Chester Racecourse, Chester (must see)

Chester Racecourse is the oldest operating racecourse in the world. The 65-acre racecourse dates to 1539. Horseracing began at the racecourse after the infamously violent Goteddsday football match in 1533 caused the game to be banned in the city. The football field was turned into a horse racing ring in 1539.

Locals refer to Chester Racecourse as the Roodee. The name comes from a small cross in the center of a field. Roodee refers to "Roode Eye," which means "The Island of the Cross." A legend states that this cross is the site of the burial of a statue of the Virgin Mary.

The legend states that Lady Trawst, the wife of the Governor of Hawarden, went to church to pray for rain. Her prayers were answered by a tremendous thunderstorm that caused the statue to fall on her, killing her. The statue was found guilty by a jury of 12 men and was sentenced to burial. If the legend is true, it would be the first recorded case of a jury being used in a court.

The first recorded race was held on 9 February 1539 with the consent of the Mayor Henry Gee, whose name led to the use of the term "gee-gee" for horses. During its early days, races were held on Shrove Tuesday until 1609, and later on St George's Day. Both Shrove Tuesday and St George's Day were major festivals during the medieval period. Winners were awarded the "Chester Bells" which is a set of decorative bells for decorating the horse's bridle.

Today the one-mile long racecourse see regular races throughout the year. The racecourse's location in the city makes race meetings at Chester very popular as it is only a short stroll to the hotels, bars, shops and restaurants.