Chester Racecourse, known universally as the Roodee, is recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest racecourse still in operation anywhere in the world. Racing has been recorded here since 1539.

The name comes from “Rood Eye” – the island of the cross – after the fragment of a stone cross that still stands on the raised mound in the middle of the course. Before it was a racecourse it was a Roman harbour, serving the fortress of Deva Victrix until the Dee silted up and left the ground flat and open, which is the only reason a track of this shape exists here at all.

The circuit lies in a bend of the river, tight against the western side of the city walls. At just over a mile round it is the smallest course of any real significance in England, and the home straight measures only 239 yards. That makes it a genuine specialist test: the near-continuous turns favour handy, quick-actioned horses that can hold a position from the start, and they regularly catch out big galloping types shipped in from wider, flatter tracks.

The May Festival is the highlight of the racing year, with the Chester Cup and the Chester Vase among the races that traditionally point towards the Derby. Race days transform the city – hotels and restaurants fill months in advance and the centre is busy from lunchtime on, so it is worth knowing the dates whether you are coming for the racing or trying to avoid it.

One quirk is worth passing on: because the course sits directly below the city walls, you can watch a good part of any meeting for nothing from the ramparts along the western stretch, with a clear view right across the circuit.

Official website: www.chester-races.co.uk