Earliest meeting: Thursday 14th September 1826
Final meeting: Wednesday 21st August 1867
The Sussex town of Hastings, and neighbouring St Leonards, first staged a race meeting on Thursday 14th September 1826 on a 2 mile course on the edge of the town. The card opened with the Town Plate over twice round and the distance, and was won by Mr Coleman’s Honeysuckle. Later on the same card the Sweepstakes was confined to non-thoroughbred horses. The next year the meeting was staged on Thursday 27th September and the feature race, the Hastings Town Plate, was won by Mr Farrell’s Elephanta. At the two day meeting on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th September 1840 both of the prestigious races, the Town Plate and the St Leonards’ Plate, were won by Mr Hornsby’s Whalebone. The final 2 day meeting took place on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st August 1867 and offered an impressive programme. There were large fields in the majority of the races, with the Borough Plate over 4 fulongs won by Mr Lindsney’s Variation from 11 others, and the East Sussex Handicap on the second day claimed by Mr Wodson’s Pevensey. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Marquis of Hastings, Earl of Westmorland, Lord St Vincent |
| Principal Races |
St Leonards' Plate, Hastings Town Plate |
Thursday 27th September 1827 |
Hastings Town Plate over 2 ½ miles
1. Elephanta owned by Mr Farrell
2. Syntax owned by Mr Heathcote
3. Honeysuckle owned by Mr Coleman
Hastings Sweepstake over 2 miles
1. Amelia owned by Mr Dickinson
2. Syntax owned by Mr Heathcote
3. Maid of Kent owned by Mr Brown |
Monday 28th & Tuesday 29th September 1840 |
Hastings Town Plate over 2 miles
1. Whalebone owned by Mr Hornsby
2. Kensington owned by Mr Coleman
3. Guardsman owned by Mr Dockeray
The St Leonards Plate over 2 miles
1. Whalebone owned by Mr Hornsby
2. Lyster owned by Mr Dockeray
3. Kensington owned by Mr Coleman |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 21st August 1867. |
| Course today |
A 2 mile course on the edge of the town. |
| 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. |
| ORDER FORM |
| Download an order form |
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Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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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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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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