Right before the forces of Oliver Cromwell seized the local Castle, racing has been recorded in Pontefract since 1648 in the meadows near the town. However, meetings were discontinued by 1769 and only resumed in 1801. The racecourse is located in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England, situated just half a mile from Junction 32 of the M62. Links with the A1, M1, and M18 are all within 10 miles of the racecourse.

In 1952, they installed a photo finish, having the first English course with a dope testing facility. It is an independently-owned thoroughbred horse racing venue owned by Pontefract Park Race Company Ltd. Also, it is one of the longest continuous flat racing circuits in Europe and allowed it to stage one of the longest races in the calendar at 2 miles 5 furlongs 133 yards.

The course traditionally commenced its afternoon race meetings at 2.45 pm so that miners at the adjacent colliery could finish the morning shift in time to go racing; however, it changed until the colliery closed in 2002. It stages 16 flat race meetings between April and October of each calendar year, including 3 Family Sunday afternoons, three evenings, and ten midweek afternoons.