The track is left-handed undulating course with a sharp bend into the home straight.

The course was originally a horseshoe of 1½ miles, but in 1983, it was converted into a full circuit of about 2m ½f.

Racing is recorded as having taken place in Pontefract as early as 1648, just before the local Castle was taken by the forces of Oliver Cromwell.

Pontefract installed a photo finish in 1952 and was also the first English course to have a dope testing facility.

[2] The course traditionally began its afternoon race meetings at 2.45 pm – later than most other courses – so that miners at the adjacent colliery could finish the morning shift in time to go racing.