The very first race in Hamilton was in 1782 at a site in Chatelherault, situated just outside the town. In 1785, the course has 3 racing fixtures and staged jump racing until 1907 when the course closed.

In 1926, racing moved to our current location on Bothwell Road having raised £100,000 to revive racing. The racecourse opened with a two-day meeting on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 July 1926 with 30,000 racegoers attending on the Friday which was greatly exceeded on the Saturday.

The revival of racing at Hamilton Park made it one of the newest courses in the country and became the second course in Lanarkshire – with Lanark Racecourse later closing in 1977.

Hamilton Park was the first racecourse in the country to stage an evening meeting in 1947, something that is now common place throughout the industry. A Trust was formed in 1973 to secure racing at Hamilton Park at all time.

Recent Awards

2019 was a ground-breaking year at Hamilton Park accompanied by an array of prestigious and sought-after industry awards.

ROA Gold Standard Award holders since 2008
VisitScotland 5 Star Visitor Attraction
RCA Showcase - Winner - Operational Excellence - Hotel development project
RCA Showcase - Finalist - Racing Post Readers' Award

ROA Gold Standard Award holders since 2008
VisitScotland 5 Star Visitor Attraction
RCA Showcase - Winner - Showcase Champion and #TopSpot Award
RCA Showcase - Finalist - Operational Excellence and Food & Beverage
Racegoers Club - Winner - Best Small Racecourse in Scotland & The North

RCA Showcase - Winner - Owners' Experience
RCA Showcase - Finalist - Operational Excellence
RCA Showcase - Finalist - #TopSpot Award

VisitScotland 4 Star Visitor Attraction
RCA Showcase - Finalist - Best Campaign & Best Event
IOG Annual Awards - Finalist - Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year

VisitScotland 4 Star Visitor Attraction
RCA Showcase - Winner - Racing Post Readers' Award for Customer Experience. Finalist - Operational Excellence
ROA Annual Awards - Finalist - Best Small Racecourse
IOG Annual Awards - Runner Up - Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year

Visit Lanarkshire 4 Star Visitor Attraction
Ground Staff of the Year - Best Flat Course in UK
Racecourse Catering Awards - Best Fast Food Mobile Experience at a Racecourse and Most Effective Brand at a Racecourse
RCA Showcase - Finalist - Corporate Social Responsibility, All About the Horse

Visit Lanarkshire 4 Star Visitor Attraction
Racecourse Catering Awards - Scottish Racecourse Caterer of the Year, Best Fast Food Mobile Experience at a Racecouse and Best Supplier for Equi's Ice Cream
RCA Showcase - Finalist - Owners' and Trainers' Experience
Lanarkshire Business Excellence Award - Winner - Tourism

Visit Lanarkshire 4 Star Visitor Attraction

VisitScotland 4 Star Visitor Attraction
RCA Showcase - Winner - Raceday Experience
Top 25 Best Places to Work in Scotland
Lanarkshire Business Excellence Award - Winner - Tourism

VisitScotland 4 Star Visitor Attraction
RCA Showcase - Winner - Events (JLS Concert)