Earliest meeting: April 1835
Final meeting: Monday 12th April 1841
The Northamptonshire village of Bugbrooke, with its ancient Manor House, lies 12 kilometres from Northampton and overlooks the River Nene. The ‘History of Northamptonshire’ recorded that racing took place in the village as early as 1835. The races were competitive steeplechases and a further meeting followed in 1836. The final recorded meeting took place on Monday 12th April 1841, starting with an interesting Sweepstake over just half a mile but containing 6 three feet high leaps. It was won by Mr Fletcher’s Jemmy, while a concluding half mile Sweepstake, for people resident within 8 miles of Bugbrooke, went to Mr S Dicken’s Bolero. The feature race was a steeplechase which began at Mr Dicken’s Cold Higham Lodge, progressed to the Great Bridge Valley, continued alongside the Holyhead turnpike, on to Stowe Field and back to the finishing pole at Cold Higham Lodge. After a thrilling race, in which there was just a field of four, Mr Pettifer’s Whitestockings gained the prize. After racing a dinner was served at Mr Morton’s Crown Inn. |
This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Patrons |
Mr Dickens, Mr Morton |
| Principal races |
Bugbrooke Steeplechase, Bugbrooke Sweepstake |
Monday 12th April 1841
Bugbrooke Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Whitestockings, bay gelding owned by Mr Pettifer
2. Clifton, bay gelding owned by Mr Higgins
3. Steamer, bay gelding owned by Mr Fox
4. Single Peeper, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Green |
| The final recorded meeting took place on 12th April 1841. |
| Course today |
A 4 mile course starting and finishing at Cold Higham Lodge owned by Mr Dickens. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
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 |
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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 |
| Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent. |
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