Earliest meeting: Tuesday 4th April 1837
Final meeting: Tuesday 5th April 1842
The Buckinghamshire market town of Beaconsfield lies to the south of the county just 24 miles from central London. In the early part of the 19th century the town organised its own series of race meetings, beginning in 1837, although the Sporting Magazine first reported on the meetings on Tuesday 27th March 1838 when the principal event, the Beaconsfield Purse, attracted a field of 5 runners. The 3 ½ mile course was laid out in the park owned by Sir Gore Ousley on the Windsor Road and the opening race, the Beaconsfield Chase over 2 miles, was won by White Stockings. After a successful days racing a large group gathered at The Saracen’s Head for dinner. Prior to this meeting, the inaugural race meeting in the town took place on Tuesday 4th April 1837 with details shown below. Racing continued to be held at the same venue for the next 5 years before a final card was staged on Tuesday 5th April 1842.
Lord Drumlanrig, Captain West, Captain Reynard, Captain Best, Captain Bastard, Captain Freeman
The newspaper extracts below are provided courtesy of the Bucks Herald and British Newspaper Online.
Tuesday 27th March 1838
Beaconsfield Chase over 2 miles
1. White Stockings, bay horse owned by Mr H Waterton and ridden by Williamson
2. Slashing Harry, bay horse owned by Major Wood and ridden by Wood
3. Widdle Waddle, aged horse owned by Mr Hook and ridden by Hook
Friday 10th April 1840
Beaconsfield Purse
1. Phosphorus owned by Mr C Oldacre
2. Steamer owned by Mr Webber
3. Brunetta owned by Captain West
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below.
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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
