The Closest Racecourse to Central London

London truly has it all. As the capital city of the United Kingdom, it’s got the goods to prove it. From iconic landmarks like Big Ben to majestic Buckingham Palace and historic Westminster Abbey, London and its surrounding areas draw in countless tourists each year. Horse racing is big in Britain, and London doesn’t disappoint. Thousands of passionate fans and punters flock to these racecourses regularly to soak up the finest horse racing action in the country.

Kempton

Looking to indulge in the best of both worlds when it comes to racing? Look no further than Kempton Park, which offers exciting flat races as well as National Hunts with those daring fences. Unlike most racecourses in the country that specialize in one or the other, this course is a real gem that caters to both racing styles.

Kempton comes alive on Boxing Day, primarily thanks to The King George VI Chase, a Grade 1 spectacle. That race certainly steals the show and is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of not just Boxing Day, but perhaps the entire festive period sporting schedule. This year, the race was won by outsider Hewick, who managed to stave off a whole host of more illustrious names to secure the crowns.

Now, websites offering horse race betting online have made the horse a 14/1 contender for the upcoming Cheltenham Gold Cup, and he will be doing his utmost to usurp the short price even money favorite Galopin Des Champs.

Sandown

Sandown Park boasts an impressive legacy that stretches back nearly 150 years. Unveiled in 1875, this racecourse accommodates a humble crowd of 18,000. A quirky tidbit about the track is that it was one of the forefathers of racecourses in the UK to request an entry fee. Back then, everyone shelled out a measly half a crown to experience the thrill. Nowadays, it’s a little more pricier than that, with tickets starting from £13.50, but that’s still more than affordable to most.

Where Kempton shines on Boxing Day, Sandown Park is more of a summer venue. Its highlight and event you should definitely mark on your calendars is the Coral Festival, an annual event in July, where Sandown showcases top-notch flat racing. The main highlight is the illustrious Group 1 Eclipse Stakes, a race that crowns its winner with an astounding £600,000 in prize money, one of the biggest prize pots in the country.

Epsom Downs

With a monstrous capacity of 120,000, Epsom Downs stands as the undisputed Goliath of racecourses in the UK. It triumphs over its closest rival, Aintree, by a whopping 45,000. However, let’s not get carried away, as it falls short of claiming the title of the world’s largest racecourse. That honor belongs to Tokyo Racecourse, which can accommodate a staggering 223,000 spectators.

Epsom is the proud host of the legendary Derby Festival. The festival’s premier event, named “The Derby,” never fails to excite racing fans on the first Saturday of June each year. Winning this race is like hitting the jackpot of flat racing, with a mind-boggling prize of £1,125,000 awaiting the victorious jockey. Notably, The Derby is just one piece of the coveted Horse Racing’s triple crown, standing alongside the prestigious 2000 Guineas Stakes and the illustrious St Leger Stakes at Doncaster.