Earliest meeting: July 1728
Final meeting: Wednesday 29th April 1846
The Hampshire County town of Andover is on the River Anton about 30 kilometres west of Basingstoke and roughly the same distance north west of Winchester. Baily’s Racing Register first provided detailed results from races held at Andover in July 1728. In 1759 a map produced by Isaac Taylor indicated an oval course, marked only by posts, to the east of the town, adjacent to the Andover to Whitchurch road and north of the forest. From 1770 until at least 1778 races took place on a regular basis each September, with Ordinaries served prior to racing and a Grand Ball held at the Star & Garter Hotel after the meeting. This hotel still exists today but is now named the Danebury Hotel. Flat racing, introduced in 1774, was short-lived with the final Flat race meeting held on 3rd July 1778. The final National Hunt meeting was held on Wednesday 29th April 1846 after which racing ceased in the town because other Hampshire courses became more popular, including Basingstoke (ended in 1850), Winchester (ended in 1887) and Stockbridge (ended in 1898). However, the name Andover will forever be etched in racing history, as a strong bay colt with one white foot on a hind leg won the 1854 Derby. He was called Andover because he was bred by William Etwall who was based in the village of Longstock, near Andover, and was trained in Hampshire at Houghton Farm by John Day.
Sunday 4th, Monday 5th & Friday 16th July 1728
Andover £30 Plate
1. Grey Costly owned by The Duke of Hamilton
2. Sheppard owned by Mr Sheppard
3. Betty Mackrel owned by Mr Selby
Andover Give-and-Take Plate
1. Gimcrack owned by Sir R Fagg
2. Cupid owned by Mr Robinson
Andover Gold Cup
1. Peggy-grieves-me owned by The Duke of Hamilton
2. Molly owned by Mr Greville
Tuesday 22nd July 1777
The Andover Sweepstake
1. Thetford, bay horse owned by Mr Compton
2. Regatta, bay horse owned by the Duke of Cumberland
3. Eurus, bay horse owned by Lord Lichfield
4. Coldfinder, bay colt owned by Lord Craven
There appears to have been a lapse in racing until the mid-1800’s when Andover races were recorded in the annual Racing Calendar for the one and only time in 1846. That final meeting was held on 29th April 1846. After that time other Hampshire courses became more popular, including Basingstoke (ended in 1850), Winchester (ended in 1887) and Stockbridge (ended in 1898).
An oval course to the east of the town on the Andover to Whitchurch road.
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
