Burton on Trent in 1836
1 SYLVAN 4 year old 7st 12 lbs General Yates
2 PARTISAN 3 year old 6st 4 lbs Lord Chesterfield
3 HERON 3 year old 6st 4 lbs Mr Fowler
Trent Bridge, with a road off of it, leading to the races at the time when races were held.
The races shown opposite were run at Burton on Tuesday 17th August to Wednesday 18th August 1824
Burton Gold Cup over 2 miles and a furlong
1. General Mina owned by Sir T Stanley
2. Birmingham owned by Lord Rancliffe
Burton Sweepstake over the straight mile
1. Fille de Joie owned by Mr Yates
2. Haji Baba owned by Sir T Stanley
3. Unnamed colt by Cato owned by Mr Haynes
Anglesea Plate over 3 miles (sic Anglesey)
1. Unnamed filly by Blacklock owned by Sir W Wynn
2. Little Driver owned by Mr Bowman
3. Master Richard owned by Mr Cato
Burton Ladies Plate over 2 miles
1. Belmont owned by Mr Peach
2. Unnamed brother to The Patriarch owned by Lord Anson
3. Alecto owned by Mr Barrow
1 BEGGAR MY NEIGHBOUR 8st 5 lbs Mr E Peel
2 GRANBY 8st 5 lbs Mr W Lacy
3 PRIAM 8st 5 lbs Lord Chesterfield
During the 2 day meeting there were 4 races on the first day and a further 3 on the second day, with two of the races, a 3 year old stakes and a Half Bred stakes not taking place due to lack of runners.
The meeting was to last for a further 4 years, with the final meeting on 18th August 1840.
Wood's map of Burton 1837 clearly indicates the position of the racecourse in the top right hand corner of the map. I am grateful to Liz and Elwyn Rees-Jones for providing the evidence and the further details shown opposite.
Prior to the meeting held on Burton Meadows in the 1800's there was racing in Burton on Outwood Hills in the Horninglow area. The principal race of the meeting was the King's Plate, but once the land was enclosed the race was transferred to the meeting at Lichfield. Subsequently the Lichfield racecourse at Whittington became a golf course and the winning post and part of the grandstand can be seen to this day.
The meeting at Outwood Hills was a popular affair which was advertised widely in the St James Evening Post from Thursday 28th August to Saturday 30th August 1718. The meeting took place on Thursday 20th September for a purse of 10 guineas, competed for by Galloways not exceeding 14 hands high. Each horse carried 9 stone and the race was over 3 heats.
On Wednesday 1st October 1718 a further meeting took place for a purse of 20 guineas for horses, mares and geldings carrying 10 stone. A condition of race entry was that the horses had to be entered at the Town Hall 8 days before the race and then had to be stabled at public houses in Burton.
The racecard shown above, from 1836, is available for 60 credits
Today there are no visible signs of the racecourse that once existed in Burton on Trent, although the Library has provided evidence of its previous existence.