Although some records indicate that a race meeting took place in the vicinity of Ayr in 1576, when the starter and his assistant were both shot in the leg, the first results published from Ayr were in 1771 when Phillipo, owned by Sir John Douglas, won a £50 race. By 1777 the meeting, held at the burgh moor at Bellisle, had extended to five days, but it was to be a further 27 years before the inaugural running in 1804 of the Ayr Gold Cup, at that stage a 2 mile race, which was won by Chancellor. He repeated the feat the next year for owner Lord Cassillis. In 1824 the famous Western Club were formed to promote the interests of racing in the area and, for the first time, the Racing Calendar recorded the fixture as the "Western Meeting". The Ayr Gold Cup became a handicap race in 1855 but it was to end in controversy when Thomas Aldcroft dismounted from the first passed the post before returning to the winners enclosure and was duly disqualified, the race being awarded to John Dory. The course at Bellisle was a very tight, oval course, with bends so sharp that some thought them dangerous, and at the start of the 20th century the Western Club sought a suitable site for a new course. In 1904 they found what they were looking for, purchasing 150 acres on the Craigie estate. On Wednesday 18th September 1907 the new course opened and within a year there were four regular fixtures. Meanwhile, the Belleisle course was left behind to become the very successful Seafield Golf course. Racing ceased during the war years, resuming in 1919 when the Ayr Gold Cup was won by Lord Derby’s Beresina. During the Second World War the course was taken over by the Army for the duration of the War, but racing resumed soon afterwards.  The year 1950 was an important year in the progression of the racecourse when Ayr staged its first National Hunt fixture, and reaped a reward in 1966 when, following the closure of Bogside, Ayr hosted the Scottish Grand National won by African Patrol. In 1974 Red Rum triumphed in the Scottish Grand National; a statue now acts as a celebration of that famous victory.

The course offers an impressive 35 days of racing annually, including ten Festival or Feature days. The highlight remains the Ayr Gold Cup staged in mid-September.

On Monday 15th October 1804 Ayr staged His Majesty’s 100 Guineas Plate over 4 miles which saw Lord Belhaven’s Brandon defeat sole rival Mountpleasant, owned by Mr Lupton. The next day the inaugural running of the Ayr Gold Cup took place over 2 miles.

Tuesday 16th October 1804
Ayr Gold Cup over 2 miles
1. Chancellor, by Trimmer, owned by Lord Cassillis 1 1
2. Unnamed colt by Hamilton, owned by Sir H Dalrymple 2 dr
3. Unnamed bay horse owned by Mr Oswald 3 dr

Bogside Racecourse, situated near the town of Irvine, held its first meeting on Tuesday 7th June 1808. The triangular course, 2 miles around with right-hand bends, was on the private estate owned by the Earl of Eglinton. The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, over 4 miles and 24 fences, is now contested at the annual Cheltenham Festival in March, but was held at Bogside in 1876 when Burford won in the hands of Lord Marcus Beresford. In 1880 the Scottish Grand National was introduced, having previously been run at the course but under a different name, although it was not until 1900 that the first Flat racing took place on the course. Just seven years after jockey Alec Russell had gone through the card in 1957 the Levy Board, who thought that there were too many meetings for them all to be viable, were drawing up plans to close Bogside. The final Flat meeting was held on Saturday 19th September 1964 and the very last National Hunt meeting took place on Saturday 10th April 1965. A packed fixture list and safety concerns were paramount in the Levy Board arriving at the decision to no longer support Bogside financially.

Tuesday 7th June 1808
Bogside £50 All-Age Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. Honest Harry, bay horse owned by Mr Bates
2. Irvine, grey colt owned by Lord Montgomerie
3. Peteria, grey filly owned by Mr Henderson

1874 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Servia
1875 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Munden owned by Mr R Howett
1876 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Coltness
1877 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Ivy
1878 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Sutler
1879 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Umbria
1880 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Strathblane
1881 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Heath Bird
1882 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Tita
1883 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Tibicen
1884 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Perdita owned by Lord Cawdor
1885 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Daylight
1886 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Daylight
1887 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Mirth

1888 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Reverie
1889 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Dazzle owned by the Duke of Montrose
1890 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Dazzle owned by the Duke of Montrose
1891 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Dazzle owned by the Duke of Montrose
1892 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Horton
1893 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Once More
1894 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Mimram
1895 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Linton
1896 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Athel
1897 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Athel
1898 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Gyp
1899 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Portebella
1900 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Child Waters
1901 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Caedmon

1902 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Lovetin
1903 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Kirkbride
1904 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by King’s Birthday
1905 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Kilglass ridden by J L Jarvis
1906 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Cyrus
1907 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Charis trained by R Sherwood
1908 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Raeberry owned by the Duke of Montrose
1909 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Alwine
1910 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Raeberry owned by the Duke of Montrose
1911 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Saucy John

1912 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Grammont
1913 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Borrow
1914-16 The Ayr Gold Cup was not contested due to World War I
1917 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Wayward
1918 The Ayr Gold Cup was not contested
1919 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Beresina owned by Lord Derby and ridden by Carslake
1920 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Forest Guard owned by Mr J Burns and ridden by T Burns
1921 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Self Sacrifice owned by Mr C Kenyon and ridden by B Lynch
1922 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Soldennis
1923 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Baydon owned by Lord Wavertree and ridden by S Wragg

1924 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Westmead owned by Mr T Queen and ridden by Perryman
1925 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Phalaros owned by Mrs James and ridden by T Weston
1926 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Lord Wembley owned by Mr Wallis and ridden by Steve Donoghue
1927 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Martenax
1928 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Nothing Venture owned by Sir J Jardine and ridden by J Leach
1929 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Tommy Atkins trained by Leach Jnr and ridden by H Leach
1930 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Heronslea owned by Mr Smith and ridden by J Taylor
1931 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Heronslea owned by Mr Smith and ridden by J Taylor
1932 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Solenoid owned by Mr G C Poole and ridden by J Marshall

1933 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Ken Hill
1934 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Figaro owned by Mr Jack Leach and ridden by H Jelliss
1935 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Greenore owned by Lady Laidlow and ridden by S Wragg
1936 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Marmaduke Jinks owned by Mrs C B Robinson and ridden by A Richardson
1937 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Daytona owned by Sir G Bullough and ridden by M Beary
1938 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Old Reliance trained by Jack Jarvis and ridden by Eph Smith
1939-45 The Ayr Gold Cup was not contested due to World War II
1946 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Royal Charger, owned by Sir John Jarvis, trained by Jack Jarvis and ridden by Eph Smith
1947 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Kilbelin trained by Jack Jarvis
1948 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Como, owned by Captain J Fielden, trained by G Armstrong and ridden by J Marshall
1949 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Irish Dance, owned by Mr H Stockdale, trained by Bill Wightman and ridden by Edgar Britt
1950 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by First Consul, owned by the Maharaja of Rajpipla, trained by F Armstrong and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1951 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Fair Seller
1952 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Vatellus, owned by Mr Alex Bird, trained by J Pearce and ridden by H Jones

1953 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Blue Butterfly, owned by Mr F M O’Ferrall, trained by Harry Wragg and ridden by Manny Mercer
1954 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Orthopaedic, owned by Mr R Clark, trained by Arthur Budgett and ridden by Bill Elliott
1955 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Hook Monkey
1956 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Precious Heather, owned by Mr Alex Bird and ridden by Eddie Hide
1957 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Jacintha
1958 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Rhythmic, owned by Major A Straker, trained by Bill Dutton and ridden by Frankie Durr
1959 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Whistling Victor, owned by Mr R Galloway, trained by G Laurence and ridden by Joe Sime
1960 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Dawn Watch, owned by Mr W Kendrick, trained by Eric Cousins and ridden by L C Parkes
1961 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Klondyke Bill, owned by Mr A Comerford, trained by C Benstead and ridden by Eph Smith
1962 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Janeat, owned by Mr G Turnbull, trained by A Vasey and ridden by B Henry
1963 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Egualita, owned by Mr R J Sigtia, trained by Sam Hall and ridden by Frankie Durr
1964 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Compensation
1965 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Kamundu
1966 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Milesius, owned and trained by G Boyd and ridden by N McIntosh
1966 The Scottish Grand National was won by African Patrol trained by Robert Fairburn and ridden by Johnny Leech

1967 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Be Friendly owned by Peter O’Sullevan, trained by C A Mitchell and ridden by Geoff Lewis
1967 The Scottish Grand National was won by The Fossa trained by Fred Rimell and ridden by Andy Turnell
1968 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Petite Path, owned by Mrs R Mason, trained by R Mason and ridden by J Higgins
1968 The Scottish Grand National was won by Arcturus trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Pat Buckley
1969 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Brief Star, owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Eric Cousins and ridden by L C Parkes
1969 The Scottish Grand National was won by Playlord trained by Gordon W Richards and ridden by Ron Barry
1970 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by John Splendid, owned by Mr R Struthers, trained by John Dunlop and ridden by Ron Hutchinson
1970 The Scottish Grand National was won by The Spaniard trained by Ken Oliver and ridden by Barry Brogan
1971 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Royben
1971 The Scottish Grand National was won by Young Ash Leaf trained by Ken Oliver and ridden by Peter Ennis
1972 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Swinging Junior trained by Nigel Angus
1972 The Scottish Grand National was won by Quick Reply trained by Harry Bell and ridden by Maurice Barnes
1973 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Blue Cashmire, owned by Mr R C Turner, trained by Michael Stoute and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1973 The Scottish Grand National was won by Esban trained by Robert Clay and ridden by Jimmy Bourke
1974 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Somersway trained by Bill Wightman and ridden by Des Cullen
1974 The Scottish Grand National was won by Red Rum trained by Ginger McCain and ridden by Brian Fletcher
1975 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Roman Warrior, owned by Mr J Brown, trained by Nigel Angus and ridden by Johnny Seagrave
1975 The Scottish Grand National was won by Barona trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Paul Kelleway
1976 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Last Tango trained by John Sutcliffe and ridden by Lindsay Charnock
1976 The Scottish Grand National was won by Barona trained by Roddy Armytage and ridden by Paul Kelleway
1977 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by John George
1977 The Scottish Grand National was won by Sebastian V trained by Harry Bell and ridden by Ridley Lamb
1978 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Vaigly Great
1978 The Scottish Grand National was won by King Con trained by Graham Renilson and ridden by Mr Peter Craggs
1979 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Primula Boy trained by W Higgins and ridden by Walter Bentley
1979 The Scottish Grand National was won by Fighting Fifth trained by Ken Oliver and ridden by Colin Hawkins
1980 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Sparkling Boy trained by Paul Kelleway and ridden by John Lowe
1980 The Scottish Grand National was won by Salkeld trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Denis Atkins

1981 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by First Movement trained by Geoff Huffer and ridden by Mick Miller
1981 The Scottish Grand National was won by Astral Charmer trained by Harry Bell and ridden by John Goulding
1982 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Famous Star trained by Michael Albina and ridden by Paul Eddery
1982 The Scottish Grand National was won by Cockle Strand trained by Ken Oliver and ridden by David Dutton
1983 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Polly’s Brother trained by Peter Easterby and ridden by Kevin Hodgson
1983 The Scottish Grand National was won by Canton trained by Neville Crump and ridden by Kevin White
1984 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Able Albert trained by Peter Easterby and ridden by Mark Birch
1984 The Scottish Grand National was won by Androma trained by Jimmy Fitzgerald and ridden by Mark Dwyer
1985 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Camps Heath trained by Frankie Durr and ridden by Wendyll Woods
1985 The Scottish Grand National was won by Androma trained by Jimmy Fitzgerald and ridden by Mark Dwyer
1986 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Green Ruby trained by Toby Balding and ridden by John Williams
1986 The Scottish Grand National was won by Hardy Lad trained by Jumbo Wilkinson and ridden by Micky Hammond
1987 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Not So Silly trained by Alan Bailey and ridden by Gary Bardwell
1987 The Scottish Grand National was won by Little Polvier trained by John Edwards and ridden by Peter Scudamore
1988 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by So Careful trained by Jack Berry and ridden by Nicky Carlisle
1988 The Scottish Grand National was won by Mighty Mark trained by Frank Walton and ridden by Brian Storey
1989 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Joveworth trained by Mike O’Neill and ridden by Jimmy Fortune
1989 The Scottish Grand National was won by Roll-a-Joint trained by Chris Popham and ridden by Brendan Powell
1990 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Final Shot trained by Peter Easterby and ridden by John Lowe
1990 The Scottish Grand National was won by Four Trix trained by Gordon W Richards and ridden by Derek Byrne
1991 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Sarcita trained by David Elsworth and ridden by Brett Doyle
1991 The Scottish Grand National was won by Killone Abbey trained by Arthur Stephenson and ridden by Chris Grant
1992 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Lochsong trained by Ian Balding and ridden by Francis Arrowsmith
1992 The Scottish Grand National was won by Captain Dibble trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Peter Scudamore
1993 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Hard to Figure trained by Ron Hodges and ridden by Ray Cochrane
1993 The Scottish Grand National was won by Run for Free trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Mark Perrett
1994 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Daring Destiny trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Jason Tate
1994 The Scottish Grand National was won by Earth Summit trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by David Bridgwater

1995 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Royale Figurine trained by Martin Fetherston-Godley and ridden by Darryll Holland
1995 The Scottish Grand National was won by Willsford trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Rodney Farrant
1996 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Coastal Bluff trained by David Barron and ridden by Jimmy Fortune
1996 The Scottish Grand National was won by Moorcroft Boy trained by David Nicholson and ridden by Mark Dwyer
1997 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Wildwood Flower trained by Richard Hannon Snr and ridden by Dane O’Neill
1997 The Scottish Grand National was won by Belmont King trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Tony McCoy
1998 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Always Alight trained by Karl Burke and ridden by John Egan
1998 The Scottish Grand National was won by Baronet trained by David Nicholson and ridden by Adrian Maguire
1999 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Grangeville trained by Ian Balding and ridden by Kieron Fallon
1999 The Scottish Grand National was won by Young Kenny trained by Peter Beaumont and ridden by Brendan Powell
2000 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Bahamian Pirate trained by David Nicholls and ridden by Adrian Nicholls
2000 The Scottish Grand National was won by Paris Pike trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire
2001 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Continent trained by David Nicholls and ridden by Darryll Holland
2001 The Scottish Grand National was won by Gingembre trained by Lavinia Taylor and ridden by Andrew Thornton
2002 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Funfair Wane trained by David Nicholls and ridden by Adrian Nicholls
2002 The Scottish Grand National was won by Take Control trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Ruby Walsh
2003 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Quito trained by David Chapman and ridden by Tony Culhane
2003 The Scottish Grand National was won by Ryalux trained by Andy Crook and ridden by Richard McGrath
2004 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Funfair Wane trained by David Nicholls and ridden by Paul Doe
2004 The Scottish Grand National was won by Grey Abbey trained by Howard Johnson and ridden by Graham Lee
2005 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Presto Shinko trained by Richard Hannon Snr and ridden by Seb Sanders
2005 The Scottish Grand National was won by Joes Edge trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Keith Mercer
2006 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Fonthill Road trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Paul Hanagan
2006 The Scottish Grand National was won by Run for Paddy trained by Carl Llewellyn and ridden by Carl Llewellyn

2007 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Advanced trained by Kevin Ryan and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2007 The Scottish Grand National was won by Hot Weld trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by P J McDonald
2008 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Regal Parade trained by David Nicholls and ridden by William Carson
2008 The Scottish Grand National was won by Iris de Balme trained by Sean Curran and ridden by Mr Charlie Huxley
2009 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Jimmy Styles trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2009 The Scottish Grand National was won by Hello Bud trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Paddy Brennan
2010 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Redford trained by David Nicholls and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2010 The Scottish Grand National was won by Merigo trained by Andrew Parker and ridden by Timmy Murphy
2011 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Our Jonathan trained by Kevin Ryan and ridden by Franny Norton
2011 The Scottish Grand National was won by Beshabar trained by Tim Vaughan and ridden by Richard Johnson
2012 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Captain Ramius trained by Kevin Ryan and ridden by Pat Smullen
2012 The Scottish Grand National was won by Merigo trained by Andrew Parker and ridden by Timmy Murphy
2013 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Highland Colori trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisin Murphy
2013 The Scottish Grand National was won by Godsmejudge trained by Alan King and ridden by Wayne Hutchinson
2014 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Louis the Pious trained by David O’Meara and ridden by James Doyle
2014 The Scottish Grand National was won by Al Co trained by Peter Bowen and ridden by Jamie Moore
2015 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Don’t Touch trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Tony Hamilton
2015 The Scottish Grand National was won by Wayward Prince trained by Hilary Parrott and ridden by Robbie Dunne
2016 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Brando trained by Kevin Ryan and ridden by Tom Eaves
2016 The Scottish Grand National was won by Vicente trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies
2017 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Donjuan Triumphant trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by P J McDonald
2017 The Scottish Grand National was won by Vicente trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies
2018 The Ayr Gold Cup produced a dead-heat between Baron Bolt (28/1) trained by Paul Cole and ridden by Cameron Noble, and Son of Rest (5/1 fav) trained by Fozzy Stack and ridden by Chris Hayes
2018 The Scottish Grand National was won by Joe Farrell trained by Rebecca Curtis and ridden by Adam Wedge
2019 The Ayr Gold Cup was won by Angel Alexander (28/1) trained by Tom Dascombe and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2019 The Scottish Grand National was won by Takingrisks trained by Nicky Richards and ridden by Sean Quinlan

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