Earliest meeting: Thursday 5th September 1811
Final meeting: Thursday 22nd September 1831
The Wiltshire town of Burderop lies close to Chiseldon and first held race meetings in 1811. The course was in the Park of Burderop House, the home of Thomas Calley, High Sheriff of Wiltshire since 1807. The inaugural meeting on Thursday 5th September 1811 provided a packed card of quality races including a Handicap Sweepstake of 25 Guineas, a Plate worth 60 Guineas, a Handicap Plate worth 50 Guineas presented by William Herbert and Thomas Goddard, Members of Parliament for Cricklade, and a Silver Cup presented by Thomas Calley who also acted as Steward of the course. A meeting was held the next year on Wednesday 7th September 1812 when the feature Burderop Gold Cup over 4 miles was won by Scorpion, owned by Lord C H Somerset, who defeated Sir H Lippincott’s Beverely.  In 1817 the Savernake Forest Stakes was contested for the first time, while from 1818 onwards the card included a race for horses of non-commissioned officers and men of the Wiltshire Yeomanry. The period before and after racing were just as important as the races themselves, with Ordinaries served at the Goddard Arms or the Bell Inn at Swindon, and followed by a Ball. The final meeting took place on Thursday 22nd September 1831.

Wednesday 7th September 1812

Burderop Gold Cup over 4 miles
1. Scorpion owned by Lord C.H.Somerset
2. Beverley owned by Sir H.Lippincott

Burderop 60 Guineas Stakes over 3 miles
1. Romeo owned by Mr Dundas

Burderop Handicap Plate over 2 miles
1. Mountaineer owned by Mr Calley

From 1818 onwards a race was usually contested for the horses of non-commissioned officers and men of the Wiltshire Yeomanry. In 1817 a Savernake Forest Stakes was contested, and in 1825 there was a race called the Swindon Stakes. Before and after racing Ordinaries were held at the Goddard Arms or the Bell Inn at Swindon, and in 1819 there was a ball and supper at the Goddard Arms.

Tuesday 24th August to Wednesday 25th August 1824

Burderop Gold Cup over 3 miles
1. Wiseacre owned by Mr Goddard
2. Melampus owned by Mr C Day
3. Savernake owned by Lord Ailesbury

Savernake Forest Stakes over 2 miles
1. Ferdinand owned by Lord Ailesbury
2. Wiseacre owned by Mr Goddard

Burderop Handicap Plate over 2 miles
1. Savernake owned by Lord Ailesbury
2. Melampus owned by Mr C Day

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

I am grateful to Andy Thrower for the rare racecard shown below

Burderop Races
Lord Bruce (Steward)
Mr William Belcher (Clerk of Course)
Thursday 23rd August 1827
Gold Cup 100 sovereigns over 3 miles

1. Luzborough owned by Lord Palmerston and ridden by C Day
2. Lawrence owned by Mr Gordon
3. Brother to Barefoot owned by Marquis of Ailesbury
4. Unnamed chestnut colt by Anticipation owned by Mr Goddard

50 Sovereigns Purse over 3 miles

1. Unnamed chestnut colt by Anticipation owned by Mr Goddard and ridden by A Pavis
2. Lawrence owned by Mr King

Silver Cup presented by T Calley over 2 miles

1. Burton owned by Mr Frampton and ridden by Cowley
2. Unnamed bay gelding by L'Orient owned by Mr Bladen

Friday 24th August 1827
Savernake Forest Stakes once round

1. Unnamed chestnut colt by Anticipation owned by Mr Goddard
2. Brother to Barefoot owned by Marquis of Ailesbury

50 Sovereigns Handicap Plate a gift of Joseph Pitt MP over 2 miles

1. Lawrence owned by Mr Cowley
2. Unnamed chestnut colt by Anticipation owned by Mr Goddard
3. Filho da Puta owned by Lord Bruce
4. Brother to Barefoot owned Marquis of Ailesbury
5. Grey Mare owned by Mr Hows
6. Burton owned by Mr Frampton

50 Sovereigns Silver Cup a gift of Lord Bruce over 2 miles

1. Unnamed bay filly owned by Mr Masheling
2. The Squire owned by Mr Iveson
3. Little John owned by Mr Frampton
4. Waterloo owned by Mr Bladen

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