Earliest meeting: Whit Monday 28th May 1860
Final meeting: Monday 5th June 1865
There are probably no races better known than the Blaydon races, immortalised in the famous 19th Century folk song,”As went te Blaydon races, t’was on the ninth of June….”, and the first meeting took place in the Northumbrian village of Blaydon on Tuesday 29th May 1860 at Stella Haugh, just a mile West of the town. Also mentioned in the song was a pub, The Robin Adair, which was on the Scotswood Road adjacent to the racecourse. The inaugural meeting was a two day affair starting on Monday 28th May 1860 with horse races, followed on Whit Tuesday by a regatta. Whilst the final meeting operating under the Jockey Club Rules of racing took place on Monday 5th June 1865, ‘flapping’ meetings, including one on Monday 30th May 1887, continued until 1916.
Colonel J A Cowen, Major Joicey
Stella Stakes, Towneley Stakes, Licensed Victuallers Plate, Blaydon Stakes, Braes of Derwent Hunt Cup
The inaugural meeting at Blaydon racecourse was on Whit Monday 28th May 1860, when entries had to be made by to the Hon. Secretary Mr E Matinson by 9pm the previous Saturday.
2.30 Silver Cup £10 10s Sweepstake over a mile
1. CANNIE FELLOW (Evens fav) owned by Mr William Cowan and ridden by Cowan
2. GAYLAD (5/1) owned by Mr Hadlow and ridden by Hadlow
3. FLINT (3/1) owned by Mr Wilkinson and ridden by W Nixon
4. HEATHER JOCK (6/1) owned by Mr Armstrong and ridden by Akney
3.30 Pony Race for a Silver mounted Riding Whip over a mile
1. KNIGHT OF THE CLEAVER owned by Mr Turner and ridden by W Nixon
2. TRIP THE DAISY owned by Mr Armstrong and ridden by Akney
The final meeting under Rules of Racing took place on Monday 5th June 1865 when the Stewards were Mr J J Humble and Mr J A Cowan, the Judge was Mr Caleb, the Starter Mr J Unwin, the Hon. Secretary was Mr E Martinson and the Clerk of the Course was Mr I Turner
Royal Oak Stakes over 6 furlongs
1. FLOWER OF YARROW (4/6 fav) owned by Mr Dryden and ridden by Rod Trotter
2. TRY AGAIN (2/1) owned by Mr Turner and ridden by Prince
3. HIGHLAND LAD (3/1) owned by Mr Dale and ridden by Dale
Blaydon Plate over 1 1/4 miles
1. GAYOUS (1/2 fav) owned by Mr C Scott and ridden by Austin
2. BARBARA ALLEN (3/1) owned by Mr Ruddock and ridden by Reynolds
3. MISS SHAFTOE (4/1) owned by Mr J Reay and ridden by Rod Trotter
3. CHARCOAL (4/1) owned by Mr J Harrison and ridden by J Smiles
United Hunters Stakes for gentlemen riders over 1 3/4 miles
1. SKIPJACK (Evens fav) owned and ridden by Mr Miller
2. DICK SWIVELLER (10/1) owned by Mr J Robson and ridden by R Nixon
3. MARK TOPLEY (6/4) owned by Captain Potter and ridden by T Smith
4. SIR TATTON (10/1) owned by Mr R Nelson and ridden by McKenzie
5. CHARCOAL (10/1) owned by Mr J Harrison and ridden by Wheatley
Ladies Plate over a mile
1. BARBARA ALLEN (5/4 fav) owned by Mr Ruddock and ridden by Reynolds
2. CHARCOAL (6/4) owned by Mr J Harrison and ridden by J Smiles
3. HIGHLAND LAD (4/1) owned by Mr Dale and ridden by Prince
Farewell Stakes over 1 1/4 miles
1. SKIPJACK (3/1) owned by Mr Miller and ridden by Robinson
2. GAYOUS (1/2 fav) owned by Mr C Scott and ridden by Austin
3. BARBARA ALLEN (4/1) owned by Mr Ruddock and ridden by Shields
4. CHARCOAL (4/1) owned by Mr J Harrison and ridden by Reynolds
Monday 30th May 1887
The Stella Stakes over a mile and a half
1. Bridget owned by Mr Johnson
2. The Minnow owned by Mr R Algood
3. Lord Derby owned by Mr Tom Smith
Braes of Derwent Hurdles Hunt Cup over 2 ½ miles
1. The Bailey owned by Mr H Grace
2. Prism owned by Mr R Murray
Whilst the final meeting operating under the Jockey Club Rules of racing took place on 5th June 1865, ‘flapping’ meetings, including the 1887 meeting shown above, continued until 1916.
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below, and to John Hodges for drawing my attention to it.
I am grateful to Keith Nicholson for an update and photos from the former, famous Blaydon Racecourse. Keith comments "We went t'Blaydon Races, 'twas on the 9th of June" although actually 'twas the 29th of October 2021 and the sun came out. After the Stella Power Station was knocked down many years earlier, the site lay derelict until 5 or 6 years ago when houses and a few business units were built. The only bit not built on was the old finishing straight, probably because of the huge substation and accompanying electricity cables close by.
The first photograph is looking west down what would have been the last furlong or so. The second photo is from past the winning post and looking east, note how close it was to the Tyne. There remains no evidence at all of its previous incarnation as a racecourse.
On Stella Haugh, adjacent to the Robin Adair pub. No evidence of the racecourse remains as the Stella South Power Station was built on the course in the mid 1950s.
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
