The first recorded horse races in the Ripon area took place in 1664 on Bondgate Green. Over the next 236 years, several other venues were used to stage race meetings. Indeed, during one meeting in 1723, Ripon race goers witnessed horse racing history, when they watched the first ever race exclusively for lady riders. In 1899 Ripon Racecourse moved to its current location at Boroughbridge Road and has been an important fixture on the racing scene ever since.

Due to its most pleasant surroundings, Ripon is known as Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse, and during the flat racing season, racegoers can enjoy the Ripon facilities on any one of seventeen race days from April – September in 2023.