Catterick Bridge Racecourse

Racecourse number:10

First visited: 1986

Number of visits: 2

One of the biggest attractions of British horse racing is its diversity. Track shape, size, direction, facilities etc. can all differ greatly. Factor in the randomness of our weather and you can have a myriad of racing experiences, and I have over the years. From downpours at Doncaster to snow at Sedgefield. Now racing has been held at Catterick since 1783 and somehow my Dad and I managed to attend the coldest/windiest meeting ever held there. It was some kind of miracle the fixture was even allowed to take place. I don’t have an extensive recollection of the day but it was a national hunt meeting and was easily the worst course I had visited at that point. To be fair there was little chance of Catterick competing with the likes of Haydock, York or Chester. The fact that the day was cold and bleak certainly did not help. One memory is of a rear door to the main stand almost blowing off upon trying to enter it. The facilities were pretty limited and the whole place was small in scale. I suspect strongly that a poor day’s punting did not help but simply put, Catterick disappointed – so having been, I made no plans to return – at least for the next thirty years!

When I returned with my Dad in 2016 it was based on free tickets courtesy of my Racing UK subscription and the hope that things had improved over the years. The wind would still be present, but at a much more manageable level. Weather wise this flat evening meeting in early May would be rather pleasant. Catterick had a belated chance to impress. The race card diagram of this flat circuit suggests it is a fairly standard oval course. In truth it is very distinctive – a sharp turn for home, significant undulations and a home straight which is anything but straight. The course actually jinks away two-three furlongs out providing an unusual aspect from the stands. Races over six and seven furlongs are often run at breakneck speed.  A handy position on the tight turn for home can be key with many winners kicking for home at this point. It reminded me a little bit of Chester but my Dad encompassed it best when he described it like watching cowboys and Indians chasing after each other in those old films. With viewing in the straight slightly restricted, the racecourse did not really help with a very small ‘big’ screen and an unclear commentary.

Nevertheless my evening started well with a couple of winners. I backed Moabit ridden by Sam Twiston-Davis and trained by Paul Nichols to win the first race at Exeter. I then followed this up with Clem Fandango in the first race at Catterick. He looked a promising two year old for Keith Dalgliesh. The next race, a claimer saw a cracking battle and photo finish between Chilworth Bells and Tatting. Ridden by up and coming apprentice Josephine Gordon the former held on to give me two winners from two races. Catterick was starting to grow on me. In race three it was back to reality in the maiden which looked an ideal opportunity for the Sir Michael Stoute trained Musdam. As Musdam passed my Dad and me on the rails at the half furlong pole he seemed to have the race under control. However, this inexperienced colt who was weak in the market was also weak in the finish and was worried out of it on the line.

We spent a little time later in the God’s Solution bar, a tribute to the grey sprinter who ran thirteen times at Catterick between 1988 and 1991, starting and finishing his career with wins at Catterick. The last of which was the appropriately named God’s Solution Handicap. A shining example of the adage – horses for courses. Upon closer examination of his racing record, running over six furlongs was the key to his success. Trainer David Barron tried him eight times over seven furlongs without a win. The only other course he won at was Pontefract which shares some significant similarities with Catterick – tight, left handed and undulating. Pictures of this striking grey adorn the bar area and certainly add an element of nostalgia to the course.

The last race we watched that night was the penultimate two mile handicap. Phil Kirby, now training nearby had two runners in the fifteen strong field. Pre-race we attended the paddock. The small parade ring looked truly beautiful in the late evening sunshine. Another striking grey Pertius caught the eye but it was stable mate Summerlea who took the prize for Micky Hammond. My fancy Balmusette disappointed, whilst Phil’s more fancied runner Triple Eight ran a solid race in third. Thirty years on Catterick was satisfactory. Sure it helped that the weather was good, entry was free and I backed a few winners. It has solid if not spectacular facilities and for a small track has something to offer. In truth I won’t be rushing back but I’m sure I will return to this distinctive racecourse way before the next thirty years are up.