Nuwara Eliya Racecourse

The Nuwara Eliya Racecourse sits in the centre of town, and even without racing it is a pleasant open green space. The course is flat and surrounded by a trim white fence, with the grandstand on the eastern side and the hills rising behind. The colonial pavilion is handsome in a faded way.

The April race season is the best time to visit, when the Colombo racing set descends on Nuwara Eliya and the town comes alive. During this period, finding accommodation requires advance planning. Outside race season, the course is open and you can walk the track freely. Local cricket matches and other events use the grounds throughout the year.

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A story
Nuwara Eliya Racecourse is the only remaining horse racing venue in Sri Lanka. Racing was once popular across the island — Colombo, Kandy, and several other towns had courses — but by the late 20th century all had closed except Nuwara Eliya. The April race meeting coincides with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, turning the town into a festival for several weeks.

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