Earliest meeting: Monday 7th March 1631
Final meeting: Tuesday 16th March 1802
The earliest record of a meeting in the Cheshire village of Farndon was on Monday 7th March 1631 in a field called Farndon Hay, close to Fardon Hay Croft and the Holt bridge over the River Dee. Much later the Racing Calendar of 1751, undertaken by Reginald Heber following the death of John Cheney, who had initiated the project many years earlier, recorded that FARN Races took place on the 4th and 5th of March 1751, although the Annual Prizes were both won by Mr Neadon’s chestnut gelding who started alone. Nevertheless, he does suggest that the two prizes were started some sixty to seventy years prior to this date and contested annually on ‘the Monday and Tuesday following St Chad’s Day, which is in the beginning of March’. Meetings continued to be organised annually until the final competitive meeting on Tuesday 16th March 1802, although a meeting was arranged in 1803 but all of the races were walk overs.
Lord Cholmondeley was their earliest subscriber, Mr Grosvenor, Lord Molyneux
The Racing Calendar of 1751 was undertaken by Reginald Heber following the death of John Cheney who had initiated the project many years earlier. He records that FARN Races took place on the 4th and 5th of March 1751, although the Annual Prizes were both won by Mr Neadons chestnut gelding who started alone. Nevertheless, he does suggest that the two prizes were started some sixty to seventy years prior to this date and contested annually on ‘the Monday and Tuesday following St Chad’s Day, which is in the beginning of March’.
13th and 14th March 1762
Farndon Annual 9 Guineas Stakes over 2 miles
1. Silver Heels owned by Mr Egerton
2. Diamond owned by Mr Naden
3. Unnamed mare owned by Mr Richard
Farndon Annual 21 Guineas Stakes over 2 miles
1. Hector owned by Mr Broom
2. Rattle Snake owned by Mr Egerton
Broom won both heats and therefore claimed the prize.
18th to 20th March 1782
Farndon Annual Prize over 3 miles
1. Treasurer owned by Mr B Lloyd
2. Maiden owned by Mr Adie
The winner was 1-4 favourite
Farndon Annual Prize over 3 miles
1. Treasurer owned by Mr B Lloyd walked over
John Cary (1754-1835) was an English cartographer who published his atlas, The New and Correct English Atlas, in 1787. In 1794 he was commissioned by the Postmaster General to survey all English roads. The map shown below is an extract from his 1794 work.
The final competitive meeting took place on 16th March 1802, although a meeting was arranged in 1803 but all of the races were walk overs.
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
