the track itself. Flat handicap race the Ayr Gold Cup is run over six furlongs every September, with eight races taking place throughout the day. Characteristics Flat Flat races at Ayr are run over the following distances: 5 furlongs 6 furlongs 7 furlongs 50 yards 1 mile 1 mile 1 furlong 20 yards 10 furlongs 1 mile 2 furlongs 192 yards (disused) 1 mile 5 furlongs 13 yards 1 mile 7 furlongs 2 miles 1 furlong 105 yards The track is a left-handed oval of 12 furlongs including a half mile run in. A six furlong chute joins the round track after just over a furlong. The course is generally flat, with gentle undulations, particularly in the straight. The turns are well graded and it can be regarded as basically a fair track. The turn approaching the straight is slightly downhill, and those prominent can gain an advantage once in line for home. Sprints are held over the straight course. It is a particularly wide course which allows sprints to have fields of up to 28. The jumps course is left-handed with nine fences. There is a steady downhill run to the home turn and a gentle rise to the finish. There is a run-in of 210 yards after the last. Hurdle races are run over distances of: 2 miles 1 furlong 2 miles 4 furlongs 2 miles 6 furlongs 3 miles 110 yards 3 miles 2 furlongs 110 yards 3 miles 3 furlongs 110 yards Chases are run over: 2 miles 2 miles 4 furlongs 2 miles 5 furlongs 110 yards 3 miles 1 furlong 3 miles 2 furlongs 110 yards 3 miles 3 furlongs 110 yards 3 miles 5 furlongs 4 miles 110 yards (Scottish National) The jumps course is a left-handed one and a half mile circuit with nine fences. It runs downhill to the home turn and thereafter there is a gentle rise to the finish, a run-in of 210 yards. Conditions can get extremely gruelling. Facilities The paddock stand at Ayr is named the Rothesay Stand in honour of Charles and Camilla, Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. Awards Ayr has been voted Best Racecourse in Scotland and the North East nineteen times by the Racegoers Club, including nine years in a row up until 2013. It has also won the Neil Wyatt Ground Staff Award for the Best Dual Purpose Course twice – in 1996