Bath Racecourse sits high on Lansdown Hill above the city, making it Britain's highest Flat track at around 780 feet above sea level. That elevation, combined with the absence of a watering system, means the ground dries quickly and often rides on the firm side in summer. The course is a left‑handed, kidney‑shaped oval of a mile, four furlongs and 25 yards, with a long, steadily rising home straight that tests stamina and balance. The back straight falls gently from the seven‑furlong start, the home turn is sharp and cambered, and the run‑in climbs almost all the way to the line, so horses that commit too early can get caught late.

Racing on Lansdown dates back to 1811, though the city's racing history goes back to 1728. The Somerset Stakes was once the centrepiece of the calendar, and the course has grown from a single two‑day meeting to roughly nineteen to twenty‑two fixtures a year between April and October. During the Second World War it was used as RAF North Stoke, and in the 1950s it was the site of the notorious Francasal substitution plot. Modern redevelopment, most recently in 2015–16, has upgraded facilities while keeping the relaxed, countryside feel that suits its hilltop setting.

The place has a distinctive atmosphere: open views across Somerset, a breezy, exposed feel, and racing that tends to be honest and well‑run because of the track’s shape. It attracts a mix of locals and visitors from Bath itself, and its scenic location makes it as popular for hospitality, weddings and summer events as for the racing.

Winners at Bath (1)