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Chester Racecourse in the Western District the city of Chester, Cheshire.
It is officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the oldest racecourse still in operation. Horse racing at Chester dates to the early sixteenth century, with 1539 cited as the year racing began.
The 65-acre (260,000 m2) racecourse lies on the banks of the River Dee. The site was once a harbour during the Roman settlement of the city during the Dark Ages but was closed as the river silted up thus making navigation impossible. Towards the centre of the infield is a raised mound which is decorated by a small cross known as a "rood". It is from this that the racecourse derives the name "Roodee"; Roodee is a corruption of "Rood Eye", meaning "The Island of the Cross".
According to legend the cross marks the burial site of a statue of the Virgin Mary sentenced to hang after causing the death of Lady Trawst, the wife of the Governor of Hawarden. The legend states that she had gone to church to pray for rain but when her prayers were answered by a tremendous thunderstorm the statue was loosened and fell, killing her. As a holy object, hanging or burning the statue would be sacrilege so the statue was left by the banks of the river and the tide carried it down to Chester.
The site was formerly also the home of the original Chester Midsummer Watch Parade, temporarily banned by Oliver Cromwell but finally abolished in 1677.
The east of the racecourse abuts directly onto Chester's ancient city walls which were once used to moor Roman trading vessels before the course of the river changed. Spectators can watch races for free from the walls which offer a clear view of the whole circuit.
The Grosvenor Bridge, at one time the longest single arch bridge in the world, passes over the south-eastern corner. The north of the course is bordered by a long railway bridge carrying the North Wales Coast Line over the River Dee. The course is overlooked from the opposite bank of the river by the mansions of Curzon Park, which can be seen dominating the skyline from any of the three grandstands.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Racecourse
49886
Chester Racecourse in the Western District the city of Chester, Cheshire.
It is officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the oldest racecourse still in operation. Horse racing at Chester dates to the early sixteenth century, with 1539 cited as the year racing began.
The 65-acre (260,000 m2) racecourse lies on the banks of the River Dee. The site was once a harbour during the Roman settlement of the city during the Dark Ages but was closed as the river silted up thus making navigation impossible. Towards the centre of the infield is a raised mound which is decorated by a small cross known as a "rood". It is from this that the racecourse derives the name "Roodee"; Roodee is a corruption of "Rood Eye", meaning "The Island of the Cross".
According to legend the cross marks the burial site of a statue of the Virgin Mary sentenced to hang after causing the death of Lady Trawst, the wife of the Governor of Hawarden. The legend states that she had gone to church to pray for rain but when her prayers were answered by a tremendous thunderstorm the statue was loosened and fell, killing her. As a holy object, hanging or burning the statue would be sacrilege so the statue was left by the banks of the river and the tide carried it down to Chester.
The site was formerly also the home of the original Chester Midsummer Watch Parade, temporarily banned by Oliver Cromwell but finally abolished in 1677.
The east of the racecourse abuts directly onto Chester's ancient city walls which were once used to moor Roman trading vessels before the course of the river changed. Spectators can watch races for free from the walls which offer a clear view of the whole circuit.
The Grosvenor Bridge, at one time the longest single arch bridge in the world, passes over the south-eastern corner. The north of the course is bordered by a long railway bridge carrying the North Wales Coast Line over the River Dee. The course is overlooked from the opposite bank of the river by the mansions of Curzon Park, which can be seen dominating the skyline from any of the three grandstands.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Racecourse