Earliest Meeting: Tuesday 7th June 1887
Final Meeting: Tuesday 7th June 1887
The tiny North Yorkshire village of Boltby lies in the Hambleton district of the county about 6 miles north east of Thirsk. It lies on the edge of the beautiful North York Moors and was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book when known as Boltebi in the Yalestre Hundred. Today the village has a population of less than 150 and consists of less than 50 houses, although they do benefit from an old agreement by which all dwellings receive free water ‘for all time’ as a consequence of a 19th century reservoir being built close by.
There is evidence that annual races were held on the outskirts of the village to the east on Moor End, although they are likely to have been confined to the locals. A meeting was certainly held on Tuesday 7th June 1887 as evidenced by the extract from the Northern Echo of Thursday 9th June 1887.
TUESDAY 7th JUNE 1887
BOLTBY STAKES
1. Boltby Lass owned by Mr J Taylor and ridden by C Dale
2. Birdforth Lass owned and ridden by Mr T Plummer
2/5 Boltby Lass, 2/1 Birdforth Lass
JUBILEE STAKES
1. Good Night owned and ridden by Mr T Plummer
2. Defence owned by Mr J Taylor and ridden by C Dale
1/4 Defence, 3/1 Good Night
RAVENSTHORPE CUP
1 Hambletonian owned by Mr W Hutchinson and ridden by H Manfield
2. Boltby Lass owned by Mr J Taylor and ridden by E Watson
There was a dead-heat, but Hambletonian won the run off.
The races were still being marked in the early 20th century when the Boltby Selling Plate regularly featured in the Thirsk Racecourse programme in the 1930’s.
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
