Earliest meeting: Monday 11th April 1833
Final meeting: Friday 10th September 1869
The market town and civil parish of Biggleswade lies on the River Ivel in Bedfordshire, although back in the middle of the 19th century it was part of Hertfordshire. It had its own racecourse which opened on Monday 11th April 1833 with a Hunters race, a Hack race and a Pony race. The racecourse was situated to the southern end of Biggleswade Common and continued until 1840. However, despite the town’s prominent position, crowds were not high, and racing appears to have ceased for the next 3 years until Friday 12th April 1844 when the main Sweepstake was won by Mr Piper’s Full-up, beating Creeping Jenny and Speculation. Racing lapsed again shortly afterwards, only to return on Monday 21st April 1862. It held its final meeting on Friday 10th September 1869 with a programme consisting of four races, including a Plate race over the flat course and a Hurdle race. The crowds were said to be immense, although mainly consisted of betting men, with every possible form of gambling available on the course. The ‘County History of Bedfordshire’ was rather disparaging and dismissive when it stated that ‘the races do not demand notice’.
The programme consisted of two races, a Flat Race and a Hurdle race. The ‘County History of Bedfordshire’ is rather disparaging and dismissive when it records that ‘the races do not demand notice’.
Biggleswade Flat Race, Biggleswade Hurdle Race
Monday 16th April 1838
Biggleswade Hurdle over 1 ½ miles and four 4ft 6in hurdles
1. Ruby, brown mare owned by Mr Carrington
2. Hazard, bay gelding owned by Mr Master
3. Matilda, brown mare owned by Mr W Hogg
4. Creeping Jane, bay mare owned by Mr Bryant
Biggleswade Town Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Buck, bay gelding owned by Mr Carter
2. Antiquity, bay gelding owned by Mr Berry
3. Matilda, brown mare owned by Mr W Hogg
4. Faithful, brown mare owned by Mr Barton
Biggleswade Hurdle Sweepstake over 1 ½ miles and 4 leaps
1. The Dwarf, bay gelding owned by Honourable G Ouseley
2. Marc Anthony, brown gelding owned by Captain Barton
3. The Rusher, brown gelding owned by Mr Chafey
4. Brampton Junior, bay gelding owned by Mr Maule
5. Enchantress, black mare owned by Mr Robinson
Friday 26th April 1839
Biggleswade 10 sovereigns Hurdle over 1 ½ miles and 4 hurdles
1. Grimaldi, grey gelding owned by Mr Peacock
2. Thorncote, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Master
3. Longtail, bay mare owned by Mr Cole
4. Makeshift, bay gelding owned by Mr Wright
Biggleswade 10 sovereigns Town Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Gamester, bay gelding owned by Mr Pope
2. Buck, bay gelding owned by Mr Carter
3. Express, brown gelding owned by Mr Gudgin
4. Forester, brown gelding owned by Mr Nash
Biggleswade 17 sovereigns Hurdle Sweepstake
1. Seduction, bay horse owned by Mr Jenkins
2. Brampton Junior, bay gelding owned by Mr Maule
3. Fanny Hill, brown mare owned by Mr Baker
Friday 24th April 1840
Biggleswade Town Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Gamestar, bay gelding owned by Mr W Pope
2. Buck, bay gelding owned by Mr Carter
3. Nell, brown mare owned by Mr Ayres
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the 1830 map shown below.
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
