Earliest meeting: Monday 26th March 1877
Final meeting: Monday 27th March 1882
At one stage in history the Nottinghamshire town of Retford held its own race meetings. However, the local Grove Hunt, which has a history dating back to the early 19th century, also organised its race meetings in the latter part of the century. The first meeting took place on Monday 26th March 1877 on a course at Clarborough, between Retford and Hayton, and continued for the next year. Despite being well supported, the races lapsed for 3 years before a final meeting on Monday 27th March 1882. The opening Nottinghamshire Chase was won by Bellman, and remarkably the same horse won the 2 mile Retford Steeplechase later in the afternoon. Although racing under rules finished in 1882, meetings continued to be organised as point to point meetings right up to the middle of the 20th century.

Monday 27th March 1882
Retford Steeplechase over 2 miles
1. Bellman, aged horse owned by Mr Cunningham
2. Barton, aged horse owned by Mr Ashenden
3. Arab Lad, aged horse owned by Mr Rogers

The final meeting took place on Monday 27th March 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