Earliest meeting: Wednesday 30th June 1841
Final meeting: Thursday 7th May 1925
Given its proximity to racing’s Headquarters at Newmarket, it is surprising that Cambridge racecourse has not played a more prominent role in English racing history. The earliest recorded races in the city were in 1841 to celebrate the Coronation, but it was to be a further 16 years before racing returned. That first meeting on Wednesday 30th June 1841 was included in Baily's Racing Register when the Coronation Plate, once round the course, was won by Mr Rogers’s Jessica at the expense of Mr J Smith’s Daniel. Two years later, at the meeting on Tuesday 18th July 1843 the Cambridge Town Plate went to Mr Poole’s Rapture, while the prestigious Cambridge Stakes was won by Lord W Powlett’s Nelly. As befits the academic institution, Cambridge University students held their own Steeplechase annually called The Whip. The meetings were held close to Cambridge in Cottenham and results were regularly recorded in Sporting Magazine editions and Racing Calendars since the mid 1800’s. The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, over 4 miles and 24 fences, is now contested at the annual Cheltenham Festival in March, but on two occasions in the 1870s it was held at Cottenham, Cambridge. In 1870 Schiedam was victorious when ridden by John Maunsell Richardson, while in 1877 it was won by The Bear ridden by Ted Wilson. After the February 1912 meeting there was a lapse in ‘recognised’ meetings at the course, particularly during the War years, and racing only returned to Cambridge for the November 1924 meeting. The final meeting took place on Thursday 7th May 1925.
Lord Powlett, Captain D Lane
Wednesday 30th June 1841
The Coronation Plate over once round
1. Jessica owned by Mr Rogers
2. Daniel owned by Mr J.Smith
Tuesday 18th July 1843
The Cambridge Town Plate
1. Rapture owned by Mr Poole
2. Hampton owned by Mr Shepherd
3. Eros owned by Mr Spriggs
The Cambridge Stakes over 1 ¼ miles
1. Nelly owned by Lord W Powlett
2. Ends and Odds owned by Mr Pettit
3. Rapture owned by Mr Poole
Tuesday 24th July 1866
The Cambridge Handicap over 1 ¼ miles
1. Domino owned by Mr W Bevell
2. Wild Thyme owned by Lord Poulett
3. Ammunition owned by Captain D Lane
The Cambridge Town Plate Hurdle over 6 furlongs
1. Reporter owned by Mr C Green
The Ladies Silver Cup over a mile
1. Domino owned by Mr W Bevill
2. Wild Thyme owned by Lord Poulett
3. Rinaldo owned by Mr P Wickham
The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, over 4 miles and 24 fences, is now contested at the annual Cheltenham Festival in March, but on 2 occasions in the 1870’s it was held at Cottenham, Cambridge, and the results are shown below.
1870 Schiedam ridden by John Maunsell Richardson
1877 The Bear ridden by Ted Wilson
The picture shown below was painted by William Verner Longe (1857-1924) and is in the public domain because it is more than 70 years since his death. He studied at the Ipswich School of Art before moving to Brussels. He is famous for his racing scenes, particularly the high-profile races such as the Derby, 2000 Guineas and Ascot Gold Cup. U V
On Tuesday 6th March 1906 the Cambridge University races were held over the Cambridge racecourse at Cottenham, run under National Hunt Rules. The principal event, the Cottenham Challenge Cup (20 sovereigns) over 2 miles was an action-packed race in which Manor II fell, fracturing a fetlock, and was shot.
Cottenham Challenge Cup over 2 miles
- Windsor, aged gelding owned and ridden by Mr G Johnston
- Crack Shot, aged gelding owned by Mr H D Law and ridden by Blackburn
- Dandy Dan, aged gelding owned by Mr Atkinson and ridden by C Laing
- Dutch Roll, 6 year-old owned by Mr Cecil Hayes and ridden by R Ackroyd
Fell Manor II owned and ridden by Mr J Buxton
Windsor won by a distance, with 4 lengths between second and third
After the February 1912 meeting there was a lapse in ‘recognised’ meetings at the course, particularly during the War years, and racing only returned to Cambridge for the November 1924 meeting.
A very successful Point-to-Point meeting continues to take place at Cottenham and is always well attended.
The rare handbill shown below is provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection.
The front cover/ principal races from this rare racecard are provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection.
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
