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If you want a varied climate come to Carlisle. Today there was the whole range of options for all. There was a stiff gale which when combined with hail enabled those in its teeth to experience shot blasting first hand. However when this blew out after the third it was a very sunny early spring afternoon. Carlisle has been developed out of all recognition since I visited in the late seventies and early eighties. It is very well run and to be fair in comparison to local neighbour Newcastle I think it is the preferred place to come racing in the northern outposts.



Facilities have been improved no end over the years to be a top track

Situated at Blackwell in Cumbria just south of Carlisle, Carlisle racecourse is a  horse racing venue which hosts national hunt races from September to April and flat and jump meetings between April and August each year. Set in the Cumbrian countryside, the course offers picturesque scenery and a range of facilities alongside prestigious racing all year round.

History

Carlisle has a rich history of horse racing dating back to the sixteenth century. In 1599, during the reign of Elizabeth I, the Carlisle Bell was first raced, referring to the bells which were originally awarded to the winning horses of the race during the Elizabethan era, a meeting which continues to be popular in today's racing calendar. Carlisle's racecourse was originally situated at Swift, moving to Blackwell in 1904 with the course's first grandstand built shortly after. In 1929 a Tote betting system was launched at Carlisle, the first Tote to be established on a British racecourse.

During the 1960s extensive developments were made to the course to make it suitable for night racing with the addition of a new grandstand to accommodate the increasing number of spectators to the sport. Also of note is Carlisle's first ladies race, held in 1974 and Red Rum's performance at Carlisle, which famously saw him win at the September meeting which preceded each of his three wins at the Grand National. The facilities at Carlisle have been developed further in recent years, most notably with the Jubilee Grandstand in 2002 which offers equine enthusiasts a luxurious racing experience. A big screen has also been built opposite the main grandstand which broadcasts close-up action of every race.

Races/ Events

The racecourse at Carlisle has two undulating tracks suitable for flat, jump and national hunt races. The flat and jump course (currently shared) is a right-handed pear-shape which covers a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs. The national hunt track is a right-handed circuit which covers a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs.
The highlights of Carlisle's annual programme of races are:
Bell and Plate Day: The most prestigious racing day in Carlisle's calendar, the Bell and Plate Day is held at the end of June and features the £30,000 Carlisle Bell and Carlisle Plate races which date back to the sixteenth century.
Easter Saturday: A popular race day held on the Saturday before Easter, the event features a handicap chase which is broadcast on national television every year.
Countryside Day: Designed as a family event, countryside day features a steeplechase, border hound trailing and the Coors Cumberland Handicap Chase which, at £40,000, is the most valuable meeting on the racing calendar.

Travel

Carlisle Racecourse is easily accessed by road or public transport.
By Road: Approaching Carlisle from the north or south leave the M6 at Junction 42 and follow signs to Dalston. After approximately two miles, turn right at the staggered junction and the racecourse will soon become visible on the left-hand side.
From the north east take the A69 or A66 to the M6 and leave the M6 at Junction 42, following signs to Dalston. After approximately two miles, turn right at the staggered junction and the racecourse will soon become visible on the left-hand side.
From the west take the A595 towards Carlisle. Continue straight at the Thursby roundabout and after approximately one mile turn right, following signs for Dalston. Continue into Dalston and at the T-junction turn right. At the Bridge End pub turn left over the bridge and follow signs for Durdar. At the next junction turn left and after a mile the race course should become visible on the left-hand side.
By Public Transport: Carlisle train station is situated in the city centre, approximately two miles from the racecourse. Taxis are easily available from the train station or alternatively take bus numbers 65 or 66 from the city centre, which stop in close proximity to the racecourse.
Parking: There is free parking on racedays opposite the Grandstand.

Carlisle Bells and other Trophies

Before the 20th century, Carlisle had two racecourses.
To the north was Kingmoor. This was common land first given to the citizens of Carlisle by Edward III. The Kingmoor Races were held on important local festival days and the Carlisle racing bells were used here as annual prizes.

During the 19th century, the ownership of Kingmoor became tied up in a complex legal case. Eventually, in 1865, racing had to be abandoned on this course.

The second race course was the Swifts, a large area of open ground in the middle of the city by the River Eden. This was used for fairs, horse races and Cumberland wrestling matches from at least the middle of the 18th century.

Although conveniently located for spectators to reach, the Swifts course often flooded and featured several tight turns. In fact, it was not uncommon for horses to miss a bend altogether and end up in the river! In addition, this site could not be fully enclosed and the race horse owners wanted to start charging spectators. Because of this, the Swifts was eventually abandoned in favour of the current site south of the city at Blackhall, in 1904. Progressive upgrading of the facilities has taken place over the years but none as significant as the construction of a brand new 'state-of-the-art' Grandstand along with ongoing drainage work on course and car parks. The Jubilee Grandstand offers first class facilities for both race days and non-race day events

Carlisle Racing Bells and Cumberland Plate

Carlisle Racing Bells are the oldest known horseracing prizes in Britain. They date from the later part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The history of the bells

The larger bell, perhaps dating from the 1580s, has the inscription:
'The sweftes horse thes bel to tak for mi lade Daker sake'
(The Swiftest horse this bell to take for my lady Dacre's sake)
The second bell, is inscribed: 1599 H.B.M.C. In this case, the initials are believed to stand for:

Henry Baines, Mayor of Carlisle

The Carlisle bells are remarkable survivors from the early days of organised horseracing.
Civic records show that in the 17th century the city had at least 4 racing prizes.
In 1619, for example: "We request that Mr Mayor and his bretheren shall call for the silver broad arrows and the stock and the horse and nage bells with all expedition to be employed for maintaining of a horse race for the city's use (upon the king's moor) at such time yearly as they shall think convenient and to article".
The silver arrows and stock have been lost, but the two bells (the horse and nage bells - nage being northern/scottish word for a horse i.e. a nag) would seem to have survived.
Bells, bridles, plates and purses
Although racing horses seems to have been a popular activity in Britain for many centuries, the first properly recorded races date from the 16th century.
Over the following century, the Jacobean kings (James I, Charles I, Charles II and James II) gave racing their royal patronage and encouraged the setting up of permanent new courses all over the country.
During this period, silver bells were common racehorse prizes, along with bridles, plates and purses of money.

Racing at the Swifts in the 1890s

Important local families (like the Dacres), town officials and trade guilds would have given such prizes in order to attract the best horse owners and riders. The more prestigious the event, the more people it would attract to the city, all of whom brought money to spend on local goods and services.
The bells seem to have survived as part of the council's collection of civic silver and were in fact lost for many years before being rediscovered in a box in the town clerk's office during the later 19th century.

The Lady's Plate

The second well-known horse racing prize is the Lady's Plate. The origin of this is unclear, but it was being run from at least the 18th century. A new prize would appear to have been given to the winner every year. One example is known to have survived into the 20th century. A silver coffee pot (made in Newcastle) was given as a prize for this race in 1726 and was Carlisle Bell puts Ascot’s antiquity in shade

Life At The Races by Cornelius Lysaght

'NOW here’s a thing. All that pomp and circumstance over five afternoons at Royal Ascot, where everything drips with seemingly antique ceremony, is actually a mere stripling compared with the racing event of this week.
Ascot, in something approaching its modern form, was moulded at a time when Nelson and Wellington were front page news, but seeking the winner of the Carlisle Bell first troubled the punting subjects of Elizabethan England first time around. The race for the bell, inaugurated in about 1599 by one Lady Dacre, whose husband was governor of the city’s garrison, is quite likely the oldest in the calendar.  Which was all very nice for myself and a group of friends when a horse we own, named Travelling Band, won the £15,000 first prize last year (with money on offer like that, who can say Carlisle is a “gaffe”?). More so, as I, for one, had long been imagining grabbing the bell with both hands and ringing it with some vigour. Not quite, because the impressiveness of one of Carlisle’s most prized museum pieces is in its age and Old English inscription, rather than its sight or sound. Made of silver gilt, it is tiny, about two inches high I should think, and is treated with the utmost respect when taken from its home at the Guildhall Museum to the races to be put on display.
As the winning owner, you do, however, get a fine replica, including that inscription. It is rather clever, actually, because it reads: “The sweftes horse thes bel to tak, for mi Lade daker sake.” The reference to swiftness is a pun about the fastest horse which also plays on the Swifts, a former location of the racecourse, now covered by that most recent of popular inventions, the local leisure centre. Bells were once almost as popular a prize as the handsome cups handed out nowadays, and one, the Lanark Silver Bell, last competed for in 1977 when the Scottish course staged its final fixtures, put even Lady Dacre’s generous offering in the shade.
King William the Lion of Scotland instituted that during his reign (1165-1214) as he was partial to a spot of racing and hunting while in residence at Lanark Castle. There has been all sorts of talk of racing returning to the once popular Lanark track, close to the River Clyde, but although there were point-to-points staged around the tight track with its tricky bends, nothing has yet materialised. The bell was sold at auction in London during the 1950s. Its whereabouts today are unknown.'


Racing

The meetign sarted off with a select field in the three miles novice hurdle. Carlisle is a very undulating track and with soft / occassional heavy ground takes some getting. The race developed int a match beteen hatrick seeking Eyre Square. He ran very well but just lacked a bit heading home and I would say he is a better jumper than hurdler and back over fences will continue to go from strength to strength. However that is to take nothing away from winning mare Alexandra Road who batttled on superbly over this extended trip for her to give impression will be again difficult to beat over this sort of trip when onditions suit. Could be a very useful sort for next year.



Alexandra Road and H Broke impressive winner in staying novice hurdle



First two home are sure to be seen to good effect next season

There was a big field for the 20f novice hrdle which followed the stayers event. Odds on for much of the beting skirmishes, Tigre D'aron had perviously failed to impress me when he was a lucky winner at Wetherby. Today he ran a listles race despite holding every chance to 3 out when failing to act in the ground. This was not a strong race and I doubt he will now flow up on his Cheltenham commitments. This shuld have left the stage clear from the reasonably well supported Vivona Hall who had some nice bumper form and an encouraging debut to underpin support. However he ran extremely badly to be never a factor and pulled up. Looking at his action I would say this ground was dead against him and will be seen to best advantage in good ground as such worth keeping an eye on. As such it would pay to underate the efforts of Armedanddangerous (who will find a penalty very hard to shoulder) and Silent Snow (close up in this poor race in bad weather where perhaps noisy hail might have been more appropriate)

The novice chase over 20f looked very open with three vying for favouritism. The winner was Mister maker who stayed on well under pressure and looked like he is suited by stiff going out lasting the other market principles Lord Villez (who plodded on at one pace and may need further) and favourite Indian Groom (who made a mistake at a crucial point knocking the chance out of him. The other pair were well beaten. Difficult to rate this as the first pair seemed to jump well for novices.

The first handicap of the day was a 26 furlong class 4 slog over fences. Only the winning mare Dancing Diva(who was an easy 15 length victor) comes out of this as a positive. She had shown good form on flatter tracks and it would appear that her main prerequisite is a thorough test of stamina.



Long distance chase with dramatic sky, it was wierd weather today

A class 4 20f hurdle of the hands and heels variety for conditional jockeys followed the long distance chase. This was won by the condituingly impressive new recruit Aodhagan Conlon by over three lengths. Texasholdum is an old stager and is on a fair mark of 110 having won not that long ago off 115. I would not expect too much handicapper respite and as such a follow up victory is a bit unlikely. The runner up Ascedant is coming down the handicap hurdle charts a bit recently and now off 115 must be handy enough to pick up a race. Ran well tday and based on his flat form holds his ability well (has won a hatrick) plus would probably suit a flatter track like Musselburgh better. Keep an eye out for him.Of the others Rare Coincidence did ittel but then this was his 142th race under rules so can be forgiven the odd modest effort, well fancied favourite Faireynuff was soon weakening and looking at his form is probably mre at home at a sharper track like Catterick, Marlborough Sound was soon out of it which didn't surprise me as he had not impressed at his last run at Towcester last month and bottom weight Dickie Henderson finished a close up third showing first glimmer of form for some time although looked in the past as well as being suited by the mud.



Modest mod of handicap hurdlers at an early flight

Th two mile chase was a good buckle between Sheriff Hall (good jumper who has improved for fitting of tonguestrap and has good form on flat tracks so watch for a return to that environment) and Against The Wind (had previously run very well at stamina sapping hexham so clearly suits these tough tests)with the latter prevailing by 3 lengths. The thrid home Banoge had a good confidence builder and blinkers fiorst time did no harm. On a useful mark of 96 having won off 115.

The bumper has won very easily by 15 lengths. The experience gathered to date including a CD runner up was put to use by Rojo Vino. However I would rate this as a por race and the winner unlikley to carry a penalty to success and as such is well worth opposing next time out.

Notebook

Eyre Square up £53
1(7/4) 4 1 (4/9) 2 4 1 6/1
Is still a live handicap chase prospect off the current 120 as his fencing is now pretty good. Confirmed this with a 6/1 victory off this mark. Will shelve now


Alexandra Road down £10
P
Not seen out since pulling up next time out and I think he is unllikely to return as the force he looked after this run

Vivona Hall
NR
Not seen out since but is now starting to show up on the entries and I think I will keep faith for now

Armedanddangerous (Negative)
NR
Starting to show signs that he is about to race again and I see no reason to refuse to lay

Silent Snow (Negative) up £10
3
Not seen since this subsequent run and I am now dropping him off my list

Ascendent up £25
1(5/2)
No further efforts and having won next time out I am binning him now


Sheriff Hall down £30
33F
No great signs of winning any time soon and an early departure with tonguestrap on led to him beng binned from my list


Rojo Vino (Negative)
Not been seen since and now binned as a potential lay