Enjoy the Northumberland Plate Meeting
The Northumberland Plate takes place every June, with this flat race probably the most popular when it comes to Newcastle Racecourse. The distance is 2 miles and the race was established in 1833, with the race having been formerly known as the “Pitmen’s Derby”.
In the present day, the Northumberland Plate is one of the richest two-mile handicap races in the world, with Who Dares Wins triumphing for trainer Alan King in 2019 when obliging at odds of 10/1.
Roger Charlton also enjoyed success in this race on two recent occasions, with the trainer winning on Quest For More in 2015 and Withhold in 2018.
The Fighting Fifth Hurdle Takes Place in November
When the National Hunt season begins, Newcastle Racecourse hosts the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and this is regularly regarded as a trial for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Buveur d’Air landed victories in 2017 and 2018 before going on to win the Champion Hurdle at the Festival, while there have also been several other notable winners including My Tent or Yours, Irving and Identity Thief.
The race has been in operation since 1969, with horses aged four or older allowed to enter this race and etch their name into history.
Other Notable Races at Newcastle Racecourse
The Eider Chase is run in February, with this being a National Hunt steeplechase and it takes place over a distance of four miles. There are twenty-five fences to be jumped and it’s plausible that runners from this race will go on to the Grand National at Aintree.
Comply Or Die was the winner of both races in 2008 for trainer David Pipe, with the race having been in operation since 1952. Crosspark, Baywing and Mysteree were recent winners of this race, showing excellent stamina in the process.
The Burradon Stakes is a listed Flat horse race which has been running since 2017 and this is open to three-year-olds. It’s a one mile race and takes place on Good Friday. It has also become part of the Road to Kentucky Derby series.
The Chipchase Stakes is another notable race, with this taking place over six furlongs and this has been in operation since 1994. It earned Group 3 status in 2001 and we saw Invincible Army triumph in 2019.