Chester Racecourse – The Roodee, is known to be the oldest racecourse in England. You can go back to the early 16th century to find that horse racing was taking place at Chester. Furthermore, the Roodee is also thought to be the smallest racecourse of significance in England at 1 mile and 1 furlong (1.8 km) long.
The Roodee – A Brief History
Chester Racecourse – The Roodee is a 65-acre racecourse situated on the banks of the River Dee. Before becoming a racecourse, the Roodee site was previously a harbour. This was during the Roman occupation of the city during the Dark Ages. As the river silted up, the harbour was closed. Close to the centre of the course there is a raised mound, decorated by a small cross known as a “Rood”. As a result, the racecourse became known as “Roodee” – also known as “Rood Eye”, meaning “The Island of the Cross”.
Chester races are so very popular with race enthusiasts throughout the country. Ideally situated in Chester city centre, the Roodee is a great day out when you visit chester.