Earliest meeting: Tuesday 2nd September 1777 (20th August 1725 on Heathfield Nook raceground)
Final meeting: Friday 29th September 1786 (7th September 1791 on Heathfield Nook)
Today Fairfield is an urban area within the Derbyshire town of Buxton, located about half a mile north east of the town centre and situated near an area of open grassland. However, in the late 18th century it was a small village in its own right, with a large village green at its centre. It was on this village green that 'an excellent round course was formed where horse races took place'. The earliest record of a race meeting in the village was a three-day meeting from Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th September 1777, and such was the popularity of the races that they were staged annually for the next 9 years. Detailed results from the meetings are sparse, but on Tuesday 22nd August 1780 a 10 Guineas Sweepstake took place, contested by a field of six, with Mr Bott's bay mare victorious. The final two-day card was held on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th September 1786. However, a report was published in the Buxton Herald on Thursday 18th July 1872 which suggests that races were held on Heathfield Nook Raceground on 20th August 1725, with details shown below. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Bott, Mr Fox |
| Principal Races |
Fairfield 10 Guineas Sweepstake |
Thursday 20th August 1725
An old Handbill (advertising poster) exists which shows that races were held on Thursday 20th August 1725 on Heathfield Nook race ground when the race was for a Purse of Gold, not exceeding 50 pounds, was to be contested by any horse, mare or gelding which had not won any similar sum before. The weights were 3 and 4 year-olds to carry 7st 6lbs; 5-year-olds to carry 8st 4lbs; 6-year-olds to carry 8st 11lbs, and aged horses 9st. A pony race was organised on the same day. Entries had to be made the day before, with horses at the start between noon and 2pm for a race off time of 4pm. The Clerk of the Course made himself available on the Monday for anyone wishing to erect a booth or to sell liquor. |
Tuesday 22nd August 1780
Fairfield 10 Guineas Sweepstake
1. Unnamed bay mare owned by Mr Bott
2. Unnamed grey mare owned by Mr Fox |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 29th September 1786. |
| Although Buxton Races advertised race meetings in the latter part of the 18th century, more specifically in 1787, and on 27th and 28th August 1789, 9th and 10th September 1790, and 6th and 7th September 1791, no reports or results from those meetings were forthcoming, although they did take place at Heathfield Nook. |
| Course today |
On a round course in the centre of the village. |
| 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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