MARKET RASEN RACECOURSE - OWNERS & tRAINERS
A day at Market Rasen begins in style, with owners and trainers greeted at the front entrance by a warm welcome, a complimentary racecard, and a glass of Prosecco. From there, the walk through the grounds takes you past the pre-parade ring and winners’ enclosure before arriving at the heart of the Owners & Trainers facilities — a newly built restaurant and bar area that reflects the racecourse’s modern approach to hospitality.
The restaurant itself is a notable upgrade on what came before, with a contemporary design, ample space, and the ability to host owners comfortably without the need for tables to be turned over throughout the day. Complimentary soft drinks are available, and while Guinness comes at £7.20 a pint, its quality — served in a glass — is excellent. Drinks are restricted to the restaurant unless decanted into plastic, and glasses are no longer served after 5pm, but the bar area remains a strong feature: spacious, well-stocked, and supported by multiple screens and tote facilities.
Dining is organised around a two-course system, where vouchers can be used for either the salad bar or a hot main meal. The salad spread is hearty and traditional, offering cold meats, pork pie, coleslaw, pasta, boiled eggs, chicken, ham, and fresh salad leaves with a selection of condiments and crispy onions. Mains include comforting favourites such as beef lasagne with wedges and garlic bread, smoked chicken and bacon frittata, and a vegetarian option of butternut squash, date and chickpea tagine served with naan bread. Desserts round things off nicely, with a rotating selection available.
Where Market Rasen really excels, however, is in its viewing experience. A superb private Owners & Trainers terrace overlooks the entire racecourse, providing panoramic views of the action unfolding against the Lincolnshire countryside. With tables, chairs, and the ability to take drinks outside, it’s a true highlight and one of the most attractive selling points of ownership here. The parade ring, meanwhile, is brilliantly positioned alongside the track and close to the winning post. Spacious enough to accommodate large syndicates, it gives connections both comfort and clear views — with the added benefit of a large screen in the infield to follow every stride of the race.
The winners’ enclosure at Market Rasen is compact, buzzing with atmosphere, and located right beside the weighing room. This creates a lively, intimate setting when celebrating a success. The newly opened winning connections bar is a particularly strong addition, offering champagne on arrival, race replays, and the traditional Jockey Club presentation of a local produce hamper and race recording.
The pre-parade ring is also well thought out, generous in size, and conveniently situated next to the winners’ enclosure, ensuring that owners have superb access to their horses throughout the build-up to each race.
In summary, Market Rasen delivers an Owners & Trainers experience that combines modern facilities with exceptional race viewing. The new restaurant provides comfort and choice, the terrace offers arguably some of the finest views in British racing, and both the parade ring and winners’ enclosure are perfectly placed to make owners feel central to the day. Market Rasen may be a small National Hunt track, but for owners and trainers, the experience is anything but.
