Earliest meeting: Friday 27th March 1829
Final meeting: Wednesday 5th April 1899
Sussex has traditionally boasted a large number of active Hunt groups, including the Southdown, Eridge, East Sussex and Romney Marsh Hunts. In 1829 the East Sussex Hunt Group extended equestrian interest beyond hunting by launching its own race meetings. The Sporting Magazine of 1829 recorded the first meeting of the East Sussex Hunt which was held at Lewes on Friday 27th March 1829. Regular meetings continued for the next 70 years, although the meeting moved to Catsfield in 1868 and remained there until 1899. The final meeting was staged on Wednesday 5th April 1899.
Lord Gage, Sir R Wilmot, Colonel G Wyndham, Captain Willard, Captain Croft
Friday 27th March 1829
East Sussex Farmers Stakes over 2 miles
1. Farmer owned by Mr G Courthorpe
2. Valentine owned by Mr T R Kemp
3. Unnamed gelding owned by Mr W T Harrison
East Sussex Hunters Stakes over 2 miles
1. Rockingham owned by Mr Watson
2. Young Whitworth owned by Captain Willard
3. Greenmantle owned by Mr Musgrave
Monday 16th April 1838
The Farmers’ Stakes Silver Bowl sponsored by Captain Green over 2 ½ miles
1. Agreeable, grey horse owned by Mr Saxby
2. Leopard, bay gelding owned by Mr Gilbert
3. Agitation, grey gelding owned by General Trevor
The front cover/ principal races from this rare racecard are provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection.
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
