5 Most Scenic US Racecourses

Going for a day at the races is one of the best experiences that any sport can provide with a whole day’s entertainment taken care of, from the hospitality side of things to the racing and betting action that gets underway from the opening race of the day; all the way through to the last. So it’s not just the huge well-known races that get people excited about the racing here, with people swinging by for the regular meets that take place most weekends and which see plenty of tips used to back thoroughbreds who seem to flourish in this most wonderful of settings.

One of the aspects of a race day that can truly stand out, though, is the course’s setting, as crowds of spectators are taken to new places and environments that they never knew existed. Here we seek out the most scenic and stunning racecourses that exist in the US today. Who knows, after reading about them you may be inspired to go and visit a few yourself.

Part of the beauty of heading to a day at the races is taking in the fresh air and surrounding countryside, as horses charge towards the winner’s enclosure

Santa Anita Park – Stunning Mountain Backdrop

Part of what makes a racecourse great is its backdrop and few are quite as awe inspiring as the San Gabriel Mountains, which overlook this racecourse that was first founded way back in 1907. Sports bettors and online tipsters know the course well because it has been the site of some of the most famous moments in US racing history, the latest of which was Justify completing the Triple Crown here in 2018. However,

Ruidoso Downs – New Mexico Spice

Santa Anita has mountains in the distance, whereas Ruidoso Downs is actually set among the mountains themselves, sitting pretty amidst the Sacramento Mountains. The course’s specialty is Quarter Horse Racing, whereby horses and their jockeys race at high speeds over short and straight distances. Indeed, Ruidoso Downs boasts the richest Quarter Horse race in the world. Not bad for a place where it is commonplace for onlookers to sit on grass verges in the shade provided by proud old pine trees.

Some inner-city tracks tend to be dirt or sand based rather than grass, which should be taken into account by betting punters

Del Mar – Movie Stars and Ocean Views

This Southern California track is unique, not only because it was found by Bill Crosby, but also because it gives incredible sea vistas that few other tracks in the world can compete with. Add in the fact that this is the course of choice for California’s jet set and celebrities, and this is one venue that always has something going on. To match the course’s theme of being close enough to the waves to feel the sea spray on your face, Crosby’s song “When the Surf Meets the Turf” usually rings around the course just before it is time for the races to get underway.

Keeneland – Stately Home Turned Racecourse

Keeneland is like the backdrop for a period drama rather than a place where elite level racehorses tear around a track, but that is the alure of this course, situated as it is in Kentucky. It is a particularly picturesque venue to visit in Autumn as the trees by the starting gates turn myriad shades of gold, creating just about as dramatic backdrop to a race as a sports bettor or equine enthusiast could ever wish for.

Saratoga – The Unofficial Home of US Racing

The ancient grandstand here is known affectionately as “The Spa” and is without doubt one of the most iconic stands anywhere in the racing world. Its gantries overlook a lush and green track whose surrounds are as equally beguiling. Because the town of Saratoga is so crazy about horses, visitors will always be sure to find a fellow horse lover to talk through the form guide with.