Earliest meeting: Wednesday 12th March 1856
Final meeting: Wednesday 12th March 1856
The tiny Cambridgeshire village of Caxton, mentioned in the Domesday Book, is some 9 miles west of Cambridge on the main Roman road of Ermine Street leading to the city. The rural village has, in the past, had its own horse races, point to point races and its own greyhound stadium and speedway track. The village is more famously known for its Gibbet which can still be seen from the main road today. In the 19th century the village was an important staging post for coaches and, as such, it was able to draw in the crowds for its race meeting. However, the only recorded meeting took place on Wednesday 12th March 1856 over 4 miles of ‘fair hunting ground with stiffish fences and a 16 foot wide brook’. The main Sweepstake was contested over 4 miles and won by Mr Taylor with his bay gelding Telegraph. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Taylor, Mr Jones |
| Principal Races |
Caxton Sweepstake, Welter Race, Scurry Sweepstake |
Wednesday 12th March 1856
Caxton Sweepstake over 4 miles
1. Telegraph, bay gelding owned by Mr Taylor
2. Gerard, bay gelding owned by Mr Jones
3. Merry Man, bay gelding owned by Mr Dark |
| The only recorded meeting took place on Wednesday 12th March 1856. |
| Course today |
A stiff 4 mile course over fair hunting ground on the edge of the village. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
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 |
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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 |
| Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent. |
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