Sandown Racecourse Guide

Sandown Racecourse is one of the iconic tracks in the United Kingdom and it hosts Grade One National Hunt and Group 1 Flat racing.

One of Britain's most-loved venues, Sandown stages top-level action both on the Flat and over jumps, making it a year-round venue for racegoers both in and around the English capital.

With its close proximity to London, the popularity of Sandown is no surprise and it is served by exceptional road and rail links for those day-tripping to the racecourse in pursuit of the thrills and spills of top-quality equine action.

We have compiled the ultimate guide for everything you need to know about the famous racecourse.

Sandown Racecourse Location

Where is Sandown?

Sandown Racecourse is situated in Esher, Surrey, England, located in the outer suburbs of London.

How to get to Sandown Racecourse

By Train

Sandown Racecourse is located next to Esher Train Station, a 10-minute walk to the racecourse entrances.

Esher station allows onward travel to London Waterloo from just 25 minutes and Woking and Guildford to the south.

By Car

No official shuttle bus takes racegoers to the track, but there is a taxi rank location at Esher Train Station.

• From London, take the A3 and follow the brown venue signs to Sandown Park. Exit A3 onto the A307 and continue to follow the brown venue signs. Alternatively, from the M25, exit at Junction 10, follow the A3 towards London, then exit onto the A307 and follow the brown venue signs.
• If using a Sat Nav, enter 'Portsmouth Road' rather than the Sandown Park postcode, as this will take you to the main car park, which is just off the A307 (Esher High Street) and is directly in front of the main entrance.

Sandown Racecourse Layout

Track Layout

Flat Course

On the Flat, the track at Sandown is right-handed, oval-shaped and thirteen furlongs in length with a straight of half a mile. It is regarded as a fair, galloping course, which places the emphasis on stamina courtesy of a gradual climb from the home turn to the winning line.

The five-furlong sprint track runs across the main circuit and rises steadily throughout and racing on the running rail can be an advantage there.

Steeplechase Course

Over jumps, Sandown's test is one of the purest on British soil with the renowned line of seven fences in the back straight, the last three of which are known as the Railway Fences and are situated close together, sure to test any horses' ability to get into a jumping rhythm.

The hurdles course is often more testing than the chase course during winter months, with gruelling slow-motion finishes quite often the order of the day.

The wide nature of the home straight at Sandown gives the leaders plenty of opportunity to get lonely in front and races often change dramatically late on.

Enclosures and Viewing Areas

• Grandstand Enclosure
• Premier Enclosure
• 1875 Lounge

Key Races at Sandown

Scilly Isles Novices' Chase

The Scilly Isles Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase over 2m4f. The race is only open to novice chasers and they need to jump 17 fences. The race takes place in late January or early February, with trainer Nicky Henderson having won it a record six times.

Celebration Chase

The Celebration Chase is another Grade 1 contest, taking place of 1m7f. Horses aged five or older can enter the contest and the likes of Altior, Sprinter Sacre and Jonbon have won it in the last decade.

Eclipse Stakes

Sandown's summer highlight is the Eclipse Stakes in early July, a generational clash that often sees the Classic-generation three-year-olds staring down their older rivals for the first time in Group 1 company.

The race takes place in July each year over 1m1f and Aidan O'Brien has secured eight wins in the race, the most for a trainer.

Tingle Creek Chase

Over jumps, the undoubted highlighted comes in early December via the Tingle Creek Chase – one of Britain's pre-eminent two-mile chases and a contest rich in history.

Thirteen fences need to be navigated over a 2m trip.

Sandown Racecourse history

Sandown Park was the first purpose-built racecourse with enclosures, designed to be a leisure destination and it was one of the first courses to charge all for attending, opening in 1875.

The first meeting was a mixed flat and jumps meeting over three days, while in January 1948, the BBC broadcast two steeplechases and a hurdle race from Sandown, which was the first time horse racing was shown live on television anywhere in the world.