9 top homes that are ideally placed for a day at the races

If you love the excitement of a day at the races, why not turn it into a regular event by finding a home near one of Britain’s 59 racecourses? From a house within walking distance of Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree to a mansion minutes from Royal Ascot, here’s our pick of the runners and riders.

The former Rowntree’s sweet factory has been restored and converted into luxury homes with high ceilings, large windows, communal landscaped gardens and a concierge. It’s a short walk from the city centre, and York Racecourse, ranked the best in the UK by the Racehorse Owners’ Association, is under two miles away. Two-bedroom apartments are ready to move into and available for shared ownership to first-time and other buyers who can’t afford 100% of a mortgage. They purchase a share while paying rent on the rest and can increase their stake later. Visit The Cocoa Works

These new two, three and four-bedroom houses are part of a development overlooking Ffos Las Racecourse, which hosts Welsh horse racing. All include ground-floor cloakrooms and solar PV panels to generate electricity, and the larger properties come with utility rooms, ensuite bathrooms and, in some cases, a study or garage. By Dandara

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Aintree Racecourse, where the Grand National takes place, is a short walk from this well-maintained semi-detached house. The main bedroom has an ensuite shower room, and there are three further bedrooms, a family bathroom, a generously-sized kitchen and a bay-windowed living room that flows into a dining room with double doors out to the garden. Through Purplebricks

Move to this modern townhouse to experience the thrill of the races from the comfort of your sofa, as the balcony of the first-floor reception room is right next to the track at Newbury Racecourse. It includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen and dining area, a utility room, and tons of storage. Get in touch with Chancellors

This elegant period house is arranged over four floors and boasts beautifully proportioned rooms, original features and a south-facing walled garden. All five bedrooms are doubles, and there are four bathrooms, three reception rooms and uninterrupted views over Musselburgh Racecourse, the oldest in Scotland. From Coulters via ESPC

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You’ll find this restored and extended 1930s house a stone’s throw from Epsom Downs Racecourse, where The Derby is held in June. Offering over 4,700 square feet of accommodation, it sits in a plot of nearly an acre and includes five bedrooms, five bathrooms and seven reception rooms, plus a tennis court and outdoor swimming pool. There’s direct access to Epsom Downs for walking, cycling and horse riding. Get the lowdown from Knight Frank

Brandreth, a five-bedroom country house, is minutes from Southwell Racecourse, one of the busiest in the country. Not that you’ll be short of things to do here as the multiple reception rooms lend themselves to entertaining. The five acres of grounds will appeal to the green-fingered as they include productive vegetable and fruit gardens, a greenhouse and pasture land. Unwind in the library, with a drink on the terrace or a workout in the leisure wing, which contains a fully equipped gym and a large indoor swimming pool. Contact Fine & Country

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The layout of York House, a luxury new build perched on the slopes of a hill, is reversed to make the most of the views of Cheltenham Racecourse, just two miles away. Six bedroom suites are on the ground floor, with five reception rooms above, which are all finished with meticulous attention to detail. The kitchen is fitted with premium Gaggenau appliances, a terrace wraps around the sitting room and there’s a snug/cinema room, a study and a music room, also with its own private terrace. Through Knight Frank

For a purchaser with a big enough budget, Woodside Park has to be a leading contender. Set in 55 acres of private parkland, this 9,760 square foot Queen Anne-style mansion is convenient for Royal Ascot and Windsor and provides complete seclusion. A 48-foot drawing room is one of several reception rooms, and it incorporates seven bedrooms, a yoga studio, formal gardens, a lodge and staff quarters. About the only thing that’s missing is a swimming pool – and planning permission has been granted to build one. Via DDRE Global

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