Kempton Park horse racing course info

Kempton Park is London’s closest racecourse. Kempton is set in Sunbury-on-Thames near Richmond and stages both Flat and Jump racing throughout the year. The feature race meeting of the year is the traditional Christmas Festival on December 26 and 27. In the summer, Wednesday themed evening racing is a popular way of relaxing and unwinding with friends.

Notable Races Flat Races Easter Stakes
The Easter Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1 mile at Kempton Park Racecourse, usually on the Saturday of Easter weekend, in March or April. The race is sometimes used as a trial for the 2,000 Guineas, and since 1988 two winners of the Easter Stakes have later finished runner-up in the classic - Lucky Lindy (1992) and Rebel Rebel (2005). It is currently run on an all-weather Polytrack surface, having been run on turf before re-development at Kempton Park in 2005. The equivalent race for fillies at the same meeting is the Masaka Stakes.

September Stakes
The September Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse in early September. Prior to a three year spell at Epsom Downs Racecourse in the late 1990s the distance of the race was 1 mile 3 furlongs and 30 yards (2,240 metres). Following the re-development of Kempton in 2005, the race is now run on an all-weather Polytrack surface, having previously been run on turf.

Sirenia Stakes
The Sirenia Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse in early September. It was upgraded to Group 3 status in 2003, prior to which it had been classed as a Listed race. Following re-development at Kempton in 2005, the race is now run on an all-weather Polytrack surface, having previously been run on turf.

National Hunt Christmas Hurdle
The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above horses. It is run over a distance of 2 miles (3,219 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse during the King George VI Chase meeting on Boxing Day. There are eight hurdles to be jumped in the race.

Feltham Novices' Chase
The Feltham Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above novices. It is run over a distance of 3 miles (4,828 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse during the King George VI Chase meeting on Boxing Day. There are eighteen fences to be jumped in the race. Prior to the re-development of Kempton in 2005, which included the removal of a water-jump, the race had nineteen obstacles.

King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above horses. It is run over a distance of 3 miles (4,828 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse on Boxing Day. There are eighteen fences to be jumped in the race. Prior to the re-development of Kempton in 2005, which included the removal of a water-jump, the race had nineteen obstacles. It was first run in February 1937 and was named in honour of the new monarch, King George VI. The race did not immediately earn the prestige it has today. It was only run twice before World War II, during which Kempton Park was closed for racing and used as a prisoner-of-war camp. The pre-war races only attracted four runners each - the winner of the first, Southern Hero, remains the oldest ever winner of the race. After the war the course re-opened and the race returned in 1947 on a new date - Boxing Day. When it was won the following year by Cottage Rake, a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, the race rose in stature and in 1949 it was televised for the first time. The King George VI Chase is now surpassed in prestige only by the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Many horses have won it more than once (nine between 1973 and 2005), with Desert Orchid, one of the most famous and popular winners, successful a record four times. Triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Arkle and Best Mate both also won this race, and in 2004 and 2005 the race was won by Kicking King.

Racing Post Chase
The Racing Post Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses. It is run over a distance of 3 miles (4,828 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse in late February. There are eighteen fences to be jumped in the race. It is a handicap chase, and is often contested by horses en route to the Cheltenham Gold Cup or Grand National. Two winners have gone on to a career win in the National, two in the Irish Grand National, one in the Welsh National, and one in the Whitbread Gold Cup. Three others have gone to career wins at the Cheltenham Festival. It was first run in 1988 and has been continually sponsored by the Racing Post.

Desert Orchid Chase
The Desert Orchid Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses. It is run over a distance of 2 miles (3,219 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse in December. There are twelve fences to be jumped in the race. The race was run for the first time in 2006 and is named in honour of Desert Orchid, a racehorse who won a record four King George VI Chases at Kempton Park between 1986 and 1990 and whose ashes were scattered at Kempton Park on the day of the inaugural running. It replaced Wetherby Racecourse’s Castleford Chase as a 2 mile Grade 2 steeplechase in the National Hunt calendar.

Dovecote Novices' Hurdle
The Dovecote Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above novices. It is run over a distance of 2 miles (3,219 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse in February. There are eight hurdles to be jumped in the race.

Adonis Juvenile Novices' Hurdle
The Adonis Juvenile Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old novices. It is run over a distance of 2 miles (3,219 metres) at Kempton Park Racecourse in February. There are eight hurdles to be jumped in the race. The race is one of the principal trial races for the Triumph Hurdle. Since 1988 Mysilv, Katarino, Snow Drop and Penzance have all won both races. Prior to 1994 it was run under the title of the Tote Placepot Hurdle.

Course Details Flat Floodlit AWT:
Right handed ten furlong oval for 6f, 7f, 1m, 1m3f, 1m4f and 2m races. Inner six furlong track for 5f and 1m2f races.

Effect Of Draw:
High numbers usually best on round course, low numbers best in sprints.

National Hunt:
Triangular circuit 1m5f, practically flat, with 220yd run-in


5 day weather forecast for Kempton Race Course

Contact Kempton Park race course

Kempton Park Racecourse
Staines Road East
Sunbury on Thames
Middlesex
TW16 5AQ

T. 01932 782292
F. 01932 782044

e-mail: kempton@jockeyclu bracecourses.com 
Internet site: http://www.kempton.co.uk/

How to get to Kempton Park race course