OR CALL
FOR ALL NUMBERS DIAL PONTEFRACT AREA CODE (01977):
ADMIN OFFICE: 781307 | BANQUETING SUITE: 781851.
OR CALL
FOR ALL NUMBERS DIAL PONTEFRACT AREA CODE (01977):
ADMIN OFFICE: 781307 | BANQUETING SUITE: 781851.
We offer a dedicated service for all Owners & Trainers at Pontefract.
Should you have any question relating to:
then please email us or give us a call on 01977 781307.
We are continually striving to improve so do please let us know if we can do anything to improve your day out with us.
If you have any feedback for the team, or should you not be able to find the information that you require on this section of the website, then please get in touch.
We’re looking forward to welcoming Owners and Trainers to Pontefract.
Whether it’s your first time at the course, or you’re a seasoned regular, please click on the ‘quick’ tabs below to discover how your day at Pontefract might look.
For more detailed information, please click on the more detailed information contained in the sections below.
The Owners & Trainers Car Park and Entrance has moved for 2026 and is now Stands’ side rather than in the centre of the course.
The new Owners and Trainers Car Park is in the parking field closest to the Racecourse Entrance (please follow signs on arrival). The new Owners and Trainers entrance is located next to the entrance to the Dalby Stand.
If you have any accessibility requirements, please do give us a call on 01977 781307 or email owners@pontefract-races.co.uk and we can arrange a parking space close to the entrance.
Car Parking staff will be on hand to welcome you to Pontefract.
On arrival Owners will be given:
Owners will have a badge allocation of 6 badges per runner (or 12 with no meal vouchers). If you would like additional badges then please let us know in advance. Additional badges will be charged at £10 each and will not include a food voucher.
We’d appreciate it if you could please register your attendance via the PASS system at www.rcapass.com. For assistance with this, please contact the PASS helpdesk on 01933 270333.
Please bring your PASS card with you on the day.
Owners and Trainers will have a dedicated area in the Owners & Trainers Lounge and the new Owners & Trainers Bar.
The Owners & Trainers Lounge is on the ground floor of the Park Suite building and will serve a buffet lunch, complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits during each race meeting.
There is a full bar service available in the Owners & Trainers Bar on the ground floor of the Dalby Stand.
Please note, food vouchers are redeemable in the Owners and Trainers Lounge only (not the Bar)
One of the highlights of the day is the trip to the Parade Ring before the race to see your superstar before they take to the track.
The Parade Ring area has a strict safety capacity and there may be some restrictions if there are a large number of owners in any one race.
The Winners Enclosure will be used for the Winning Horse and Winning Connections only, with presentations taking place after the race.
There is a tote betting point in the Owners bar.
We want to make sure you have an enjoyable day from start to finish.
The Racecourse is located just 1/2 mile from Junction 32 of the M62.
Heading towards Pontefract Town Centre from the motorway, you’ll pass the Racecourse on the right hand side with the main entrance signposted at the roundabout.
If you’d prefer to arrange a taxi to bring you to the Racecourse, then we would recommend the following local taxi companies:
Data Cars – 01977 600680
Slatters Taxis – 01977 705674
Action Cars – 01977 703333
Ponty Cars – 01977 699121
If you are thinking of booking a taxi to bring you, or pick you up from the Racecourse, we would advise booking early.
Helicopter landings are available in Pontefract Park. If you’re planning on arriving via helicopter, please contact us for details.
The Owners & Trainers Car Park and Entrance has moved for 2026 and is now Stands’ side rather than in the centre of the course.
The new Owners and Trainers Car Park is in the parking field closest to the Racecourse Entrance (please follow signs on arrival).
The new Owners and Trainers entrance is located next to the entrance to the Dalby Stand.
If you have any accessibility requirements, please do give us a call on 01977 781307 or email owners@pontefract-races.co.uk and we can arrange a parking space close to the entrance.
The PASS system for Owners will operate at every race meeting in Pontefract.
During 2026, Andrew Sheppard will be looking after the PASS and Owners Entrance at Pontefract.
Diane Rush will assist Andy, operating as our Owners & Trainers liaison.
She will be based in the vicinity of the Owners & Trainers Entrance, Owners & Trainers Lounge and Bar and will be happy to answer any queries that you may have.
If you need information on the layout of the Course, or need a booking in any of our Restaurants or would like a taxi ordering, then please speak to Diane and she’ll be happy to arrange this for you.
If you’re coming to Pontefract as an Owner and need more badges than the standard allocation, please do give us a call (01977 781307) or send us an email and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
Owners can make arrangements for their badges by using the new PASS card concierge service at https://www.rcapass.com or by emailing owners@pontefract-races.co.uk.
Single Owner
If you are the sole owner of the horse, then you are entitled to 6 Owners Badges.
Joint Owner
If your horse is owned by more than one person in a Joint Ownership or Partnership, then you are entitled to 6 Owners Badges or 8+ with prior arrangement.
If there is a big syndicate and you would like to purchase additional badges, then these are available £10 each (no meal voucher). Please email a list of your badge requirements to owners@pontefract-races.co.uk and we’ll make sure that they are waiting for you when you arrive.
NTF Trainers with a declared runner are entitled to 2 complimentary badges.
If you need any further information, please contact us on 01977 781307 or by email.
We are striving to improve all our facilities for Owners & Trainers, so if you have any suggestions for improvement, please do let us know.
The Owners and Trainers Lounge (on the ground floor of the Park Suite) was fully renovated in 2019 and almost tripled in size.
The Owners and Trainers facility is well signposted and serves a buffet lunch complimentary tea, coffee and light refreshments.
New for 2026 is the Owners and Trainers Bar, on the ground floor of the Dalby Stand. Please note that meal vouchers are only redeemable in the Owners and Trainers Lounge (not the Bar)
Please could Owners or Trainers with additional accessibility requirements telephone the Racecourse on 01977 781307. We can then arrange for a parking space to be reserved for you and assistance with entry if required.
A full accessibility statement can be found here.
The Racecourse Stables are located on a separate site to the Racecourse, just over the hill behind the Main Stands. There are 112 stables and the stable yard also houses a Veterinary Treatment Area, horse showers and kit lockers for Stable Staff.
If you would like to contact the Stables directly, please contact our head groundsman Martin Follows on (01977) 702323.
Trainers with runners requiring overnight stabling should send an email by clicking here.
Overnight stabling request forms should be emailed to info@pontefract-races.co.uk
The canteen and stables hostel has recently been refurbished.
We are hugely appreciative of the hard work of all the racing staff in the racing yards up and down the country.
Racing TV can be viewed in both the canteen and the Day Room in the hostel.
Attention Trainers, Owners, Stable Staff and Track Specialists!
New to Pontefract for the 2025 season is the Chaiman’s Challenge. ANY horse achieving three wins at ‘Ponte’ will unlock a bounty of £3000, with an additional £1000 on offer for any further victories!
The trainer of any horse to achieve the feat will be rewarded with a race sponsorship and use of a private box facility with badges included for them and their owners at the season finale on Monday 20th October (or at the 2026 season opener should the third victory be achieved on the final day of the season).
The stable staff at the yard of any horse recording three victories will receive a £500 prize.
As an additional prize there is £1000 up for grabs for the owners of the horse who makes the most individual appearances at Pontefract in the 2025 season, with a £250 prize for the stable staff of the yard.
William Bethell, Chairman of Pontefract Racecourse, said:
“It’s a very nice initiative to reward those who return regularly to support the racecourse and to give Owners and Trainers an additional incentive to come to Pontefract. It’s always nice to see previous winners return and hopefully, as the season progresses, we will see more do so”.
Pontefract Races CEO and Clerk of the Course, Jonathan Mullin said:
“We’re very grateful for the fantastic support we receive from Owners, Trainers and Stable Staff who are regular visitors to Pontefract and we wanted to do something to reward that support.
“The Chairman’s Challenge provides a good incentive for previous winners to return and together with the prize for the horse who makes the most appearances, it will hopefully make for an interesting narrative across the season”.
Who will be the first to make it to three?
If you’re thinking of staying over while visiting Pontefract, we would recommend the following nearby hotels:
4 or 5*
Rogerthorpe Manor – approximately 5 miles from the Racecourse
Oulton Hall – about 20 minutes from the Racecourse
Waterton Park Hotel – about 15 minutes from the Racecourse
Wentbridge House Hotel – within 10 miles of the course
3* or budget
The Premier Inn at Leeds/Castleford – Xscape, approximately 1 1/2 miles from the Racecourse
The Cedar Court Hotel – about 10 miles from the Racecourse
Travelodge Pontefract Ferrybridge A1/M62
Or, rent a whole house to yourself! Why not stay at Farmer Copley’s Farmhouse, accommodates up to 8 people!
Find out more – The Farmhouse | Farmer Copleys