Earliest meeting: Monday 8th April 1861
Final meeting: Wednesday 20th March 1867
Middlewick Farm lies close to the Essex town of Southminster in the Maldon district of the county. It was famed for holding a horse Fair annually and was also a favourite area for coursing in Victorian times. An inaugural race meeting was held in April 1861, initially at Bramford, organised by the Essex, Sussex and Suffolk Hunt Committees. Racing was well-supported by the landed gentry and the military alike, and meetings continued for the next 6 years, although relocating to Mr Dames’ Middlewick Farm. On Wednesday 20th March 1867 the meeting opened with the Colchester Garrison Steeplechase, and was followed by the Essex and Suffolk Hunt Cup, over 3 ½ miles, which was won by Mr Wake’s Old Tom. After a successful day of racing there was a presentation ceremony and dinner at the Cups Hotel hosted by Sir Claude de Crespigny. The Essex Hunt continued to organise races under rules until 4th April 1907. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir Claude de Crespigny |
| Principal Races |
Middlewick Cup, King’s Dragoon Cup, Colchester Garrison Steeplechase |
Wednesday 20th March 1867
Middlewick Stakes over 3 ½ miles
1. King Tom, brown gelding owned by Mr Freestone
2. Ace of Spades, brown horse owned by Mr Seabrook
3. Kettledrum, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Belcher |
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 20th March 1867. |
| Course today |
On Middlewick Farm |
| 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 |
|