Equestrian F


ounded at its present location in 1905, Fakenham Racecourse was originally run by the West Norfolk Hunt Club. When racing moved from its previous site at East Winch to take advantage of the better ground at Fakenham, one concern was how to keep the public out!


There’s a very different feel today ‐ the independently run racecourse is very much part of the community with part of the site let to a sports club, whilst two hundred caravan spaces affiliated to the Caravan Club allow a wider group of visitors to enjoy the great outdoors year‐round.


Racing runs from October to June, with the most popular meetings being New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Ladies Day in June and the season opener in October.


Now based around a one mile round sharp left handed track, racing at Fakenham comprises thirteen National Hunt meetings, plus the West Norfolk point‐to‐point. “There are few trainers locally, but we seem to attract horses from far and wide ‐ six came over from Ireland for our first November meeting,” comments Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course David Hunter. “We aim to present the best ground possible and be true to the going prediction


that we have given. Prize money has also increased for 2018 to £800,000, up twenty‐ six percent.”


Racedays have doubled since David came to the course nineteen years ago, and portable fences allow Head Groundsman Matthew King and his team to relocate them to fresh ground whilst allowing the worn turf to recover.


“It can be challenging as we race in the depths of winter,” admits David. “The soils are loam over sand and shingle, so wet weather is rarely a problem and we have only lost one day to waterlogging in the time that I have been here. But frost and snow,


Head groundsman Matthew King and Clerk of the Course David Hunter


The parade ring PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018 I 89


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