Earliest meeting: Friday 17th October 1755
Final meeting: Wednesday 24th April 1867
The small Devonshire town of Colyton, in East Devon some 5 kilometres from Seaton, was mentioned in the Domesday Book when known as Culitone. Barely half a mile away is Colcombe Castle, with Colyton Hill overlooking the town, and it was near the hill that races were first staged on Friday 17th October 1755. The principal race, the Colyton Sweepstakes, was captured by Sir John Poole’s Pinkey in front of Bloody Bones and Toll Free. Races continued to be held intermittently for over a century until a Steeplechase meeting took place on Wednesday 24th April 1867 at which Sir J G R De La Rue was Steward. The meeting began with the East Devon Steeplechase over 3 miles which saw Mr Richard’s Lady Dawson beat Barumite and Queen of the South, while the Selling Chase was won by Major Bolton’s Little Jerry. The feature race was the Colyton Cup Hurdle which was claimed by Mr Davey’s Lord Byron who beat Miss Glasgow. The course was used for the next 3 years by the East Devon Hunt to stage their Steeplechase meetings.

Friday 17th October 1755

Friday 17th October 1755 Colyton Sweepstakes
1. Pinkey owned by Sir John Poole
2. Bloody Bones owned by Mr Maurice
3. Toll Free owned by Mr Harvey
4. Brandy owned by Mr Crow

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

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