Earliest meeting: Thursday 30th March 1837
Final meeting: Saturday 27th March 1851
The Burton Constable racecourse, situated some 4 miles from the town of Hedon and just 8 miles from Hull, was in the extensive grounds owned by Sir Clifton Constable and first witnessed racing on Thursday 30th March 1837. The course was circular, with a circumference of a mile and a quarter, and had a hill before entering the 2 ½ furlong straight. The feature Silver Cup race was won by Mr E Wall’s Ritle beating Red Deer. Races were held each year; the meeting in 1843 was a two day event on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th April. The Drawing Room Stakes on day one was won by Vitellius, and the same horse completed a remarkable double on day two by landing the feature Burton Constable Criterion Handicap Stakes over 1 ¾ miles. Meetings continued annually for a total of 14 years until a final card took place on Saturday 27th March 1851.
Wednesday 26th & Thursday 27th April 1843
The Drawing Room Stakes over 1 ¾ miles
1. Vitellius owned by Mr J Megson
2. Hamlet owned by Colonel Thompson
3. Candidate owned by Mr J catton
The Holderness Stakes over 1 ¾ miles
1. Viellius owned by Mr J Megson
2. Spartacus owned by Mr B Haworth
Sir Clifford Constable was widely praised for being ‘perfectly successful in establishing a thorough taste for the noble sports of the field in the East Riding’.
Thursday 10th April 1845
Farmers Purse (20 sovereigns) once round and the distance
1. Ranger owned by Mr Irvine and ridden by W Wilson 1 2 1
2. Isabel owned by Mr J Johnson and ridden by Lamplugh 2 1 3
3. Autocrat owned by Mr Haworth and ridden by Haworth 5 3 2
4. The Queen owned by Captain Broadley 3 wdr
5. Little John owned by Captain Cooper 4 wdr
The winner won by ½ a length
Burton Constable Handicap (20 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. Porto Bello (6/4) owned by Mr R E Shaftoe and ridden by Bumby
2. Unnamed colt by Slane (Evens fav) owned by Mr T Dawson and ridden by T Lye
3. The Infant owned by Mr R Bell and ridden by G Francis
The winner won by ½ a length
The Scurry Stakes (10 sovereigns)
1. Lill owned by Mr Whiting and ridden by G Francis
2. Frea owned by Mr Robson and ridden by Templeman
3. Golden Pippin owned by Mr W E Hobson and ridden by Bloor
The winner won by a neck
Criterion Handicap Stakes (20 sovereigns) over 1 ¾ miles
1. Porto Bello owned by Mr R E Shaftoe and ridden by Bumby
2. Helen owned by Colonel Thompson and ridden by G Francis
3. Unnamed filly by Muley Moloch owned by Mr Walker and ridden by Styche
The winner won by ½ a length
The Social Stakes (Silver Tea Pot donated by E H Reynard) over 1 ½ miles
1. Legacy owned by Mr Baxter and ridden by H Baxter
2. Beta owned by Mr Milner and ridden by Wise
3. Unnamed mare by Muley Moloch owned by Mr Holliday and ridden by J Holliday
The winner won by a length
In the evening, during races week, the Burton Constable Theatre performed Sir Edward Lytton Bulwer’s play ‘The Lady of Lyons’. Afterwards 50 persons dined in the Baronial Hall.
Wednesday 11th April & Thursday 12th April 1849
Burton Constable Gold Cup over 2 ½ miles
1. Sylvan owned by Lord Beaumont and ridden by Captain Broadley
Burton Drawing Room Stakes over 1 ¾ miles
1. Defaulter owned by Mr Dawson and ridden by Captain Broadley
Holderness Stakes over 2 miles
1. Malton owned by Mr Stebbings and ridden by Captain Broadley
Burton Constable Farmers Plate over a mile
1. Novice owned by Mr G Ford and ridden by C Ford
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
