Course Overview
Located in the leafy Surrey suburb of Esher, Sandown Park is situated in a natural amphitheatre, which made it easy to construct as a purpose-built facility with strict attendance. The stand sits on the top of a hill, allowing the runners, even when down the back straight, to be easily picked out.
Right handed, oval-shaped course thirteen furlongs in length with a straight of half a mile. Essentially a fair, galloping course which places the emphasis on stamina courtesy of a gradual climb from the home turn.
On soft ground the jockeys sometimes tack across to the stand side in the straight and this can lead to horses racing wide apart. Racing here takes place from any distance from five furlongs on the flat to over three miles over jump, 24 days of the year. To be honest, whichever meeting over the year you choose to attend at Sandown, the racing is always competitive and a great day out.
Course Details
Sandown Park Racecourse
Portsmouth Road
Esher
Surrey
KT10 9AJ
By Foot or Car – Sandown Park’s car parks can comfortably fit 3,000 vehicles (for free on race days), with four electric car charging points available. It is a 40 minute drive from Central London. Details for your sat nav are above.
By Train – Esher rail station is a 10-minute walk from the course, a walk which takes you directly over the track. It can also be reached by shuttle bus during major events, or there’s a taxi rank outside. Don’t be caught out though, Esher rail station is situated in zone six and so is not covered by standard Oyster Cards!
By Air – For those attending by air can do so easily into Heathrow or Gatwick, both of which are just twenty miles from the course, and there’s a helipad available for those attending racing on the course itself.
Hotels close to Sandown Racecourse
Brief History
Sandown Park was one of the first courses to charge all for attending. It opened in 1875 and everyone had to pay at least half a crown. The first meeting was over three days, starting on Thursday 22 April, and included the Grand National Hunt Chase, now staged at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Grand International Steeple Chase took place on the Saturday, worth £2,130 to the winner, and was the largest prize for a steeplechase that season, unusually even eclipsing that for the Liverpool Grand National. In 1875, Sandown became the first course in England to have a members' enclosure.
It was requisitioned by the War Department from 1940-1945 for World War II.
Once considered the norm, today Sandown Park is one of a few racecourses that still offers both national hunt and flat racing as part of its horseracing season. It has seen some of the best racehorses over both codes compete on its turf.
Sandown Park Racecourse is well known as being (what was) the Queen Mother’s favourite course and three of her horses – Arkle, Mill Reef and Desert Orchid – frequently raced here under her watchful eye.
The venue has hosted bands such as eclectic as UB40, Madness, Girls Aloud, Spandau Ballet and Simply Red.
The racecourse is close to Esher railway station served by trains from London Waterloo. There is a secondary exit from Esher station which is open on race days, this exit leads directly into the racecourse and Lower Green, Esher.
Race Calendar
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Thursday 20 May – Evening racing supported by Casumo
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Thursday 27 May – Coral Brigadier Gerard evening
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Friday 11 June – Afternoon flat racing
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Saturday 12 June – Coral Scurry Stakes Day
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Friday 2 & Saturday 3 July – The Coral Summer Festival
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Wednesday 21 July – Evening racing
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Thursday 22 July – Elmbridge Community Day
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Wednesday 28 July – Evening racing
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Thursday 5 August 2021 – Craig David performing!
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Friday 20 & Saturday 21 August – The Betway Summer Celebration
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Friday 10 September – Afternoon flat racing
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Wednesday 15 September – Breeders’ Day
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Sunday 7 November – Countryside Day
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Friday 3 – Saturday 4 December – Tingle Creek Festival, featuring the Tingle Creek race.
Summary
Sandown Park is a great racecourse with high-class racing all year round. It is one of fifteen racecourses in the UK which is owned and operated by the Jockey Club and is a major events venue in the local area.
Easily accessible from London and with a train station at the course, it is popular with locals and those from further afield.
It is a course we love to visit for any meeting, with a great view of the racing action, excellent hospitality and a fun and friendly atmosphere. Highly recommended at any time of year.