Exeter

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Directions to stable yard

 Stables: Esso, A38, Haldon Hill, Kennford, Exeter EX6 7XS

 Exeter sits high on the Haldon Hills, about 850 feet above sea level, which makes it the highest racecourse in Britain. It's a right‑handed National Hunt track, long, undulating and a genuine stamina test, with a circuit of about two miles and a reputation for being fair but demanding. The fences are well‑spaced and include open ditches and a water jump, and the course has long been known locally as Haldon because of its hilltop setting.

Racing here goes back to at least the mid‑17th century, part of the wave of courses encouraged by Charles II's enthusiasm for the sport. Records show meetings in 1804 and detailed accounts from 1819, and the place was busy enough in the early 19th century to attract runners from all over the country. It was still known as Devon and Exeter until the 1990s. One of the more unusual historical footnotes is the last duel in Devon, fought on the racecourse in 1833, when Dr Peter Hennis was fatally wounded.

The course's popularity has risen and fallen over the centuries, with a lull around 1850 and a break during the Second World War, but it remains a well‑supported jumps venue today. It stages around seventeen fixtures a year, including the Haldon Gold Cup, and has a friendly, local feel despite its exposed, dramatic setting.