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It was in the 1970's that the course was altered to the one that is used for racing today. The Percy went on to stage their own meeting whilst the West Percy and Milvain Hunts staged another, which saw two fixtures at the course per season. The College Valley and North Northumberland hunt held their first meeting at Ratcheugh in 1994.
Ratcheugh Farm, Alnwick. Left Handed
Ratcheugh Farm course is host to four point to point steeplechase meetings each year, The Ratcheugh Racing Club meeeting, The West Percy, The College Valley and North Northumberland and The Percy.
Point to Point steeplechase racing is amateur horse racing over jumps. Most races are run over 3 mile, but some are run over an extended or shorter trip. Point to Points are organised by hunts and run by volunteers from the hunts who give up a great deal of time to make the fixtures possible. Horses that run in point to points must qualify with a hunt and obtain a certificate to say they have attended on a set amount of days.
Ratcheugh was first used for racing in 1949 when the Percy, West Percy and Milvain hunts staged their meeting there. The track then was slightly different to how it is today as it crossed into land to the south belonging to Lookout Farm. It was then that the 3 mile start used to be at the bottom end of the course and only one and a half circuits were negotiated by horse and rider as the track was much longer.
Ratcheugh now hosts 4 meetings throughout a season.
The course at Ratcheugh was the first and only track in the North to have staged a December meeting.
On 13th December 2009 the Northern Area Club held their meeting.
Today over 3 miles, 2 circuits are run with a total of 18 fences jumped.
Todays track can be viewed on the interactive map on the find us section of the site.
Racing at Alnwick regularly provides spectators with an exciting finish.
Above: Senor Alco (far side) and Accordingtotheboss fight out the finish of an open maiden at the West Percy 2012 fixture.
The view back from the first.
