Earliest meeting: Friday 28th October 1842
Final meeting: Thursday 16th April 1874
The Kent parish of East Sutton lies just 6 miles south east of Maidstone and contains the Grade I listed Church of St Peter’s and St Paul’s. It is probably best known as the village which King Edward VII visited to see his mistress Alice Keppel who lived at the appropriately named Pleasure House. Back in the latter part of the 19th century the village held its own race meetings, firstly on Friday 28th October 1842, then in September 1846 and again on Thursday 16th April 1874. The meetings were held in the grounds of East Sutton Park owned by Sir Edmund Filmer. The opening race in 1842 was the Sweepstake which was won by Mr Kemp’s Eliza, after which everyone retired to the mansion for luncheon. They returned for 3 more races in the afternoon. On Saturday 19th September 1846 a Cavalry meeting was held at East Sutton Place when the Cavalry Depot Stakes was won by Mr Carlyon’s Saracena. His ‘prize’ for winning was to donate a dozen bottles of champagne to the mess. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir Edmund Filmer |
| Principal Races |
East Sutton Hurdle, East Sutton Sweepstake |
Friday 28th October 1842
East Sutton Hurdle
1. Sligo, chestnut horse owned by Captain Doherty
2. Sylvia, brown mare owned by Captain Baird
3. Dolly The Dairy-Maid, bay mare owned by Mr MacCartney |
The only recorded meeting took place on Thursday 16th April 1874. |
| Course today |
In the grounds of East Sutton Park. |
| 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 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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. |
| ORDER FORM |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|