Earliest meeting: Wednesday 24th September 1862
Final meeting: Wednesday 19th September 1866
The Hertfordshire village of Ardeley is in the east of the county and includes the tiny hamlets of Cromer, Wood End and Moor Green. It is a picturesque village containing old thatched cottages, a Manor House and a grade 1 listed church. In the mid-1800s it held its own race meetings in Ardeley Park which were organised by Ardeley Hunt Committee and, although called Ardeley Park Hunt Races, they actually were held on land at Walkern Bury owned by Mr R Hill. At the event on Wednesday 27th September 1865 the prestigious Silver Cup, over 3 miles, was won by Mr Wodehouse’s Beverley. The meetings continued for one more year until a final card was held on Wednesday 19th September 1866.
Lord Dacre, Captain Fitzpatrick, R.S.Marsh, R.Hill, J W Wynne, C Bastard
The article shown below is from the Herts Guardian, Agricultural Journal and General Advertiser and gives of the 1862 Ardeley Park Hunt Race meeting held on Wednesday 24th September 1862. It is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive Online.
The article shown below is from the Herts Guardian, Agricultural Journal and General Advertiser and gives of the 1863 Ardeley Park Hunt Race meeting held on Wednesday 23rd September 1863. It is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive Online.
The article shown below gives of the 1864 Ardeley Park Hunt Race meeting held on Thursday 30th September 1864. It is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive Online.
The article shown below gives of the 1865 Ardeley Park Hunt Race meeting held on Wednesday 27th September 1865. It is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive Online.
The article shown below is from the Bell’s Life and Sporting Chronicle and gives of the 1866 Ardeley Park Hunt Race meeting held on Wednesday 19th September 1866. It is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive Online.
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
