Chester Racecourse

CHESTER city's racecourse is the oldest in the country and, at just over a mile around, is the smallest in the UK.

The racecourse is known as The Roodee, a name derived from the Saxon word Rood meaning a cross and the Norse Eye meaning an island: The Island of the Cross. In Saxon times the site was all but covered by the Dee except for a small island with a stone cross.

Horseracing was first officially organised on the site in the 16th century after the silting up of the River Dee exposed an 85-acre water meadow.

Through the centuries Chester Races have always met on the same, original course. And as well as laying claim to being the oldest and smallest racecourse, Chester is a challenge to the jockeys. The run-in off the final bend is just 230 yards - the shortest of all the UK racecourses.

The founding father of Chester Races is said to be Henry Gee, a Mayor of Chester during the reign of Henry VIII. Although he died in 1545 his name lives on in the often used nickname for racehorses: Gee-Gees.

Racing takes place 11 days a year. When there's no race meeting, the course facilities are often used to host functions such as conferences, weddings and antique fairs.