Earliest Meeting: Thursday 2nd July 1724
Final Meeting: Thursday 3rd September 1724
The large Lincolnshire village of Donington lies in the South Holland district of the county. It is located about 8 miles north of Spalding, but to the south west of the village is a large fenland area called Quadring Fen. The village staged its own race meeting in 1724 on Quadring High Fen when the principal race was the Donington 4 Guineas Purse held on Thursday 2nd July 1724. The brainchild behind the meeting was John Hudson who was landlord of the Sign of the Bull Inn in Quadring. Horses were registered to run with him and he subscribed to the race fund in return for increased trade during the day. Although the Stamford Mercury advertised the meeting, it did not subsequently report on who won the race or whether the £10 selling price was achieved.
The newspaper extract below is shown courtesy of the Stamford Mercury and British Newspaper Online.
The Stamford Mercury advertised a meeting on Thursday 3rd September 1724 when a £5 Plate was contested over three 4 mile heats. Entries were accepted by John Oakley, Clerk of the Races, at the Red Cow, Donington.
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
