Dingley is regarded as one of the Country’s premier point to point courses by both spectators, and the owners, trainers and riders who bring their horses to compete at the track year after year. The whole course can be viewed from your car; with all the racing taking place in the natural amphitheatre which is set between two woodland coverts, known as The Ashpoles and Dingley Warren. The parade ring is positioned at the top of the hill overlooking the racecourse, and a new winners enclosure was completed in 2012 which provides additional space for spectators to view the winning and placed horses after each race. A new Steward’s box and Commentary box was constructed for the 2014 season, and there have been some significant improvements to the racing surface in recent years to include several reconstructed fences and ongoing improvements to the racing surface.
The course is mainatined to the highest possible standards by the team of volunteers who run each meeting. It is well drained and now has watering points at each end, which helps to maintain good going throughout the drier periods in each season.
All eight permanent fences are constructed from birch, and they are maintained to the highest possible standards throughout each year to ensure the safety and welfare of the racehorses and their jockeys. New padded guard rails have been fitted to each fence in recent seasons, as illustrated in the adjoining photo.
The organisers of the race meetings at Dingley take every possible precaution to ensure that conditions are as as near to ideal as possible, which helps us to ensure that there are always good entries for each race; and that great racing is in store at Dingley for spectators at each meeting. The course has two separate starts for 3 mile 2 furlong and 2.5 mile races respectively. The finishing post for all races is directly in front of the car parks, which enables each race to build to a crescendo in front of the attendant crowds.
We are hopeful of being able to provide optimum conditions for all of our race meetings, not least as the grass cover on the course is good and even. In the event that we suffer a dry spell, facilities are in place to water the course as necessary to get as close to good going as possible.
There is plenty of opportunity for racegoers to stand close to the horses and fences at the racetrack, to get a feel for the speed at which the races are run.
A licensed bar, bookies, tote betting facility, trade stands and food are all available by the parade ring. We usually have a fun fair with bouncy castle for children situated by the race track. Public conveniences are available at the top and bottom of the hill.
For good racing and a great family day out there is little to beat at Dingley Races.