Although it is likely that races took place in the vicinity of Catterick, at Richmond, prior to 1783, the first meeting on the present day course was a 2 day meeting on Easter Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd April 1783, with results shown below. Mr Ferguson, who won the St Leger with Antonio at 33/1, was a Catterick landlord and farmer, and he ensured races continued at the course, even on days when it snowed, by sending his flock of sheep around the course to melt the snow in 1819. In 1848 Catterick Bridge issued membership tokens to raise necessary funds for a development programme, but it was not until 1888 that the general public were charged an entry fee. Prior to this date only those using the stand were charged an entrance fee. In 1946 Major Leslie Petch became Clerk of the Course, while in 1972 John Sanderson, nephew of Leslie Petch, took over as Clerk of the Course and Managing Director, working tirelessly to put the course on a firm financial footing. The principal race at the track is the North Yorkshire Grand National which is staged each January, with most recent results shown below.
Currently Catterick offers 10 National Hunt and 17 Flat meetings annually.
Easter Monday 21st April 1783
Catterick Bridge Silver Cup for Hunters
1. Fairplay owned by Mr Mangle
Beat a field of 4 others.
Tuesday 22nd April 1783
Catterick Great Subscription
1. Unnamed colt owned by Sir Thomas Dundas
Beat a field of 6 others
The first record of racing taking place in Richmond was in 1669 when a two-day meeting was held on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th September 1669, hosting the Richmond £50 Plate and £20 Plate. Meetings were extended to 5 days the next year, with similar Plates being contested from Monday 15th to Friday 19th September 1670. The meeting became particularly important in 1725, staging His Majesty’s 100 Guineas (called the Hambleton 100 Guineas) which was won by Bald Peg, a son of Lister Turk, owned by Mr M Tims. The course was an oval course of a mile and a half in circumference, with a straight run in of 5 furlongs. The whole course was visible from a ‘substantial’ stone built grandstand. Many prominent racing stalwarts attended the races over more than two centuries, and once the Richmond Cup was introduced it was highly sought after. On Tuesday 14th September 1762 the Cup was claimed by the Duke of Cleveland with Dainty Davey. Meetings continued to be popular for a further century until the final two day meeting ran from Thursday 6th to Friday 7th August 1891.
Tuesday 14th September 1762
Richmond Cup over 2 miles
1. Dainty Davey owned by the Duke of Cleveland
2. Silvio owned by Mr Hutton
3. Syren owned by Mr Dalston
1. Native Buck (7/2), trained by Tom George and ridden by J M Maguire
2. Tribal Run (15/8 fav), trained by Nicky Richards and ridden by Brian Harding
3. Red Rampage (14/1), trained by N Mason and ridden by Mr L McGrath
1. Harlov (11/4 fav), trained by Andrew Parker and ridden by Richie McGrath
2. Celioso (4/1), trained by Sue Smith and ridden by J R Ryan
3. Granit D’Estruval (20/1), trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Paddy Aspell
North Yorkshire Grand National 2006 over 3 miles 6 furlongs
1. Prince of Slane (8/1), trained by G A Swinbank and ridden by Dougie Costello
2. Harlov (33/1), trained by Andrew Parker and ridden by K Leason
3. High Cotton (8/1), trained by K G Reveley and ridden by Jim Crowley
The North Yorkshire Grand National 2005 was abandoned
North Yorkshire Grand National 2007 over 3 miles 6 furlongs
1. Bang and Blame (10/1), trained by M W Easterby and ridden by M J McAlister
2. Classic Capers (12/1), trained by J M Jefferson and ridden by F King
3. Like a Bee (7/1), trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by Noel Fehily
North Yorkshire Grand National 2008 was abandoned due to a waterlogged course
North Yorkshire Grand National 2009 was abandoned due to a waterlogged course
North Yorkshire Grand National 2010 was abandoned due to a waterlogged course
North Yorkshire Grand National 2011 over 3 miles 6 furlongs
1. General Hardi (16/1), trained by J Wade and ridden by D F O’Reagan
2. According To Pete (9/2 fav), trained by J M Jefferson and ridden by Graham Lee
3. Star Beat (7/1), trained by Mrs K Walton and ridden by R McGrath
North Yorkshire Grand National 2012 over 3 miles 6 furlongs
1. Posh Bird (8/1), trained by Peter Niven and ridden by Graham Lee
2. Cool Mission (8/1), trained by Donald McCain Jnr and ridden by J M Maguire
3. Apache Blue (7/1), trained by J Wade and ridden by K Renwick
North Yorkshire Grand National 2013 over 3 miles 6 furlongs
1. Chac Du Cadran (11/2), trained by C C Bealby and ridden by Tom Messenger
2. Desperate Dex (12/1), trained by Tom George and ridden by Paddy Brennan
3. Night In Milan (8/1), trained by K G Reveley and ridden by J Reveley
North Yorkshire Grand National 2014 over 3 miles 6 furlongs
1. Sun Cloud (4/1), trained by J M Jefferson and ridden by Bryan Hughes
2. Merlin’s Wish (9/4 fav), trained by Martin Keighley and ridden by Ian Popham
3. The Thirsty Bricky (22/1), trained by D Thompson and ridden by Tony Kelly
North Yorkshire Grand National 2015 over 3 miles 6 furlongs
1. Scotswell (5/1 fav), trained by Mrs H O Graham and ridden by J Reveley
2. Herdsman (8/1), trained by B Ellison and ridden by B Hughes
3. Whats Up Woody (12/1), trained by G Bewley and ridden by Jonathon Bewley
North Yorkshire Grand National 2016 over 3 miles 5 furlongs and 214 yards
1. Lackamon (12/1), trained by Mrs S J Smith and ridden by Danny Cook
2. Alto Des Mottes (10/1), trained by Mr H P Hogarth and ridden by Bryan Hughes
2. Gorgehous Lliege (10/1), trained by Miss Venetia Williams and ridden by Aidan Coleman
North Yorkshire Grand National 2017 over 3 miles 5 furlongs
1. Straidnahanna (11/2 fav), trained by Mrs S J Smith and ridden by Danny Cook
2. Gonalston Cloud (9/1), trained by N Kent and ridden by Adam Wedge
3. Itstimeforapint (14/1), trained by Miss Lucinda Russell and ridden by D R Fox
North Yorkshire Grand National 2018 over 3 miles 5 furlongs
1. I Just Know (4/1 co fav), trained by Mrs S J Smith and ridden by Sean Quinlan
2. Billy Bronco (11/2), trained by Evan Williams and ridden by Adam Wedge
3. Point The Way (13/2), trained by Brian Ellison and ridden by Henry Brooke
North Yorkshire Grand National 2019 over 3 miles 5 furlongs
1. Sharp Response (7/4), trained by Mrs S J Smith and ridden by Danny Cook
2. Same Circus (11/2), trained by Donald McCain junior and ridden by Brian Hughes
3. Western Jo (20/1), trained by Sam England and ridden by Jonathan England
