Earliest meeting: Tuesday 25th April 1654
Final meeting: Thursday 4th July 1793
Earliest records show that racing took place in the Northumbrian town of Alnwick on Tuesday 25th April 1654. The course was on the outskirts of the town at Hobberlaw Edge on Alnwick Moor. In those early days they were racing for a Plate donated by the local Freemen. Later the racing moved to a course on Tughall Moor, but returned to Hobberlaw Edge in 1713. In 1730 a new sponsor came to the fore in the shape of Lord Tankerville. He sponsored a 10 Guineas race which was on the same card as the Freemen’s Plate, the Innkeepers Plate, the Galloway Plate and the Corporation Plate. Racing continued on a regular basis in the town until the final 3 day meeting from Tuesday 2nd July to Thursday 4th July 1793. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Tankerville, Duke of Cleveland, Lord Percy, Lord Haddo |
| Principal Races |
Freemen's Plate, Galloway Plate, Corporation Plate |
Baily’s Racing Register first provided detailed results from races held at Alnwick in 1729, with the meeting being held in June and the result shown below. |
Wednesday 15th June 1729 |
Alnwick £20 Plate for 5 year olds
1. Midge owned by Mr Smith
2. Unnamed bay horse owned by Mr Oliver
3. Polly Peachum owned by Mr Cragg |
In 1730 a new sponsor came to the fore in the shape of Lord Tankerville. He sponsored a 10 Guineas race which was on the same card as the Freemen’s Plate, the Innkeepers Plate, the Galloway Plate and the Corporation Plate. |
| Monday 6th August 1753 |
Alnwick Subscription Purse run over 2 miles
1. Shock owned by Mr Williams
2. Caius owned by Mr Forster
The winner and second both wore Blue colours.
Alnwick Gentlemen’s Subscription Purse run over 4 miles
1. Trinkitt owned by Mr Croft
2. Lady Thigh owned by Mr Parlour
3. Tom Trusty owned by Mr Thomas Forster
The winner and second wore Blue colours, while the third wore Green. |
Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th August 1782 |
Alnwick Maiden Plate over 2 miles
1. Bacchus owned by Mr Gregson
2. Whitelegs owned by Mr Wood
3. Miss Body owned by Mr Charlton |
The final meeting at the Northumbrian town took place from Tuesday 2nd July to Thursday 4th July 1793. |
| Course today |
On the outskirts of the town at Hobberlaw Edge; point to point races still take place near Alnwick at Longhoughton. |
| 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 |
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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. |
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