Earliest meeting: Monday 4th March 1838
Final meeting: Friday 8th February 1856
The earliest record of Steeplechase racing taking place close to the city of Bath was on Monday 4th March 1838 on a 4 mile course 11 miles from the city. Billed as the First Open Steeplechase, the runners began at Horton and finished at Kington Down, 4 miles from Marshfield. The fences were nearly all walls, including many challenging ones, and the two entrants kept close company until reaching the road, which they had to cross, before entering the final winning field. Cannon-Ball ran on strongly to win cleverly by a length. The result is shown below, together with the supporting Bath Handicap Stakes, over 2 miles. Subsequent meetings were staged in the vicinity of Bath, often at the small Somerset village of Hinton Charterhouse. Today the village boasts a population of barely 500, which includes the nearby village of Midford. The village grew up around the Carthusian Hinton Priory which dated from 1232 and was founded by Ela, the Countess of Salisbury. There is a Grade I listed building in the village which is the old chapter house of the Priory. Racing was intermittent for the next 15 years until a controversial meeting was staged on Thursday 10th February 1853 when a 3 race card was contested. The Grand Open Steeplechase was run over 4 miles when Ringleader defeated Forest Lad and 2 others. However, there was no more than a head between them at the line and no judge was present, so the race was declared void. In the re-run Forest Lad got the better of Ringleader and 2 others. At the same meeting the Free Handicap was won by Iodine and the Stag Hunt Steeplechase by Gipsy Bess. The final meeting took place on Friday 8th February 1856 when the Hunters Handicap went to Bill Beans owned by Mr A Wall, and the Bath and Somerset Handicap was won by General Evans owned by Mr Pattison.

Monday 4th March 1838
Bath 15 sovereign Open Steeplechase over 4 miles

1. Cannon-Ball, aged horse owned by Mr J Newcombe and ridden by Walker
2. Melbourne, aged horse owned by Mr E Jenkins

Bath Handicap Stakes over 2 miles

1. Sailor owned by Mr Heythorn and ridden by Mr Powell
2. Mytton Lass owned by Mr Stapleton
3. Inez owned by Captain Bindee
4. Jester owned by Mr Adam
5. Maid of the Mill owned by Mr Black
6. Billy the Beau owned by Mr W Haddy

Thursday 10th February 1853
Grand Open Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Forest Lad, aged horse owned by Mr C Higgins
2. Ringleader, aged horse owned by Mr Balfe
3. Leporella, aged horse owned by Mr Barry
4. Kate Kearney, aged mare owned by Mr Smith

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

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