Kelso Races

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1M+2L advance and retire 2 steps and dance DoSiDo
9-16 1L+2M advance and retire 2 steps and dance DoSiDo
17-24 1s cast behind 2s, lead down between 3s and cast back to 2nd places
25-32 2s+1s+3s (in circle formation) advance and retire and turn partners RH

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Kelso Races - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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Dance Information

Horse racing in the Kelso area dates back to 1734, with early meetings held at Caverton Edge. In 1822, the Duke of Roxburghe established a new racecourse at Berrymoss, laying the foundation stone on 12 July. The first race meeting at this site occurred on 16 April 1823. The original grandstand, designed by architect John Carr, remains in use and is recognised as a Category A listed building due to its historical significance.

The racecourse comprises two left-handed tracks: a chase track measuring approximately 1 mile and 600 yards, and a hurdle course of about 1 mile and 330 yards. A notable feature is the challenging uphill run-in of 2 furlongs. Within the centre of the racecourse lies Kelso Golf Club, an 18-hole course that was initially designed as a nine-hole course by Ben Sayers and later expanded by James Braid in 1930.

Kelso Racecourse hosts several significant races, including the Morebattle Hurdle, Scotland's most valuable hurdle race, and the Premier Novices' Hurdle, a Grade 2 event. The Buccleuch Cup, established in 1885 for maiden hunters, is the longest-standing race at the venue. In 2023, the racecourse celebrated its bicentennial season, marking 200 years since its establishment.

The racecourse is managed by Kelso Races Ltd., with Jonathan Garratt serving as the managing director and Mark Hunter as the chairman. The company was incorporated on 17 March 1928 under the name The United Border Hunt Steeplechases (Kelso) Limited and adopted its current name on 18 December 1951.

Kelso Racecourse has been recognised for its excellence, receiving accolades such as the Best Small Racecourse in Scotland and the North of England in multiple years. The venue continues to be a prominent fixture in the National Hunt racing calendar, attracting enthusiasts from across the region.

Kelso Races

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