Earliest meeting: Monday 16th April 1838
Final meeting: Friday 7th October 1842
The Rawcliffe and Clifton Ings areas of York once held races in the very early part of the 18th century before racing ceased and the Knavesmire became the cities’ principal course. However, in the middle of the 19th century racing was staged about 2 ½ miles from the city centre on Rawcliffe Ings at Fairfield Lodge which was owned by Mr H S Thompson. Rawcliffe Meadows, to the north of the city, is part of the Ouse Ings floodplain and would have provided a springy surface for racing, although it was prone to flooding. The earliest record of a meeting at Fairfield Lodge was on Monday 16th April 1838 when the Hack Stakes was won by Mr H S Thompson’s Helen Percy, who beat Lady Fitzhaugh owned by Mr Ellis. The feature race, the Silver Tankard, was run over a distance of once round the course with 4 foot high hurdles to contend with and was won by Mr Crosby’s brown mare Horsforth. Racing continued to be popular until the final card, staged on Friday 7th October 1842, which began with a Match in which Mr W O Powlett’s Saltata defeated Mr Creyke’s Comus, while a second Match saw Lord Milton’s Jamaie beat Mr Harland’s Bo Peep. The principal sweepstake over just four furlongs was won by Mr W O Powlett’s Bobadil. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Milton, Mr H S Thompson, Colonel Thompson |
| Principal Races |
Fairfield Sweepstake, Fairfield Silver Tankard |
Monday 16th April 1838
Fairfield Silver Tankard once round and the distance
1. Horsforth, brown mare owned by Mr Crosby
2. Shipton Lass, bay mare owned by Mr Evans
3. Jumbo, bay mare owned by Mr Sharpe |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 7th October 1842. |
| Course today |
Near to the Rawcliffe and Clifton Ings. |
| 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 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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