Fakenham Racecourse is a

thoroughbred horse racing Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

venue located south of

Fakenham Fakenham is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, about north west of Norwich. The town is the junction of several local roads, including the A148 from King's Lynn to Cromer, the A1067 to Norw ...

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...

, England. King

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...

is patron.

Course

The course is left-handed, almost square in shape, with a circumference of about a mile. The steeplechase course is situated to the outside of the hurdle course and consists of six fences per circuit, with the open ditch as the penultimate obstacle. It is also the venue for the West Norfolk Hunt's Point to Point.

History

Racing first took place at Fakenham on Easter Monday after the West Norfolk Hunt took a committee decision to transfer their race meeting from East Winch, near King's Lynn. The West Norfolk Hunt had run meeting since 1884 at East Winch but because of concerns over continual heavy going at the course, a more suitable, lighter soil site was identified at Fakenham. This first meeting in 1905 attracted 37 runners and considering the travelling difficulties in those days, confirmed the excellent local support for the transfer to Fakenham. Just the one meeting per year was held on Easter Monday with racing continuing every year except for enforced breaks during the world wars and the more recent pandemic. In 1926, there was the introduction of a hurdle race as the steeplechase races had dwindled in numbers. The three mile steeplechase in those times started in the fields adjoining the Fakenham-Dereham road before joining and finishing on the racecourse proper. After the Second World War, racing resumed in 1947 and in addition to the Easter meeting there was now a second meeting allotted on Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday for which success was assured with no fewer than 208 entries for the six races. In 1953, the original Grandstand was built with enlargements to the paddock and the Paddock and Parade Ring moved. 1965, saw the formation of Fakenham Racecourse Ltd, to continue to qualify for Levy Board support and fundamental to surviving the threat of closure. The financial support was enhanced when part of the racecourse was leased to develop a sports centre to include a golf course together with tennis and squash courts for the benefit of the local community with improved facilities at the racecourse.

The Racecourse and the royal family

There has always been royal patronage for racing in West Norfolk. Commencing at East Winch with the Prince of Wales (later King

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...

) through to

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

, who was Patron for almost fifty years until Charles, Prince of Wales (now King

) became patron on 1 January 2000. Fakenham's most extensive project, the £1 million Members' Stand, was named "The Prince of Wales Stand" and officially opened by the prince on 15 March 2002.

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 to 6 February 1952 as the wife of King George VI. She was the l ...

, often described as National Hunt's most fervent, enthusiastic and loyal supporter, visited Fakenham racecourse in 1981 and in January 2000.

Other activities

The course also is a popular caravan and camping site offering 120 pitches across the racecourse as well as a wedding venue in the Prince of Wales stand and hosting a myriad of events throughout the year.

References

External links

Fakenham Racecourse (Official website)Course guide on GG.COMCourse guide on At The Races
{{Horse racing in Great Britain Horse racing venues in England Sports venues in Norfolk