Earliest meeting: Thursday 10th November 1881
Final meeting: Thursday 9th November 1882
The Dorset town of Gillingham lies in the Blackmore Vale district of the county, surrounded by ideal hunting country. In the latter part of the 1800s the town held its own race meetings, initially on Thursday 10th November 1881 in fields known as ‘The Allotments’, the property of the Dowager-Marchioness of Westminster, a short distance from the railway station. The meeting opened with the Wolverton Cup, over 2 ½ miles, for horses hunted with Lord Radnor, Lord Portman, Lord Pembroke, the Blackmoor Vale or South Wilts Hunt, and was won by Mr A W B Clark’s Rafter beating Vendetta II and MP. The Selling Hurdle went to Sir George Elliott, owned by Mr A Yates, and he also won the Open Handicap Hurdle with Albert Cecil. The final 2-day meeting was staged the next year on Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th November 1882.

Thursday 10th November 1881
Wolverton Cup (30 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. RAFTER 12st owned by Mr A W B Clark and ridden by E Corry
2. VENDETTA 11st owned and ridden by Mr A E Friend
3. MP 12st owned by Mr R M Lemon and ridden by Street
Betting: evens Rafter, 5/2 Vendetta, MP

Open Handicap Hurdle (60 sovereigns) over 2 miles and 8 hurdles
1. ALBERT CECIL 11st 2lbs owned by Mr A Yates and ridden by Childs
2. JACK HORNER 11st 2lbs owned by Mr Tom Cannon and ridden by H Miles
3. FLUSTER 12st 7lbs owned by Lord Wolverton and ridden by Gubby
4. MISS MAY 11st 5lbs owned by Baron de Tuyll and ridden by Blagrave
5. TAM GLEN 11st owned by Mr Sylvester and ridden by H Davis
6. ALICE MAUD 11st owned and ridden by Mr J W Letheren
Betting: evens Jack Horner, 2/1 Albert Cecil, 3/1 Flutter, Alice Maud, 5/1 Tam Glen

Open Hunters Steeplechase (50 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. LORD LIMERICK 11st 7lbs owned and ridden by Mr D Thirlwell
2. ROBERT EMMETT 12st 7lbs owned and ridden by Mr Delgarde
3. LA MIENNE 11st 7lbs owned and ridden by Mr F J Murphy
4. WELLINGTON 10st 7lbs owned by Mr W Dean and ridden by W Eavns
5. VICTOR 10st 7lbs owned by Mr H R Farquharson and ridden by Harding
6. ATLANTIC 11st 7lbs owned by Mr T H Knight and ridden by A E Friend
7. BIRD IN HAND 12st 3lbs owned by Mr W H Markham and ridden by Billinge
8. KATE 11st 7lbs owned and ridden by Mr J Turner
9. EMPEROR 11st 12lbs owned by Lord Wolverton and ridden by Letheren
Betting: evens Robert Emmett, 3/1 Emperor, Bird in Hand, 6/1 Lord Limerick, 10/1 La Mienne, Wellington, Victor, Atlantic, Kate

Selling Hurdle (50 sovereigns) over 2 miles and 8 flights
1. SIR GEORGE ELLIOT 10st 4lbs owned by Mr Ay Yates and ridden by Childs
2. GEMSBOK 10st 10lbs owned by Mr R Thirlwell and ridden by D Thirlwell
3. CANUTE 11st 11lbs owned by Mr C W Bell and ridden by Vincent
4. LOWLANDER Filly 10st 4lbs owned by Mr G Blagrave and ridden by H Davis
5. KNELLER 11st 11lbs owned by Mr Cleeve and ridden by P Hobson
6. JACK WHITE 11st 11lbs owned by Mr C W Ennis and ridden by Street
7. WAVERLEY 10st 4lbs owned and ridden by Mr G Ireland
Betting: evens Waverley, 2/1 Sir George Elliot, 4/1 Gemsbok, 6/1 Canute, 10/1 Lowlander filly, Kneller, Jack White

Blackmore Vale Steeplechase (40 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. CAROLUS 11st 10lbs owned by Mr W Dean and ridden by W Evans
2. PODOPHYLLIN 11st 5lbs owned and ridden by Mr E Craddock
3. JACK A DANDY 11st 10lbs owned by Mr J Witt and ridden by J Chapman
Betting: evens Carolus, 3/1 Jack A Dandy, 5/1 Podophyllin

Open Handicap Steeplechase (60 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. GLEN BERVIE 10st 13lbs owned by Baron de Tuyll and ridden by Blagrave
2. MAJOR II 11st 3lbs owned by Mr W H Markham and ridden by Billinge
3. BURIDAN 11st 5lbs owned by Mr A Yates and ridden by Childs
4. CAMPBELL 10st owned by Mr J Howard Vyse and ridden by A E Friend
Betting: 1/2 Buridan, 3/1 Glen Bervie, 5/1 Major II, Campbell

Selling Hunters Race (40 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. CAROLUS 11st 10lbs owned by Mr W Dean and ridden by Gratwicke
2. CARUS 11st owned by Sir Gerald Codrington and ridden by Markham
3. CONFLICT 12st Owned by Mr C E Pigott and ridden by Bieber
4. VENDETTA II 11st owned by Mr J A Allen and ridden by Vyse
5. NONIUS 11st 10lbs owned and ridden by Mr J Harvey
6. LA MIENNE 12st owned and ridden by Mr F J Murphy
7. SUNBRIGHT 11st owned by Mr J Terry and ridden by Thirlwell
8. EDISON 11st owned by Lord Wolverton and ridden by Letheren
Betting: evens Conflict, 2/1 Edison, 3/1 Carolus, 5/1 Carus, Nonius, 10/1 Vendetta II, La Mienne, Sunbright

Wednesday 8th November 1882
Maiden Hurdle Race (30 sovereigns) over 2 miles and 8 hurdles
1. CAUCASUS 10st 10lbs owned by Mr A Yates and ridden by Childs
2. HENRY Colt 10st owned by Mr J Mackintosh and ridden by Keogh
3. MORNINGTON Colt 11st 3 lbs owned by Mr E Brayley and ridden by Churchill
4. CONCEALMENT 10st 10lbs owned by Mr W A Bristow and ridden by J Davey
Betting: 4/5 Caucasus, 3/1 Henry colt, Mornington colt, 5/1 Concealment

Blackmore Vale Steeplechase (40 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. INTACT 11st 10lbs owned by Captain Torkington and ridden by Captain Annersley
2. LITTLE GIRL 11st 5lbs owned by Mr F H Porter and ridden by Harding
3. BANISHMENT 12st 3lbs owned by Mr H V Saker and ridden by Hill
4. PAT 11st 10lbs owned by Mr A R Fellowes and ridden by B Wilson
5. HAMMERSMITH 11st 5lbs owned by Mr P Hobson and ridden by Hanbury
Betting: evens Hammersmith, 3/1 Little Girl, 4/1 Intact, 5/1 Pat, Banishment

Gillingham Handicap Plate (50 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. ROSE OF RICHMOND 12st 5lbs owned by Mr J Mackintosh and ridden by Keogh
2. ALSTONE 10st 8lbs owned by Mr Mills and ridden by Coode
3. FLUSTER 11st 13lbs owned by Lord Wolverton and ridden by Sensier
Betting: 5/4 Rose of Richmond, 6/4 Fluster, 3/1 Alstone

Open Hunters Steeplechase (50 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. HUMDRUM 11st 5lbs owned by Captain Torkington and ridden by Captain Annesley
2. LOTTERY 11st 13lbs owned by Lord Wolverton and ridden by Sensier
3. KITTY 11st 7lbs owned by Mr E Pellier-Johnson and ridden by G Barrett
4. LORD LIMERICK 11st 13lbs owned by Mr J B Tyler and ridden by Walker
5. GLUTTON 10st 7lbs owned by Mr R Thirlwell and ridden by Murray
6. HAMMERSMITH 10st 7lbs owned by Mr P Hobson and ridden by Norgate
7. LA MIENNE 12st 7lbs owned and ridden by Mr F J Murphy
Betting: 6/4 Lottery, 5/2 La Mienne, Lord Limerick, 5/1 Hammersmith, Humdrum, 6/1 Kitty, Glutton

South Wilts Open Handicap Hurdle (50 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. LADY JANE 11st 3lbs owned by Mr T Beck and ridden by Keogh
2. CAUCASUS 10st 10lbs owned by Mr A Yates and ridden by Childs
3. DR TANNER 12st 1lb owned by Mr Mills and ridden by Holman
4. SUNNYBRAE 12st owned by Mr R Thirlwell and ridden by Murray
5. SIDONIA 11st 4lbs owned by Mr Laybourne and ridden by A E Friend
Betting: 5/4 Caucasus, 2/1 Lady Jane, 4/1 Dr Tanner, Sunnybrae, Sidonia

Hunters Flat Race (50 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. ABELARD 11st 11lbs owned by Mr R Sheriffe and ridden by Hanbury
2. PHOEBE 11st 4lbs owned by Mr Mills and ridden by A E Friend
3. NORTH WIND 11st 11lbs owned by Mr J Harvey and ridden by Piggott
4. SKELMORLIE 12st 9lbs owned and ridden by Mr E Pellier-Johnson
5. INTACT 12st 9lbs owned and ridden by Captain Torkington
6. JOKER 11st 11lbs owned by Mr R W Watson and ridden by C W Waller
7. NEWBRIDGE II 11st 7lbs owned by Mr D White and ridden by Henderson
Betting: 5/4 Abelard, 6/4 Phoebe, 4/1 North Wind, Skelmorlie, 6/1 Intact, Joker, Newbridge II

Thursday 9th November 1882
Selling Hurdle (40 sovereigns) over 2 miles and 8 hurdles
1. DR TANNER 11st 3lbs owned by Mr Mills and ridden by Holman
2. DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER 11st 3lbs owned by Mr R Duke and ridden by Sensier
3. ASTEROID filly 10st owned by Mr E Brayley and ridden by Churchill
Betting: 5/4 Dr Tanner, 3/1 Duchess of Gloucester, Asteroid filly

Lord Wolverton Cup (25 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. BORDERER 12st 10lbs owned and ridden by Mr Ashley
2. STOURTON 12st 10lbs owned and ridden by Mr Harding
3. SIR GARNET 11st 10lbs owned by Mr Woodford and ridden by Blagrave
Betting: evens Stourton, 6/4 Borderer, 3/1 Sir Garnet

Dorsetshire Open Handicap Steeplechase (80 sovereigns) over 3 miles
1. ROSE OF RICHMOND 12st 5lbs owned by Mr J Mackintosh and ridden by Keogh
2. BURLY 12st 7lbs owned by Lord Wolverton and ridden by Sensier
3. VICTOR II 12st 7lbs owned by Mr E Grant and ridden by C W Waller
Betting: evens Burly, 6/4 Rose of Richmond, 3/1 Victor II

Hunters Hurdle Race (40 sovereigns) over 2 miles and 8 flights
1. SCHOOL GIRL 11st 7lbs owned by Mr Mills and ridden by Holman
2. LOTTERY 12st 10lbs owned by Lord Wolverton and ridden by Sensier
3. METEOR 11st 10lbs owned by Mr Dashwood and ridden by C W Waller
4. HAMMERSMITH 11st 7lbs owned by Mr L Jones and ridden by Norgate
Betting: evens School Girl, 6/4 Lottery, 5/1 Meteor, Hammersmith

Selling Handicap Steeplechase (40 sovereigns) over 2 1/2 miles
1. FLUSTER 11st 13lbs owned by Lord Wolverton and ridden by Sensier
2. GLEN BERVIE 11st owned by Mr E Grant and ridden by Blagrave
3. ALSTONE 10st 3lbs owned by Mr Mills and ridden by Coode
Betting: evens Alstone, 3/1 Fluster, 6/1 Glen Bervie

Selling Hunters Flat Race (40 sovereigns) over 2 miles
1. PHOEBE 11st owned by Mr Mills and ridden by A E Friend
2. ABELARD 11st 10lbs owned by Mr R Sheriffe and ridden by Hanbury
3. EDMINSTONE 12st 7lbs owned and ridden by Mr C Butler
Betting: 4/5 Abelard, 6/4 Phoebe, 3/1 Edminstone

The final recorded meeting took place on Thursday 9th November 1882.

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