly advanced by top competitors such as these.

Pontefract Racecourse: The Story so Far

Evidence suggests that racing here dates back as far as 1648 to the time of Oliver Cromwell. Some time in the 1760’s horse racing underwent a brief hiatus (for reasons that are still not quite clear) and resumed again at the start of the 19th century. Not too long after this, a permanent location was established and the first grandstand was built. It would, however, be quite some time until Pontefract horse racing betting emerged as a major UK betting market.

In the course’s long, rich history, probably the most famous horse to have been crowned a champion of the Pontefract horse racing track is Brown Panther. This British colt chalked up two key victories in the Castle Stakes in 2012 and 2013 before going on to establish himself as a very handy competitor. He went on to achieve international success as he won the Goodwood Cup (2013), the Ormonde Stakes (2014), the Henry II Stakes (2014), the Irish St Leger (2014) and the Dubai Gold Cup (2015). He was trained by the Cheshire-based Tom Dascombe and retired after having accumulated over £1million worth of prize money.