Thirsk Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England. The course is a left handed oval of about 1 mile 2 furlongs with a 3 furlong finishing straight and a 6 furlong chute. The present course opened in 1923, but racing had taken place on the old course at nearby Black Hambleton over 200 years earlier.
Gallery
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Location
690 m
Thirsk Town was a railway station that briefly served passengers for Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England in the 1840s and 1850s. It was closed to passengers in 1855 but continued in freight use until October 1966. Trains could leave the site only south-eastwards onto the Leeds Northern Railway towards Ripon, but a reversal was possible into Thirsk railway station after crossing the main line between York and Darlington.
782 m
Thirsk Hall is a Grade II* listed manor house in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, dating from 1720. The house has been held by the Bell family for c. 300 years, and since 2021 also hosts a sculpture park.
808 m
Thirsk Castle was a medieval castle in the town of Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, England. The castle was one of three held by the de Mowbray family in Yorkshire and was destroyed in 1176.
810 m
St Mary's Church, Thirsk is a Church of England parish church in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The church is a grade I listed building.
818 m
The Courthouse is a historic building in the Sowerby area of Thirsk, a town in North Yorkshire, in England.
A courthouse was constructed in the town in about 1840. Between 1885 and 1886, a new courthouse was built next door, and the original building was converted into a house for the inspector. The building was extended to the rear in the 20th century. The court closed in the late 20th century, and the building was converted into a base for the Rural Arts charity. The charity describes it as "the only professionally run cross-arts centre" in the county. The building was grade II listed in 1998, and was refurbished in 2021.
The inspector's house is built of brick with stone dressings and a shallow hipped slate roof. It has two storeys and three bays. It has a central round-headed doorway and sash windows. The court house is joined to the house by a link containing a doorway. The court house is in stone with a slate roof. On the front are windows flanked by Doric pilasters, above which is an entablature, and a pediment containing a circular window. In front of the buildings is a low brick wall with stone coping and a gate.
The main road from Ripon to Thirsk runs past the course, and it is very popular with northern trainers. In 1940 it staged the war-time substitute St. Leger.
Notable races
Thirsk Hunt Cup Summer Cup