Fontwell

 directions
Jumps:


Directions to stable yard

 Stables: The Old Stables, Fontwell Park, Fontwell, Fontwell Ave, Arundel BN18 0SY

 Fontwell Park Racecourse is a unique and historic horse racing venue situated in the heart of the West Sussex countryside, near Arundel and Chichester in England. Established in 1924, it is highly celebrated within British horse racing for being exclusively dedicated to National Hunt jump racing and for housing the United Kingdom's only remaining figure-of-eight steeplechase track. This distinctive layout was originally designed by the course's founder to maximize the limited space available on the site, creating a highly technical challenge for jockeys and an exceptionally close, engaging viewing experience for spectators. While the steeplechase course crosses over itself in this signature pattern, the venue also features a traditional oval hurdles track.

The racecourse was founded by Alfred Day, a horse trainer who moved to the area in 1887. Day revived the name Fontwell after discovering it on a 1630 map, referencing a local spring that the Romans had originally called Fons and medieval monks later called Fontwell. When the course opened for its first meeting in May 1924, Day incorporated beautifully landscaped topiary gardens and a maze modeled after the one at Versailles, which established a distinct, garden-like charm that the venue retains today. In its early days, even the grandstand and the weighing room featured picturesque thatched roofs.

Fontwell holds a special place in royal racing history. In October 1949, it was the site of the very first victory for Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, as a racehorse owner. Her horse, Monaveen, which she co-owned with the Queen Mother, won the Chichester Handicap Chase, an achievement commemorated today by a topiary statue in the main enclosure. The track also famously witnessed jockey John Francome break the record for the most career National Hunt wins in 1984.

Today, Fontwell Park is owned by the Arena Racing Company and hosts over twenty race meetings throughout the year. Its undisputed feature event is the National Spirit Hurdle, a Grade 2 race held in February that serves as a recognized trial for the prestigious Cheltenham Festival. The race is named after the legendary dual Champion Hurdler National Spirit, who won numerous times at Fontwell in the late 1940s. Known for its intimate, friendly atmosphere and a testing uphill finish that demands true stamina from the horses, Fontwell regularly attracts tens of thousands of racing fans annually while also operating as a popular West Sussex venue for weddings, conferences, and community events.