carlisle racecourse
Course: Carlisle racecourse - Boots & Bridles Raceday
🎫 Ticket & value: £26 General Admission
👀 Track view: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🍔 Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🍺 Guinness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭕️ Parade Ring: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏇 Runners and riders: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎉 Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️ Overall Experience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👍🏻 Best for: Track View 👀 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Carlisle Racecourse delivered a wonderful day of racing and atmosphere, nestled just south of the Scottish border in a city rich with character and history. We attended the Boots and Bridles Raceday, where general admission was an excellent value at just £26 — especially considering the high quality of the facilities and the racing. Getting there from Leeds was a scenic treat in itself, with a two-and-a-half-hour train journey winding through the breathtaking landscapes of the Lake District. The only downside came upon arrival in Carlisle itself, where we faced a 35-minute wait for a taxi — a word to the wise: book ahead to avoid delays.
The track viewing experience at Carlisle was strong across the board. The stand at the winning post offered a commanding view of the action, while the ability to get up to the rail added intimacy and excitement. Perhaps the highlight, though, was the view from behind the track — watching the runners charge up the finishing hill with the beautiful backdrop of the city skyline was nothing short of spectacular. A touch more elevation in other areas would have brought it to a perfect five, but overall, very impressive.
Carlisle’s parade ring is a real showpiece — modern, spacious, and thoughtfully designed. It easily accommodates large fields of runners and offers a seamless visual journey from the pre-parade ring, through to the main ring, and nearly all the way out to the track. While there’s no tiered viewing, which would have helped with sightlines during busy moments, the area is brilliantly located next to the Owners & Trainers Terrace and is surrounded by food stalls, bars, and betting outlets, giving it a lively, engaging feel throughout the day.
Guinness was on offer at £6.85 and exceeded expectations. The first pint wasn’t given time to settle properly, but its taste — rich, cool, and with lovely coffee notes — made up for it. The second pint was poured to near perfection, with consistency in flavour that impressed. A slightly larger head and a little more attention to pouring would elevate it to full marks, but it’s rare to find Guinness of this quality at a racecourse.
Carlisle Racecourse stands out for the quality and value of its food. The bottom chicken and bacon pie (£5.75) came with mushy peas and gravy, delivering real comfort food credentials. The vegetarian pasty (£5.50) was well-received too, as were the fish & chips (£9.75) and the sausage & chips (£8.75), all served in generous portions. Staff were cheerful and efficient, and a special mention goes to the chef walking around the course — a fun, personal touch. Wraps and other hot food near the parade ring added to the options and kept us well fed throughout.
The atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed, with a clear sense that the crowd was made up of genuine racing fans. There was a warm and inclusive vibe across the course, which matched the setting beautifully. It felt like the kind of place where people come not just for a day out, but out of true love for the sport.
There was plenty of racing talent on show, with jockeys like Danny Tudhope, Paul Mulrennan, Jason Hart, Alex Jary, and Joe Fanning all riding throughout the day. The presence of northern training stalwarts Craig Lidster and Tim Easterby added local weight, and Andrew Balding even sent a winner all the way up from Berkshire — a testament to the track’s growing stature in the calendar.
In all, Carlisle proved to be a bit of a sleeping giant — a racecourse that quietly delivers a top-class racing experience without needing the glitz and glamour of its larger cousins. From the sweeping views and high-calibre racing to the warm crowd and superb value for money, it’s a track that ticks all the right boxes. We had a truly wonderful experience and are already looking forward to our next visit. Carlisle may fly under the radar for some, but after a day like this, it’s firmly on ours.
