This is a very big expanse of water (25 acres) situated as you have probably guessed by the name above, right in the middle of the racecourse. It is a deep water with 14 ft nearest one of the 2 islands.
Most areas offer at least 7 ft, down to 12 ft nearest the roadside. There are no facilities available and some of the pegs can be a substantial walk from the parking areas. There is disabled access to some of the pegs, but many of the furthest pegs are not suitable for anglers with disabilities. The water is run very well by the Ripon Piscatorial Association.
There are two islands within the water and tend to be targeted by the carp anglers who tend to be in the majority on this water. The carp present run to over 32lb and specimen tactics with boilies account for the majority of the fish caught. The Ripon Angling Centre is the place to go to find out which baits are taking the most fish.
There are a number of big bream present to 8lb, which tend to upset the carp anglers by taking their carefully presented boilie baits. There are also good tench present that run to 7lb 8oz and as with most tench show better first and last thing to worm and corn fished next to the reed beds.
There are a handful of chub in the water that tend to show up in and amongst the shoal of roach and perch. The latter reach a little over 2lbs in weight whilst the chub are a little larger at 3lb. During the winter months there are a number of pike to high doubles but they can be a little hard to find. Both lures worked alongside a feature and the usual sea dead baits are worth a go. Follow the shoal fish and the wind to help in finding these fish.