Carlisle Races Today – See Carlisle Racing Tips from Cumbria Course
Carlisle is one of the earliest locations for horse racing in the UK. A trip to Carlisle races today remains a popular pilgrimage for fans of the sport in the north of England and from southwest Scotland.
In this complete guide to the Cumbria venue, we look at the rich history of the course, explore the track configuration and the notable races which feature in our Carlisle racing tips.
History of Carlisle Racecourse
Racing at Carlisle originally took place at The Swifts, an area close to the city centre. The first records of races there date back to 1559, during the second year of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, when the famous Carlisle Gold Bell was first presented by Lady Dacre.
This still serves as a prize for an annual race today, and more on that later on in this article. It carries the inscription: “The sweftes horse thes bel to tak for mi lade Daker sake”, which translates today as “The Swiftest horse this bell to take for my lady Dacre’s sake”.
Carlisle races today take place at the current course in the village of Blackwell, just outside of the city. The move to its present site came in 1904.
The first newly-formed Tote operated their pool betting service for the first time in 1929 at Carlisle. It has a significant role in the history of Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, then.
Red Rum is a horse associated with the course, having warmed up for each of his three Grand National wins in the 1970s, by first claiming victory in Carlisle’s Windermere Handicap Chase en route.
Today, Carlisle is one of 15 major racecourses owned by The Jockey Club, the largest commercial group in UK horse racing. Among the other tracks within this group are Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom and Newmarket, plus “Park” courses such as Haydock, Kempton and Sandown.
Is Carlisle Races Today Jumps or Flat?
You can find both codes at Carlisle races today. There is Flat racing between May and September and National Hunt during the core jumps season.
There are 23 meetings scheduled for 2025 but, as the track is prone to water-logging during the winter months, some may end up being abandoned. The track’s configuration is pear-shaped, right-handed and undulating, with a stiff uphill finish of just over three furlongs.
A complete circuit of either the Flat or the hurdles and chase courses is more than a mile-and-a-half round. For sprint races on the Flat, there is a chute for six furlong contests but it’s pretty much all against the collar.
There are nine fences on a complete circuit, with five in the back straight and four in the home straight. Also note the open ditches as the fourth fence of five down the back and the first of four after turning for home.
For hurdle races, whether run on the inner or outer track, there are three flights down the back and three more in the home straight. A prominent position on the home turn can be an advantage on this right-hand course.
Horses with strong stamina also have an advantage in races, especially in testing conditions. These are all factors we consider when creating our Carlisle horse racing tips for today or tomorrow.
Key Carlisle Races Fixtures
With 23 meetings set to take place, there is a regular stream of Carlisle racing tips available at Racing Tipster.
There are two key feature meetings for the respective codes. On the Flat, the Carlisle Bell & Cumberland Plate day takes place on the last Wednesday in June.
Over jumps, the Colin Parker Premier Raceday takes place on the first Sunday in November. In addition, some of the Go North Series Finals take place here in April.
Social events include the Easter Saturday Family Extravaganza Raceday, a Ladies Night and the Christmas Jumper Raceday in December.
Throughout the year we provide Carlisle race tips and the latest horse racing odds for these meetings.
The Biggest Races We Give Carlisle Racing Tips On
Our Carlisle racing tips today include betting advice for some huge horse races. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights that you can expect to enjoy through the year.
Eternal Stakes
This Listed race takes place in June each year moving to Carlisle in 2015. It is for three-year-old fillies and is run over a distance of over a distance of about seven furlongs (officially six furlongs and 195 yards).
There is a £26,650 first prize on offer for the winner. Kieren Fallon and Richard Kingscote are the most successful jockeys in this race, both winning the Eternal Stakes on three occasions.
With two wins, as many seconds and a third since 2016, powerful owners Cheveley Park Stud often target this race with their fillies. Before Carlisle took over hosting duties, fellow Jockey Club Racecourses staged the Eternal Stakes, first at Warwick and then Newmarket.
Weatherbys Graduation Chase
The Weatherbys Graduation Chase is a Class 2 event, run over a distance of about two miles. It boasts of a £27,000 first prize.
This mid-November race is for horses who have only won so many races over fences, which means that you might want to check our Carlisle horse tips before placing any bets. Locally-trained runner Nells Son triumphed in 2024 for the Greystoke stable of Nicky Richards near Penrith as red-hot favourite Kalif Du Berlais fell.
Houghton Mares’ Chase
This is a Listed steeplechase is for fillies and mares aged four years or older. Run over two miles and four furlongs, there are some 16 fences and a £22,780 first prize on offer.
From 2024 onwards, the race has been moved from December to November, due to it sometimes being abandoned and rearranged for Aintree races by The Jockey Club. Zambella won the Houghton Mares’ Chase in three consecutive years between 2021 and 2023.
Colin Parker Memorial Chase
A Listed intermediate chase held in early November, for second season chasers. It has the same two-and-a-half miles distance as the Houghton and features a first prize of £22,780.
Marble Sands added his name to the Colin Parker roll of honour in 2024, becoming the oldest winner since Scottish raider Seeyouatmidnight triumphed in 2016. Other notable successes here include Many Clouds, Saphir Du Rheu, Waiting Patiently, Mister Whitaker, Losintranslation and Beauport.
Cumberland Handicap Chase
Taking place in early November, this Class 3 0-135 race over three miles and two furlongs has a first prize of £18,200. The 2024 winner was Val Dancer at 6/1, ridden by Charlie Deutsch and trained by Mel Rowley.
He went on to Welsh Grand National glory at Chepstow races over the Christmas period. This demonstrates how it can pay to follow Carlisle form.
Castletown Handicap Hurdle
This Class 2 0-145 race runs over two miles and four furlongs in early November and is for horses aged four and up. In 2024, Castle Rushen claimed the £18,200 first prize at 15/2 with Brian Hughes riding for local trainer Nicky Richards.
Carlisle Bell
The one-mile Carlisle Bell takes place in June each year. This Class 4 handicap is a low grade feature race, but still a notable event as it dates back to 1599, making it one of the oldest races in the British Isles.
It has a £15,700 first prize and the winners also receive a trophy, modelled upon the original bells. Orbaan won in 2024, which was trainer David O’Meara’s second victory in the race. Joe Fanning is the most successful jockey, with three victories.
Cumberland Plate
The racing tips for Carlisle feature some big races in the June meeting, which not only includes the Carlisle Bell and the Eternal Stakes, but also the Cumberland Plate. It’s a Class 4 0-85 handicap, over roughly one mile and three furlongs, dating back to at least the 18th century.
This race has a £15,700 first prize. It is a race where the jockey Ben Curtis has had a lot of success, with three wins over the last nine years.
FAQs
Is Carlisle races on today?
You can check if there are Carlisle races today by looking in the racecards section of RacingTipster. If there are any Carlisle races today tips will also be available.
Where is Carlisle Racecourse?
The racecourse is just outside of Carlisle, on Durdar Road in the village of Blackwell. Carlisle Station is 2.2 miles away, with a taxi rank available outside. After the racing finishes, there is a shuttle bus that goes back to the city.
Why is Carlisle races cancelled today?
Cancellations at Carlisle are normally caused by bad weather. In the winter months there can be snow and frost, while heavy rainfall and water-logging has also seen racing at the course cancelled. When you’re studying the tips for Carlisle, make sure you also check out the weather forecast for race day.
Where can I find tips and Carlisle races results today?
If you’re looking for Carlisle tips today, you can find them in RacingTipster’s among tomorrow’s horse racing tips or on the homepage. When there are Carlisle races today results can be found in the dedicated Fast Results section.