Horse Racing Betting – Bet your house on it!
Horse racing fans will be in a state of shock today with the news that much loved course Kempton Park is facing demolition and will instead be turned into a housing estate. This redevelopment of the Sunbury-on-Thames site is rumoured to be facing bulldozers in 2021 and will be a big blow to fans who have regularly visited the course in Surrey.
The Kempton Park Racecourse has been a mainstay of British horse racing since 1878, when business man S.H Hyde realised his dream of opening a course suitable for Horse Racing. Hyde had visited the site during a carriage ride in 1872 and six years later the track was opened and would eventually host both flat and National Hunt racing.
Many fans have already taken to social media to complain that the track, which had undergone an all-weather facelift in 2006, should remain open. The 200-acre site in Spelthorne, Surrey is popular among the racing community due to the regular employment it provides as well as the rich history of the course.
With the increase of online sports betting, some punters expressed shock that the course could be facing extinction, some have even contacted their local MP to complain about the proposed closure.
Kempton Park is highly rated by punters and is often featured on Channel 4 racing. With the course not planned to close till 2021, It’s not too late to have a flutter! If you are looking for inspiration, then you can find all the best horse racing betting sites here. With 71 race-days planned for 2017, there is bound to be a race that interests you.
Even non Horse racing fans will be aware of Kempton Park, due to a much publicised event in 2009 when the 7f maiden was delayed by 15 minutes when 25-1 shot, Blue Warrior was involved in a “freakish accident” and plunged into a lake. The horse, which was still wearing his hood, was spooked going into the smalls and broke free and plunged into the nearby lake.
The horse who was uninjured apart from a minor cut, became distressed in the stalls and this led to Jockey Robert Winston becoming unmounted. Spectators at the course watched on in amazement as the horse plunged into the water at Kempton Park. Thankfully, the Jockey wasn’t injured and the horse went on to make a full and complete recovery.
For many, news of the proposed closure will not come as a complete surprise. Parts of the course have been in decline and some will say the writing has been on the wall for many years, locals however will be concerned that the site which boasts beautiful views of nearby woodlands will be resigned to the history books.
Although the news of the potential closure is a big blow for the local community, owners the Jockey Club have announced plans for a £500 million investment at Newmarket. A new all-weather course is being proposed and this could go some way to reassure the public that horse racing does have a future and many will see this investment as a vote of confidence in the sport.
Kempton Park currently stages National Hunt Racing as well as flat racing. The highly popular King George VI chase takes place annually on Boxing Day as well as Feltham Novices’ chase. Football fans will probably know Kempton Park for the fun “Mascots Grand National” which has been held at the venue since 2011. The race features mascots from football teams and organisations, racing each other over the course and is a huge fan favourite.