Earliest meeting: July 1630
Final meeting: Thursday 29th August 1844
Blandford Racecourse, Dorset was situated at Blandford Camp, 2 ½ miles east of Blandford Forum. Race meetings took place as early as 1603, with an account of money spent on six days of dinners and suppers diligently written out by John Cleves, Chairman of the Borough, the total reaching £11 7s. The London Gazette of 21st to 25th March 1678 advertised a meeting at ‘the Blanford (sic) Course upon the first Thursday and Friday in May at which two plates were to be run for; the one, of 15 Pounds value, and the Riders to be 10 stone weight; the other of 25 Pounds value, and the riders to be Gentlemen and of 12 stone weight. Whoever is disposed for this sport must enter the size and colour of his Mare or Gelding with the Bayliff of Blanford the Thursday before the race, depositing 20 shillings’. By 1762 results started to emerge from a two day meeting on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th July 1762 when the Blandford Purse, over 2 miles, went to Tanner owned by Mrs Harrison, while the Blandford Stakes was won by Mr Orm’s Starling. Blandford racecourse had a telegraph communications station which enabled telegraphs to be sent between London and Plymouth in 3 minutes. The station closed on 30th May 1814 but, by popular demand, re-opened again in April 1815. Race Down continued to be used as a training centre by the Yeomanry after this date. Lord Palmerston, the long-serving Foreign Secretary, who in 1855 became Prime Minister at the age of 70, was a member of the racecourse and owned the runner-up in the Members' Plate of 1836. At that same meeting on Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st August 1836 the prestigious Dorsetshire Gold Cup was won by Sir E Baker’s Spume, also winning the Member’s Plate the next day. The final meeting took place on Thursday 29th August 1844.

Blandford Races 1603; John Cleves, Town Steward or Chairman of the Borough.
Account of money received at the Races

On Sunday for Supper
On Monday for Dinners
On Monday for Suppers
On Tuesday for Dinners
On Tuesday for Suppers
On Wednesday for Dinners
On Wednesday for Suppers
On Thursday for Dinners
On Thursday for Suppers
On Friday for Dinners
On Friday for Suppers
On Saturday for Dinners
Total

£  s  d
0  17  6
2  14 6
9  6  6
7  15  6
10   7  6
10  6  11
9  6   5
16  9  3

11  10  6
4  1  8
82  16  3
Also received for the play for 6 nights £11 7s

There was a long list of noblemen and Gentry who attended the races, including Lord Milton of Milton Abbey, Lord Shaftsbury of St Giles, Lord Arundel of Wardour Castle, Mr Sturt of Critchel, Mr Willett of Merely House, Mr Portman of Bryanston and Mr Weld of Lulworth Castle.

Lord Palmerston, Sir E Baker, Captain Campbell

Dorsetshire Gold Cup, Dorsetshire Stakes, Blandford Members Plate, Hunters Stake, Yeomanry Stakes

1750-1770
Although Blandford Races were recorded in Bailey's Racing Register and the annual Racing Calendars before 1750, one of the earliest occasions Blandford was mentioned in the press was a schedule for a three day meeting on Tuesday 2nd July 1751 with only one race each day, but that race to be settled by the best of three heats. The first prize money of £50 is, according to an online site, equal to £11,132 today. The weights to be carried by various age groups were given in the schedule but not always the distance of the race.
The second day's meeting was for genuine hunters who 'had never started for match or plate' and 'has actually been used as a common hunter this last season, and not such as has been hunted a few particular times for a qualification'. The race to be settled by the best of three heats of four miles each, meaning that the winner would have raced a total of twelve miles.
The earliest printed results that can be found refer to the 1758 season where there was an apparent dearth of competitors – only three on the first day, five on the second and three on the third. The result of the last race must have been a bit of a surprise because Mr. Quick's bay gelding had finished last in the first two heats behind horses owned by Lord Portmore and Lord Craven yet, after winning the final, was somehow declared the overall winner.
Tuesday 25th July 1758
Free £50 Purse
1. TANTWIVY, bay horse owned by Mr Swyymer
Wednesday 26th July 1758
Hunters £50 Plate
1. NIMROD, grey horse owned by Mr Juke
Thursday 27th July 1758
Give and Take £50 Purse
1. COLIN, bay gelding owned by Mr Quick
2. BUBBLE, bay horse owned by Lord Portmore
3. AQUILA, bay horse owned by Lord Craven

26th to 27th July 1762

Blandford 2 mile Purse
1. Tanner owned by Mrs Harrison
2. Violante owned by Mr Stroud
3. Valiant owned by Mr Orm

Blandford 2 mile Stakes
1. Starling owned by Mr Orm
2. Dormouse owned by Mr Sturt
3. Exotic owned by Mr Gerville

1770-1790
By 1774 there were 2 races and a match for 200 gns on the first day, one race and a match between a Mr. Cox and a Mr. Paul for 100 gns on the second, and a £50 Plate on the third day that was run in four heats. This final race saw Mr. Hellyar's, Champaign, who won the first heat and was 'leading the third heat, and near the winner, when he ran against a pole, threw his rider, and was thereby distanced'.
Three years later press reports of the races carried more information about the betting but only for a couple of years. After Mr. Hibberd's Omnlum had beaten Mr. Bowles's Codrus on the second day it was reported, 'The odds were very great in favour or Codrus, £5 to £100 was lost, and the knowing ones deeply taken in'. In another race when Mr. Cure's, Freebooter, had been beaten it was reported, 'The odds were considerably in favour of this horse'. There was also a match for 400 gns which is said to be equal to over £36,000 today.
There was a desperate shortage of runners in 1780 with only a walkover on the first day and the same for the main race on Thursday. It may have been this that encouraged those organising the meeting to offer additional attractions of cash prizes for contests of popular sports at the time. Cudgel playing (a sort of sword fighting with a stick) were advertised in 1780 with horrific results – a man from Shaftesbury called Harding lost his left eye. This seems to have been replaced in 1784 by a sword and dagger contest (sword in one hand and dagger in the other) between the Gentlemen of Dorset and those of Somerset.

Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th October 1782

 Blandford 4 mile Stakes
1. Anvil owned by Mr Parker
2. Unnamed colt by Sulphur owned by Mr Martin
3. Champaigne owned by Mr Helyar
The winner wore Green with Black cap.

Blandford Members Plate over 4 miles
1. Cottager owned by Mr Compton
2. Unnamed mare by Prophet owned by Mr Parker
3. Poor Johnny owned by Mr Helyar

1790-1810
A match for 50 gns, that was run on the racecourse but not on a race day, took place in 1796 between Mr. Westlake's pony, Copper Bottom, against a gentleman from Weymouth, the best of three 4-mile heats. It was won with great ease by the pony who stood 'not 12 hands three inches high and who covered the last 4 miles in less than nine minutes'.
The meeting was reduced to two days in the last year of the century and a note reminded the owners of a winning horse that they were to pay 2 gns to the Clerk of the Course for ropes, scales, weights, etc.
It is said that the Earl of Shaftesbury had nine different carriages on the course for his family and friends in 1800, whilst the following year The London Courier and Evening Gazette reported how the course was 'numerously and fashionably attended but the horses were unequally matched and there was little sport on either day'. The Gloucester Journal carried a report in 1802 condemning an exhibition of Cudgel Playing opposite the Crown Inn, where a crowd of over 200 watched a local youth fail to fulfil expectations and receive a serious hiding from a Shropshire lad.
From about this time it seems that Blandford Races became a little more popular with slightly better press coverage, bigger crowds and occasionally more competitive racing. The most attractive aspect for many, however, seems to have been the balls held every night after racing. The Salisbury and Winchester Journal reported in 1807: 'For many years the races have not been honoured with so much company as this year. The horses were well matched and the sport uncommonly good. The balls were crowded with beauty and fashion both evenings. More than 270 people sat down to the Stewards supper on Wednesday evening and dancing continued till past five'.

1808 saw the first running of the Gold Cup which was to become the showpiece of the meeting, Two years later it was able to advertise 11 entries for what had been renamed the Dorsetshire Gold Cup value 100 gns, although there were only 6 runners on the day. Run over 4 miles, there were no heats, just the one race won by Sir Wm. Oglander's Scorpion.
Tuesday 9th August 1808
Blandford/Dorset Gold Cup
1. WHITE ROSE 4-y-o owned by Lord C Somerset
2. AMBROSIO filly 3-y-o owned by Mr Warrel
3. ROSARIA 4-y-o owned by Mr Biggs
4. GAMMON 4-y-o owned by Mr Trevamon

I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the 1811 map shown below.

Wednesday 15th September to Thursday 16th September 1824

Dorsetshire Gold Cup over 3 miles
1. Luzborough owned by Lord Palmerston
2. Masquerader owned by Mr Radclyffe
3. Champion owned by Mr Farquharson

Langton Stakes over 2 miles
1. Grand Compounder owned by Mr Davis
2. Beverley owned by Mr Farquharson

Blandford Members Plate over 2 and a half miles
1. Biondetta owned by Lord Palmerston
2. Agnes owned by Mr Cockburn
3. Black and All Black owned by Mr Farquharson

1810-1830
The Salisbury and Winchester Journal, which printed the results for 1814, where the Gold Cup was won by Mr Weld’s horse from Lord Ilchester’s and Mr. Farquharson’s – commented that the racing on Thursday was well contested and then turned its attention to the balls. ‘The Balls were very full, being attended by nearly all the families of rank and fashion in Dorsetshire, excepting those of Mr. Portman and Mr. Banks. Among the company were the Earl of Shaftesbury, Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl of Ilchester, Sir John Hawkins, &c’.
Wednesday 11th August 1819
Blandford Gold Cup over 4 miles
1. GARUS, aged bay gelding owned by Mr Farquharson
2. ANTICIPATION, aged gelding owned by Mr Goddard
3. SOBER-ROBIN, 5-y-o owned by Mr King
Blandford 3-y-o 25 guineas Sweepstake over a mile
1. Sister to Wouvermans owned by Mr Ratcliffe
2. Sister to Steeltrap owned by Mr Kueller
Maiden £50 Plate over 2 1/2 miles
1. ELASTIC, 3-y-o owned by Mr Biggs
2. SHOE-HORN, 3-y-o owned by Mr J Walker
3. Sister to Wouvermans owned by Mr Ratcliffe
4. VELOCIPEDE, 3-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Allen

A type of selling race was introduced to the meeting in 1820 the conditions for which were advertised so: 'The winner to be sold, if demanded within a quarter of an hour after the race, for 200 gns, the owner of the second horse to have the preference'. Claims, if there were any, were never reported.
The Dorset County Chronicle's description of Gold Cup Day in 1825 read, 'The Down was this day crowded with equipages from the dashing four-in-hand and the splendid barouche of the Corinthian, to the more humble vehicles of the middling and lower classes of life. The whole scene was a combination of everything that could cheer, gratify and exhilarate. At 1 o'clock the signal was made for starting and after a well contested race that would not have disgraced Epsom or Newmarket it went in favour of Lord Palmerston's'.
This was probably the beginning of the golden years for Blandford Races. The number of runners there may still have been a bit sparse on occasion, but that did not appear to stop the local dignitaries from putting in an appearance. As today, the social side of a race meeting is all important as an opportunity for likeminded people to make new friendships and renew old ones. Furthermore, in those times a days racing was not complete without a supper and dance early evening, which was called an ordinary, but always a ball later. The press at the time were often inclined to give more space reporting the ball than they did for the racing.
Mr Bankes was the Steward in 1827 and his party arrived on the course from Kingston Hall in 11 carriages and four. What a splendid sight this must have been! 44 horses split up into the most perfect matching fours, tacked up in gleaming harness, and driven by coachmen and attended by footmen, all in their finest liveries. One could imagine the fierce competition between the various carriages, as to was making the greatest impression.
The Duke of Wellington, who had defeated Napoleon at Waterloo only twelve years previously, arrived in this party and was greeted with loud cheers when recognised. The Hampshire Chronicle continued, 'His Grace visited the stand then rode round the course surrounded by all the higher classes, who gave three cheers to the Noble Wellington and three additional cheers for the honour he had conferred on the county of Dorset, which he returned with that condescending affability which forms the leading feature of his Grace's character, shaking hands with all who could get access to him'.
The Taunton Courier reported on the evening scene. 'The supper was particularly splendid. The whole entertainment was conducted in a most creditable style and was well adapted to the rank and dignity of the guests among whom were the Duke of Wellington, his son the Duke of Douro, Lord Digby, Lord and Lady Falmouth, Lord Boscawen, Lord Chesterfield. Lord Fitzharris, Lord James Stuart. Lord and Lady Ellenborough, Lord Andover, Lady Folkstone, Lady Elizabeth and the Misses Miller, Hon, Major Murray, Sir John and Lady Smith, Sir William Bowles, Sir Scrope Bernard, Generals Grosvenor and Mitchell, Mr and Lady Emma Portman, Mr and Mrs Farquharson, Mr Bankes, &c.'. The Sherborne Mercury concludes its account of this assembly by saying, 'this ball will be always referred to as the most splendid and most delightful that has ever distinguished Blandford Races'. The Duke, who attended both days racing and both balls, saw the Gold Cup won by Mr Farquharson's Presentment and the Dorsetshire Stakes on the second day won by Mr. Gauntlett's Gamlia.
Building on that very successful year, in 1828 the organisers ran 4 good races on the first day and 5 on the second with new or tightened conditions. Jockeys colours were introduced and a fine of half a guinea if they were not declared. Competing horses had to be stabled with a subscriber and plated by a smith who had also paid a subscription. The instructions for clearing the course were to be particularly well enforced and all present on foot are requested to retire behind the cords at the ringing of the bell. Tickets for the ball could be purchased at the Inn for 7/6.
Reporting on the meeting, The Globe said that it 'drew a numerous and fashionable company, the weather was fine and the sport excellent'. It is doubtful that all would agree with the last bit, as the Gold Cup and The Dorsetshire Stakes were both walk overs and in the Silver Cup for non-throughbreds, all were disqualified.
Except for the basic results, the racing in 1829 barely got a mention, but the Dorset County Chronicle went to great lengths to describe the added attractions thus, 'The Ordinaries each day were well attended; they were served by Spooner at the Crown Hotel, in excellent style, and gave the greatest satisfaction to all'. But the chief attractions were the Balls, particularly on the second evening at which nearly 300 of the elite of the county attended. 'Never do we recollect an occasion in which the company seemed to enjoy themselves more entirely, indeed it must be impossible for ennui, listlessness or weariness to find a place. About 1 o'clock the refreshment room was thrown open after which the company returned to the ballroom where dancing was kept up with much spirit till the dawn of the day warned them to depart'.
Among the company present on this occasion were:- The Steward with a large party of friends, Lord Encombe, Lady Bethell Codrington and daughter, Sir Edward, Lady Elizabeth and the Misses Baker, Sir Hussey and Lady Vivian, Sir John and Miss Astley, Sir Edward and Lady Poore and Miss Poore, Lady Morden and party, The Hon. Major and Mrs. Murray and Miss Murray, Hon. Henry Arundell, The Hon. and Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Best, The Hon. Mrs. Harris, Mr. Portman, Captain Portman, and  Mr. Bankes, Mr. G.Bankes. Mr. W. Bankes, Colonel, Major and Mrs. Chichester, Captain and Mrs. Hyves, Major and Mrs. Loftus, Colonel and Mrs, Robbins, Captain Hyde Parker, Captain and Mrs. Reyton, Colonel Cleveland, Captain Hollingsworth, Captain Berens, General and the Misses Michel, Captain Radeclyffe, The Officers or the 6th Dragoons, the Rev. C. Woolls, Rev. P. Hall, Rev C. Austen, Rev. and Mrs. Austen, Mrs. J. Austen, Rev. Mr. Scott, Rev. J. Mrs. and Miss Bastard, Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Mason, Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Misses Churchill, Rev. Mr. Blenherhasset, Rev. J. Etridge, Rev. Mr. St. John, Rev. E. and Mrs. Acton, Rev, E. Stuart, Rev. Ronert Salkeld, Rev. John and Mrs. Lowndes, Miss Clavell, Messrs. Medlycroft, Shuckburgh, Floyer, C. Digby, Bower, D. and G. Stuart, Peach, and Hornby, Mrs. And the Misses Floyer, Miss Bennetts, Mrs. G. Digby and party, Mr. and Mrs. T. Grove, Miss C. Pleydell, Mr. and Mrs. Munn, Mr. and Mrs. Hussey, Mr. and Mrs. de Pentheney O'Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. P. Bastard, Mr. and Mrs, Farquharson and family, Mr. Talbort and party, Mr. and Mrs. Lethbridge, Dr. Heywood and party, Mr. and Mrs. Munro, Mr. and Mrs. Hallett and Mr. and the Misses Radeclyffe, Mr. and the Misses Bond, Mr. and Mrs. Clapcott ,Mr. and Mrs. Thomson Jacob, Mr.and Mrs J. Smith, Mr. and Mrs, Daniell and party.
The Dorset County Chronicle's report on the first day's racing in 1830 told of a drop in attendance on former years and suggested the reason being the harvest not yet finished and continued, 'There were no gambling booths, the reception their keepers met with at Salisbury no doubt deterring them from coming’. This refers to what was practically a riot at an earlier Salisbury meeting where the general public appears to have attacked en masse those who they thought were cheating and threw some 300 of them off the course.
The Gold Cup that year was won by Sir Edward Baker's Tyke beating Mr. Loftus's Brownlock by half a neck.

1830-1844
Brownlock did better for Mr, Loftus the next year by winning the Dorsetshire Stakes from 12 original entries, and Mr Bigg won the Gold Cup with Wassailer. The Sherborne Mercury added this, 'We are glad to state that one of the light-fingered gentry was taken busy at his avocation, making free with a lady's reticule and has since been committed to Dorchester gaol'.
A 2-year-old race was scheduled for the 1833 meeting but sadly resulted in a walk over; the winner being trained by Mr Dilly, who seems to have been the most successful trainer on the course around that time. Mr. Bigg again won the Gold Cup, this year with Pounce ridden by J. Day and the Dorsetshire Stakes were won by Mr. Finch's Clara.
Conditions for the Hunter Stakes run in 1834 were as follows: 'Horses to be regularly hunted and not trained in any training stable. Five years old 11st 2lb, six 11st 9lb, aged 12st. Thoroughbred to carry 20lbs extra. A winner once in 1834 to carry 10lb, twice or more 14lb extra.' The race was won by Mr. Codrington's Conservative. The meeting that year was not held till October where the Dorsetshire Stakes was 'won' by Mr. Reeves's Hariot, but was in dispute as to whether he went the wrong side of a post and whether another competitor got pushed out. No resolution could be found in the press.

1835 was reported in The Salisbury and Winchester Journal thus, 'The meeting did not go off with so much eclat as usual from the extremely unfavourable state of the weather. The first day it rained in torrents and the second day was only a little better – the company therefore was really more numerous than could have been expected. The sport was certainly not the best we have seen but the Hunters was exceedingly well contested'. It was run over the 'new' course and won by Mr. George's Redman who was beaten in the first heat but won the next two. Unfortunately, his qualification was later disputed.
The following year, what was believed to be the first hurdle race took place. Mr. Galpine fulfilled one of the main conditions, to be a resident in the county, and his Duodecimo ridden by Mr. George Hill beat 3 others. The Gold Cup went to Sir Edward Baker's Spume, an outsider, 'after a severe race' and he won again the next day. The reporter at the ball wrote, 'Never did we hear Weippert and his band to so much advantage – they outdid all their former doings. The novel mode of introducing voice with the music had a most pleasing and harmonious effect that drew forth the admiration of the whole party'.
A dreadful shortage of runners in 1837 – a total of only 8 for the 3 races on the first day, and 7 for the 3 races on the second. Added to this there was a match each day. The press, however, told of the weather being fine and the whole passed off with great spirit with the number of equipages on the course greater than for some years past. No sign of a hurdle race or one for 2-year-olds and for some time now there was just the one ordinary on the first day and one ball on the second.
Conditions for The Gold Cup had been changed by the next year and the winner could now be claimed for 500 gns. Mr Galpin's Arctic won the Cup, and another race on the following day but the runner shortage continued. A total of only 8 horses contested 3 races on the first day, after the organisers efforts to improve the situation with a 6 furlong race, resulted in that being a walk over. The Morning Post carried this notice: 'By an extraordinary error in the lists, Logic who was third, had the credit of having won the Dorsetshire Stakes, whereas it was won by Lord Jersey's Joanna which was placed last.'
Only 16 runners over the two days in 1839 and two of them ran twice. The Gold Cup was a walk over and on the second day a 2 runner race was annulled because one bolted. However, the ball seems as popular as ever with a long list of the great and the good who were in attendance was published.
It looks as though there was a major effort from the owners – many of whom were the same year after year – to make the meeting more competitive in 1840 with a total of 24 runners but one gets the impression of storms brewing. There are no reports in the press of any racing at all on the course in 1841 and the next year they were advertised as 'Dorset Races over the New Course at Blandford'. This was a one-day meeting 'in the presence of a large and fashionable company' although the Gold Cup was a walk over and two of the four runners in the next race went the wrong side of a pole.
An argument arose over the above meeting when Lord George Bentinck, the Hon. Sydney Herbert and Mr. Gregory questioned the payment of a forfeit for their respective horses which were entered in a race that was walked over by Mr. Biggs's Eleus. They claimed that this was an altogether new meeting, not run at the usual time and not properly advertised in the calendars, so the race should be void. This did not suit Mr Biggs who then objected to any entries being accepted from these gentlemen until the forfeit was paid. Mr. Gregory deposited the forfeit with the stakeholder to abide the result of a reference to the stewards of the Jockey Club. The stewards referred the case to a general meeting of the Club who decided in favour of Mr. Gregory
The 1843 meeting, now called 'County of Dorset and Blandford Races' put on 4 races for which there were at least 32 entries. However, on the day only 8 appeared and two of them ran twice. The Hon Sidney Herbert's Arctic won the Gold cup and then proceeded to collect the prize money for the Dorsetshire Stakes by walking over.
This was effectively the end of Blandford races although there was a meeting of sorts the following year. The press report of that told of 'a particularly fine day, a proportionate sprinkling of gay and dashing equipages came for the amusements but were considerably disappointed, the sport being very indifferent'. The Hon Sydney Herbert's Antler walked over for the first race, the same owner's Arctic won the Gold Cup from his stablemate Ajax, then Ajax ran again in the Members Plate and won that from only 2 others.
Thursday 29th August 1844
Dorset Gold Cup
1. ARCTIC, aged gelding owned by Hon. Sydney Herbert and ridden by West
2. AJAX, 6-y-o owned by Hon. Sydney Herbert
Blandford Members' Plate
1. AJAX, 6-y-o owned by Hon. Sydney Herbert and ridden by Benskin
2. FANNY GALLIGER, 4-y-o mare owned by Mr W Sadler
3. Unnamed 3-y-o bay horse by Elis owned by Mr Jones

Tuesday 30th August 1836 & Wednesday 31st August 1836

The DORSET GOLD CUP took place over a two and a half mile course with 10 runners each subscribing 10 guineas. The result was:-
1. SPUME 5 years old 8st 10lb Owned by Sir E Baker
2. MAYFLOWER 5 years old 8st 7lb Owned by Mr C Finch
3. OUTCAST 4 years old 8st 6lb Owned by Mr C Finch

Also at the Tuesday meeting the records show that 2 further races took place, including the Yeomanry Stakes with the following result:-YEOMANRY STAKES
1. MORETON 6 years old 11st 5lb Owned by Mr R Oakley
beating 3 others.

The meeting extended to a second day on Wednesday 31st August and included a Members' Plate and the Hunters' Stakes when Mr Oakley's Moreton again triumphed beating 2 others. The Members' Plate finished:-
1. SPUME 5 years old 8st 12lb Owned by Sir E Baker
2. TOOTHILL 3 years old 7st 0lb Owned by Lord Palmerston
3. MAYFLOWER 5 years old 8st 9lb Owned by Mr C Finch

The Wednesday meeting also had a Hurdles Sweepstakes with the following result:-HUNTER'S STAKES ( 3 sovereigns to enter and 20 added by the course)
1. DUODECIMO 5 years old 11st 6lb Owned by Mr Galpin
beating 2 others

In 1837 a meeting took place at Blandford the week after the Salisbury raceweek. The DORSETSHIRE GOLD CUP, worth 100 sovereigns, was the feature race

Dorsetshire Gold Cup over 2 miles
1. Arctic owned by Mr Galpin
2. I Wish You May Get It owned by Mr Fulwar Craven
3. Luck’s All owned by Mr S Herbert

The Dorsetshire Stakes over 2 miles
1. Joannina owned by Lord Villiers
2. I Wish You May Get It owned by Mr Fulwar Craven
3. Logic owned by Mr Finch

1837 Weymouth Races
Wednesday 30th August 1837
Borough Members Plate over 2 miles
1. MAYFLOWER, 6-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr C Finch
2. ARCTIC, 4-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin
3. COCK ROBIN, aged bay gelding owned by Mr Harding

1837 Dorchester Races
Thursday 5th September 1837
Maiden Castle Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. VICTORIA, 4-y-o bay filly owned by Mr King
2. ARCTIC, 4-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin
3. LUCK’S-ALL, 5-y-o grey horse owned by Mr Sydney Herbert
Wednesday 6th September 1837
The Dinner Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. MENDICANT, 4-y-o chestnut colt owned by Lord Villiers
2. LINSEY WOOLSEY, 5-y-o bay mare owned by Mr Hopkins
3. BARNEY BODKIN, aged bay horse owned by Mr Harris
4. ARCTIC, 4-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin
Ladies Plate over 1 ½ miles
1. VICTORIA, 4-y-o bay filly owned by Mr King
2. ARCTIC, 4-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin
3. BARNEY BODKIN, aged bay horse owned by Mr Harris

1838 Blandford Races
Wednesday 22nd August 1838
Dorsetshire Gold Cup over 2 miles and the distance
1. ARCTIC, 5-year-old bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin and ridden by H Benskins
2. I-WISH-YOU-MAY-GET-It, 3-y-o brown filly owned by Fulwar Craven
3. LUCK’S-ALL, 6-y-o grey horse owned by Mr Sydney Herbert
4. MULBERRY WINE, 3 y-o chestnut colt owned by Lord George Bentinck
Thursday 23rd August 1838
Handicap Sweepstake of 40 sovereigns over a mile
1. ARCTIC, 5-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin
2. MAYFLOWER, aged bay gelding owned by Mr C Finch
3. MULBERRY WINE, 3-y-o chestnut colt owned by Lord George Bentinck

1838 Weymouth Races
Wednesday 29th August 1838
Sweepstake 50 sovereigns over 2 miles
1. ARCTIC, 5-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin
2. MAYFLOWER, aged bay gelding owned by Mr C Finch
3. SUSANNE, aged brown mare owned by Mr Squibb
Thursday 30th August 1838
Her Majesty’s 100 Guineas Plate over 2 miles
1. I-WISH-YOU-MAY-GET-IT, 3-y-o brown filly owned by Fulwar Craven
2. CHAPEAU D’ESPAGNE, 4-y-o bay filly owned by Lord George Bentinck
3. ARCTIC, 5-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin
4. JOANNINA, 3-y-o bay filly owned by Lord Jersey
5. JOHNNY WAPSTRAW, 4-y-o chestnut gelding owned by Mr T Hopkins

1838 Dorchester Races
Thursday 13th September 1838
Dorchester Silver Bowl (donated by Dorchester Stewards) over 1 ½ miles
1. ARCTIC, 5-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin and ridden by G Hill
2. CAROLINE, 5-y-o bay mare owned by Mr G Harding
3. QUEEN OF THE VALLEY, 6-y-o grey mare owned by Mr John Harding
4. UNEXPECTED, 5-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Parcel
Friday 14th September 1838
Dorchester Ladies 50 sovereigns Plate over 1 ½ miles
1. ARCTIC, 5-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Galpin
2. MERVAN, 4-y-o brown colt owned by Captain Williamson
3. CLARA, 3-y-o chestnut filly owned by Mr Biggs

1839 Blandford Races
Thursday 24th August 1839
Dorsetshire 25 sovereigns Stakes over 2 miles
1. ARCTIC, 6-year-old bay gelding by Brutandorf owned by Mr Sydney Herbert and ridden by Conolly
2. CLARION, 3-y-o bay colt owned by Mr Sydney Herbert
3. THE DRAMA, 3-y-o brown filly owned by Captain Williamson
4. RATSBANE, 4-y-o bay colt owned by Lord George Bentinck

1839 Weymouth Races
Wednesday 28th August 1839
Weymouth Stakes over 2 miles
1. ARCTIC, 6-y-o bay gelding owned by Mr Sydney Herbert
2. JOANNINA, 4-y-o bay filly owned by Lord Villiers

1840 Weymouth Races
Thursday 20th August 1840
Her Majesty’s 100 Guineas Plate over 2 miles

1. ARCTIC, bay gelding owned by Mr Sydney Herbert
2. STICKLER, bay gelding owned by Mr Legg

1841 Weymouth Races
Thursday 19th August 1841
Her Majesty’s 100 Guineas Plate over 2 miles
1. UNA, chestnut filly owned by Mr Treen and ridden by Treen
2. ARCTIC, bay gelding owned by Mr Sydney Herbert
3. SNOWDROP, bay filly owned by Lord Villiers

1841 County of Dorset and Blandford Races
Thursday 7th October 1841
Dorsetshire Gold Cup 100 sovereigns over 2 miles and the distance
1. ARCTIC, bay gelding owned by Mr Sydney Herbert and ridden by C Percy
2. BLEMISH, bay filly owned by Mr Galpin
Friday 8th October 1841
Dorsetshire Stakes 25 sovereigns over 2 miles
1. ARCTIC, bay gelding owned by Mr Sydney Herbert walked over

1842 County of Dorset and Blandford Races
Wednesday 5th October 1842
Dorsetshire Gold Cup over 2 miles
1. ARCTIC, bay gelding owned by Mr Sydney Herbert and ridden by S Rogers
2. CRACKSMAN, owned by Mr Denys
3. FRANCHISE, bay filly owned by Mr Wreford
4. STICKLER owned by Mr Legge
5. CADIZ owned by Mr Farquharson
6. ELEUS owned by Mr Biggs
7. STRAP owned by Mr Galpin

1843 County of Dorset and Blandford Races
Wednesday 9th August 1843
Dorsetshire Gold Cup over 2 miles
1. ARCTIC, bay gelding owned by Hon Sydney Herbert and ridden by Rogers
2. ELEUS, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Biggs
3. HOBGOBLIN, bay colt owned by Mr Farquharson
Dorsetshire Stakes 25 sovereigns over 3 miles
1. ARCTIC, bay gelding owned by Hon Sydney Herbert walked over

1844 County of Dorset and Blandford Races
Tuesday 29th August 1844
Dorsetshire Gold Cup 70 Sovereigns over 2 miles
1. ARCTIC, aged bay gelding by Brutandorf owned by Mr Sydney Herbert and ridden by West
2. AJAX, chestnut horse owned by Mr Sydney Herbert

Racing at Blandford may have died a death from now on but, as every year, the ball was 'very numerously and fashionably attended with dancing kept up with much spirt till a late hour. The much-celebrated Polka was introduced to the high gratification of the whole assembly amidst repeated bursts of applause'. Amongst the company present were noticed :- Lord Portman, Lord and Lady Rivers, Sir E. Baker, Sir Wm. and Lady Medlicott, Mr. and Mrs. Farquharson, Major and Mrs. Smith, Major and Mrs. Portman, Major Simpson, Capt. Mrs and Miss Foster, Capt. Baker, Capt. And Mrs. Ryves, Rev. F. St. John, Rev. G., Mrs. and two Miss Pickards, Rev. C. D. Saunders, Rev. H. and Mrs. Bower, Rev. G. St. George, Mr. and Mrs Sheridan, Mr. Tregonwell, Mr., Mrs and two Miss Husseys, Mr. Seymour, Mr., Mrs and three Misses Bastard, Dr Lees, Mr. Mrs and two Misses Parke, Mr. and Mrs. E. Weld, Mr. Mrs and Miss Slater, Mr. and Mrs. Floyer, Mr and Mrs Jas. Farquharson, Mr. and Mrs. J. Tregonwell, Mr Blair, Mr. Mrs and two Miss Peachs, Mr. and Mrs. Okden, Mr. Mrs and Miss Wood, Mr. and Mrs H. Bastard, Mr and two Miss Dunmars, Mr. and Mrs. Pitt, Mr, and two Miss Munros, Mr. and Mrs. Littlebales, Mrs. and Miss South, Mrs and two Miss Greatheads, Mr. and Mrs. E. Castleman, Mrs. and Miss Scott Murray, Miss Sawbridge, Miss Smith, Miss Prescott, Miss Ryves, three Miss Bakers, Miss Sargent, Miss Rainsford, Mr H Grove, Mr. Rumbold, Mt Stuart, Mr. Fane, Mr. Biddle, Mr. Robertson, Mr. Baker, Mr. A. Stuart, Mr. and three Miss Marklands, Mr. H. Farquharson, Mr. Seymour, Jun., Mr Anderson, Mr. C. J. Parke, Mr. Fox, Mr. W. and Mr. G Saunders, Mr. F. Johns, Mr. A, Johns, Mr. F Smith, Mr. E. Smith, Mr. King, Mr Dunkan, &c.

Did it really have to end?
It was claimed in 1851 that Blandford Races had 'discontinued owing to a misunderstanding', and a half-hearted attempt was made to restart them but to no avail. Then in 1867 a match was held on the old racecourse between Mr. Flower of France Farm and Mr, Brine from Tarrant Crawford. A crowd of 'several hundred came to witness this challenge' to be run over two miles carrying 17 stones; the winner being Mr. Brine who was the outsider at odds of 110 to 60.
Horse racing at Blandford always had a good solid following from the general public, so what really brought about its end? Was it truly a misunderstanding or can something else be read into the history of the course?
Reading between the lines, the first reason was surely the lack of runners and one of the causes for this might have been the unimaginative framing of the races. Admittedly efforts to deal with this problem were made in the last few years when a 2-year-old, a hurdle, and a 6 furlong sprint were introduced, but it was too late. It seems as well that racing there may have fallen into the hands of a small, wealthy cartel who owned top rate animals and almost 'framed' the results. A lot more might have been made of hunter races which, by the way, never resulted in a walk over. There was never any criticism of the going in the press, so it must be presumed that that was satisfactory. There does not, however, appear to be any record of the layout of the course, but one might assume it to be circular if catering for races up to 4 miles and, if so, would not have encouraged bigger fields as racing 'on the turn' can often produce hard luck stories. There was too, the competition for runners from other nearby courses like Dorchester, Weymouth and Salisbury that provided yet another reason why the fields were restricted.

From the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette August 23rd 1929
BLANDFORD RACE COURSE
'On the Tarrant Launceston portion of the Langton Estates, Dorset, which are due to come under the hammer of Messrs. Knight, Frank and Rutley and Messrs. R. B. Taylor and Sons on 25th September 1929, lies the old Blandford Race Course. Races were held there in the reign of King James 1, if not before. They were continued until 1844 and formed one of the most popular meetings in the South of England'.
Two dates that may be of interest; firstly, October 29th 1929 (a month after the above sale) was the date of the Wall Street Crash when many wealthy people became destitute overnight and led to a decade of depression. Secondly, 1750 was the year that the Jockey Club is believed to have been formed which led to a stronger governance for horse racing.

I am grateful to John Tory for providing an update on how the racecourse was used once reacing had ceased.

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:-

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