Earliest meeting: Wednesday 7th October 1874
Final meeting: Wednesday 3rd October 1877
The Surrey village of Godstone lies just 6 miles east of Reigate and has its own railway station. In the 1086 Domesday Book it was known as Wolinstede and later became Walkingstead before its final change to Godstone. In the latter part of the 19th century it had its own racecourse, holding its inaugural meeting on Wednesday 7th October 1874. The meeting opened with the Falcourt Plate which saw Mr A Yates’ Ely Dorado beat Captain Seymour’s Wasp, while the feaure race, the Godstone Open Handicap, was won by David Copperfield. Towards the end of the card the Blindley Heath Plate over 2 miles was won by Mr J Jones’s Underhill, who defeated French Horn and Court Mantle. The course, on Blindley Heath, was less than 2 miles from the railway station and composed of excellent turf and natural fences. Such was the support the meeting received that it was able to hold meetings for the next 3 years. The final card took place on Wednesday 3rd October 1877, but the course was still used annually for point to point steeplechases, particularly by the Thames Hare and Hounds Club. The final meeting on Saturday 17th March 1888 started at Godstone Green and finished the 4 ½ mile course at the Clayton Arms. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Marcus Verrall, Mr T Drax |
| Principal Races |
Blandley Heath Plate, Falcourt Plate, East Grinstead Plate |
Wednesday 7th October 1874
Godstone Open Handicap over 3 miles
1. David Copperfield, aged horse owned by Mr T Drax
2. Dunois, 5 year old owned by Mr Leigh
3. Court Mantle, aged horse owned by Mr Hunter
Betting: 4/5 David Copperfield, 2/1 Dunois, 4/1 Court Mantle |
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 3rd October 1877. |
| Course today |
A fine all turf course with natural fences at Blindley Heath, just 2 miles from the station. |
| 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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