Earliest meeting: Monday 12th September 1825
Final meeting: Wednesday 9th September 1840
Challock Lees Common, Kent was granted a charter by William I to be used as a racecourse and this was the most likely site for the inaugural race meeting at Ashford which took place on Monday 12th September 1825. Details of that early meeting are shown below, and it set a precedent for an annual event to be held in the town. A much larger, more important meeting was held the next year when the programme included the first running of the Ashford Town Plate over 2 miles and treble the distance, with Partial winning the Plate after 5 heats. Imagine todays’ racehorses being asked to run over 10 miles. The meeting was first included in Baily's Racing Register in 1833 when the Town Plate was won by Suffolk Punch. An Ordinary was often served at the Saracen’s Head prior to racing, with fireworks and a Ball at the Assembly Rooms in the evening. Meetings continued annually until the card on Wednesday 9th September 1840 when Munchausen won the concluding Ripton Stakes, after which the gates were then locked for the last time.
The inaugural meeting at Ashford was staged on Monday 12th September 1825 when, by noon, the course was covered by a numerous assembly from the neighbourhood which reached thousands by the time of the first race.
Ashford 50 Sovereigns Plate over 2 miles 3 furlongs
1. UNNAMED chestnut horse owned by Mr T Quilhampton
5 ran
1. Ashford Plate over 2 miles 3 furlongs
1. UNNAMED bay mare owned by Mr Thurston
4 ran
Several Matches then took place to conclude the days events, after which Stewards were appointed for the next year to make it an annual event.
The second annual meeting at Ashford took place on Monday 4th September 1826 attended by a 'numerous concourse of well-dressed people' occupying a large number of carriages and vehicles of all descriptions. The Stewards were supported by a highly respectable company, while Mr Walter provided an excellent ordinary at 6 o'clock.
Monday 4th September 1826
Ashford Town Plate of 50 sovereigns over 2 miles and a treble distance
1. PARTIAL, chestnut mare owned by Mr T Jones 3 2 1 1
2. JACK BUNCE, grey horse owned by Mr Coleman 2 1 2 2
3. MAID OF KENT, bay mare owned by Mr Brown 1 3 dist
4. MARY ANNE, chestnut mare owned by Mr W Wickham 4 4 wdr
5. HONEYSUCKLE, bay filly owned by Mr Harrison 5 wdr
6. SYNTAX, brown colt owned by Mr Heathcote 6 dist
7. SOPHIA, chestnut mare owned by Mr Howard 7 7 wdr
An eventful race which saw Maid of Kent win the first heat, but was then beaten by Jack Bunce in the second heat. In the third heat, seemingly a decider, Maid of Kent went the wrong side of the post and was distanced, the heat going to Partial. The fourth heat resulted in a dead-heat between Jack Bunce and Partial, but Partial got the better in the deciding heat.
Yeomans Plate of 50 sovereigns over 2 miles 3 furlongs
1. MARKSHAM, brown horse owned by Mr Brown 2 1 1
2. JACK BUNCE, grey horse owned by Mr Coleman 1 2 2
3. RODERICK RANDOM, black horse owned by Mr Russell 3 wdr
4. HONEYSUCKLE, bay filly owned by Mr Harrison 4 dist
Once the race concluded the Ordinary was enjoyed at the Saracen's Head Inn, Stewards for the next year were appointed, a concert was held before a firework display at 8 o'clock completed the entertainment.
I am grateful to Andy Thrower for the images of the early Ashford Races shown below, part of his magnificent collection of old racecards.
Wednesday 28th August 1833
Ashford Town Plate over 2 miles and a distance
1. Suffolk Punch owned by Mr Thomas
Ripton Claiming Plate over 2 miles
1. Caroline owned by Mr Messer
The winner was claimed after the race
The Town Plate took place on Wednesday 31st August and was run over a mile and a half course. The purse was for 50 sovereigns but the winner was then sold for 150 sovereigns. The result was:-
1. LADY ANN 3 years old 7st 8lb Owned by Mr Watson
2. TICKET 3 years old 7st 4lb Owned by Mr Johnson
3. MORPETH 5 years old 9st 6lb Owned by Mr Brown
September 1836
SWEEPSTAKES
1. MORPETH 5 years old 9st 4lb Owned by Mr Brown
2. EGREMONT 4 years old 8st 3lb Owned by Mr Hawkins
3. PUMPKIN 6 years old 10st 1lb Owned by Mr Smith
The Thursday meeting also held the Ripton Plate, where the winner received 50 sovereigns but was then subsequently sold for 120 sovereigns, with the following result:-RIPTON PLATE
1. PUMPKIN 6 years old 9st 3lb Owned by Mr Smith
2. TICKET 3 years old 7st 4lb Owned by Mr Johnson
3. MORPETH 5 years old 9st 6lb Owned by Mr Brown
Wednesday 12th September 1838
Ashford Town Plate over 2 miles
1. Pumpkin owned by Mr Boreham
2. Gold owned by Mr Shelley
3. Maid-of-the-Mill owned by Mr E Bond
The Ripton Stakes over 2 miles
1. Maid of Hertford owned by Mr Cassidy
2. Maid of the Mill owned by Mr E Bond
3. Guardsman owned by Mr Dockeray
Wednesday 9th September 1840
The Ripton Stakes over 2 miles
1. Munchausen, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Bishop
2. Trim, bay gelding owned by Mr Simmond
3. Lyster, bay colt owned by Mr Dockeray
On the outskirts of Ashford lies Charing Hill where there is now a point to point course.
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
