Earliest meeting: Saturday 7th April 1923
Final meeting: Saturday 14th April 1956
From 1923 to the final meeting in 1956 the Beaufort Hunt race meetings took place close to the village of Alderton. Given that Alderton and Sherston are in close proximity there is every chance that there was some overlap between the two courses. The Beaufort Hunt is known to have been in existence since at least 1786 when the then 5th Duke of Beaufort had a pack of hounds. However, it took almost another hundred years before the Hunt Committee organised its own steeplechase meeting. At the inaugural meeting at Alderton on Saturday 7th April 1923 the Prince of Wales had 5 entries and had little luck in the second race when his mount Little Christy refused at the first fence. However, he made amends in the Twelfth Royal Lancers race when riding Kinlark. His horse pecked at the second last fence and was denied by only half a length at the line, but was then awarded the race in the Stewards Room when the first past the post rider Mr McCreedy, riding Anne Diamond, failed to make the weight.  Except for a break during the Second World War, the annual Beaufort Hunt Steeplechase was held at Alderton. The final meeting took place on Saturday 14th April 1956 when a certain John Lawrence, later to become Lord Oaksey, rode at the meeting claiming 7 lbs.

This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.

Open Hunters Steeplechase, 12th Royal Lancers Challenge Cup, Badminton Handicap Chase

Saturday 17th April 1926

Beaufort Open Hunt Steeplechase over 2 ½ miles
1. Corfe Castle owned by Mrs McCowen
2. Snapper owned by Major T.H.Sebag-Montefiore
3. May King owned by Lord Ednam

The Beaufort Hunt Cup over 3 miles
1. Fuglebird owned by Mrs M.Currie
2. Rajah II owned by Miss P.Broadbent
3. Biggin Hill owned by Mrs L.Tate

12th Royal Lancers Challenge Cup
1. Foxtrot owned by Captain H.Lumsden
2. Annie Darling owned by Captain R.L.McCreery
3. Merry Boy III owned by Mr W.S.McCreery

Saturday 7th April 1923
Twelfth Royal Lancers over 3 miles
1. Kinlark, owned and ridden by The Prince of Wales
2. Prospect II, owned by Lt. Colonel Brighton
3. Miss Mooretown, owned by Mr A McBean
Anne Diamond, ridden by Mr McCreedy was first passed the post but disqualified.
Betting 4/6 Anne Diamond, 5/2 Kinlark, 6/1 Bar

The Beaufort Hunt continue to hold successful point to point meetings at Oldbury on the Hill.

Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-

London Illustrated News

Racing Illustrated 1895-1899

The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated

Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough

The Sporting Magazine

A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8

Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses