Earliest Meeting: November 1689
Final Meeting: November 1689
Cliveden, near Taplow, is famous for its magnificent house now run by the National Trust, but at one time it had been the home of a Prince of Wales, two Dukes, including the Duke of Sutherland, and Viscount and Nancy Astor. The house, set in 375 acres of gardens, parks and woodlands, was first built on this site in 1666 but it burned down in 1795. Cliveden means 'valley among cliffs' and the extensive estate was divided by a valley which runs straight through it. At one time, in the latter part of the 17th century, racing was staged on Cliveden Heath, sometimes known as Taplow Heath, most famously in November 1689 when Lord Lovelace sponsored a Plate as a prize. Horses for the race could be stabled at Hurley, and after racing a dinner was held at The Bear at Maidenhead. Cliveden Heath was eventually enclosed in 1787. |
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 |
