Earliest meeting: Saturday 23rd March 1833
Final meeting: Tuesday 7th March 1848
The Northamptonshire village of Cottesbrooke is in the Daventry district of the county. It is a mile from the main road linking Northampton with Leicester, and today the village claims a tiny population of less than 150 people. Near to the village is Cottesbrooke Hall which was built in 1702 by the Langhams. In the middle of the 19th century the village held its own race meetings, the first of which took place in 1833. The ‘History of Northamptonshire’ recorded a steeplechase taking place between Brixworth and Cottesbrooke on Saturday 23rd March 1833 with the glorious title of ‘The Great Northamptonshire Steeplechase for 20 sovereigns each’. One of the most famous racing men of the century was Squire Osbaldeston who, at the time, was Master of the nearby Pytchley Hunt, and he was the organiser of the race, although his mount fell at the first brook, leaving the race to be won by Mr Sollaway’s Daring Ranger. Racing continued in the village for a further 15 years, with the meeting on Thursday 26th November 1840 providing a spectacular steeplechase which went to Cigar owned by Mr Anderson. The final meeting took place on Tuesday 7th March 1848. |
This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Squire Osbaldeston, Sir E Mostyn, Captain Skipworth |
| Principal Races |
Great Northamptonshire Steeplechase, Brixworth Chase |
Thursday 26th November 1840 |
The Brixworth Steeplechase
1. Cigar owned by Mr Anderson and ridden by Mr McDonough
2. Zethus owned by Mr Quartermain and ridden by Mr Powell
3. Grayling owned and ridden by Mr T Oliver
4. Tobacconist owned by Sir E Mostyn and ridden by Mr Whitworth
5. Gay Lad owned by Mr E Davey and ridden by Captain Skipworth |
The only recorded meeting took place on Tuesday 7th March 1848. |
| Course today |
A 4 mile course between Cottesbrooke and Brixworth. |
| 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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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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