Earliest meeting: Thursday 3rd June 1728
Final meeting: Friday 15th September 1758
The Lincolnshire town of Alford, which is some 13 miles north-west of Skegness, lies at the tip of the Lincolnshire Wolds and first held races in 1728. The town currently has a population of approximately 3500 and boasts a number of important local attractions, including the Manor House which claims to be the largest thatched building in the country. Alford also has a unique 5-sailed mill which was built in 1837 by the millwright Sam Oxley. At one time the town had a railway station forming part of the Grimsby to Boston line but, along with so many, it suffered the Beeching axe. Ironically, near the old railway station is the quaintly named Beeching Industrial Estate. The first meeting was held on Thursday 3rd June 1728 when both the Duke of Ancaster and Lord Essex had runners in the principal race, with the Duke’s Pert winning the race. Nobility continued to support the meeting for the next 30 years before a final 3-day meeting was staged from Wednesday 13th to Friday 15th September 1758. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Duke of Ancaster, Lord Essex, Duke of Kingston |
| Principal Races |
Alford £25 Plate, Alford 25 Guineas Plate |
Thursday 3rd June 1728 |
Alford £25 Plate
1. Pert owned by The Duke of Ancaster
2. Jigg owned by Mr Heneage
3. Sooty Dun owned by Lord Essex |
Saturday 9th July 1729 |
Alford 25 Guineas Plate
1. May-Pole owned by Mr Jenkinson
2. Pert owned by The Duke of Ancaster
3. Greyhound owned by Mr Humberston |
| Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th July 1756 |
Monday 5th July 1756 Alford Four Year Old Purse over 2 miles
1. Spark owned by Mr Allenby
2. Mercury owned by Mr Lister
3. Violet owned by Mr Clark
4. Pompey owned by Mr Goose
Wednesday 7th July 1756 Alford Hunters Purse
1. Tartar owned by Mr Wilcox
2. Diana owned by Mr Allenby
3. Stripling owned by Mr Brabin |
| Wednesday 13th - Friday 15th September 1758 |
Wednesday 13th September 1758 Alford 4 year old Two Mile Purse
1. Bay colt owned by the Duke of Kingston
2. Colt owned by Mr Bourn
3. Bay filly owned by Mr Goose
4. Chestnut colt owned by Mr Hunt
5. Chestnut colt owned by Mr Maskill
Friday 15th September 1758 Alford Hunters Stakes
1. Diana owned by Mr Allenby
2. Spider owned by Mr Emmerson
3. Bay mare owned by Mr Wright |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 15th September 1758. |
| Course today |
Former racecourse ground has reverted to farmland. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
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 |
| Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent. |
| ORDER FORM |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|