Earliest meeting: Tuesday 28th February 1865
Final meeting: Friday 23rd February 1866
The Fitzwilliam Hunt in Cambridgeshire has a rich history which certainly dates back to 1740. The Fitzwilliam family owned grounds in Milton where they were able to enjoy their sport, but they also organised a race meeting in the latter part of the 19th century. The inaugural meeting was staged on Tuesday 28th February 1865 when distinguished visitors, including the Duke and Duchess of Manchester, attended. The opening Fitzwilliam Stakes was won by Mr Laxton’s Blondin, while the Aristocratic Stakes went to Mr Chapman’s Harkaway who defeated Ivanhoe and Malta. The next year there was a two day meeting on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd February 1866. The Earl of Cardingan was present to witness Wrangler land the Elton Stakes, while the Orton Stakes saw Mr Douglas’s Woodman beat The General and The Colonel.

Thursday 22nd February 1866
Fitzwilliam Stakes over 4 miles
1. Adelaide, black mare owned by Mr Kirby
2. Bridegroom, brown horse owned by Mr Percival
3. The Nun, bay mare owned by Mr Bonser
Betting: 2/1 Adelaide, 2/1 Bridegroom, 6/1 The Nun

The final recorded meeting organised by the Cambridgeshire Fitzwilliam Hunt was on Friday 23rd February 1866.

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