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Fakenham Races

Fakenham’s racecourse is almost square, left-handed and with a full racing distance of around a mile. The first race was held in 1905.

Amateur film 1939 2 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for East Anglian Film Archive

Overview

The Prince of Wales is patron to Fakenham Racecourse and the Queen Mother visited the course in 2000, her 100th year. As the popularity of steeplechasing declined, hurdle racing was introduced in 1926 and continues today. After an enforced break during the war when Newmarket’s July course was the only operational course in Britain, racing resumed in 1947 at Fakenham, which is one of only two courses where owners are not required to pay a fee to enter their horse in a race.

Fakenham racecourse lies to the south of the Norfolk market town of Fakenham, separated from the town by the River Wensum on its way to Norwich and the east coast. In 1965, land on the racecourse site was leased for the development of a Sports centre with a golf course, tennis and squash courts for the local community and visitors to the racing fixtures.