Earliest meeting: Tuesday 17th October 1732
Final meeting: Tuesday 17th October 1732
The North Yorkshire market town of Helmsley, located on the River Rye, is in the Ryedale district of the county, and is situated at the point where Ryedale moves from moorland to merge with the flat land of the Vale of Pickering. The town is ideally located some 14 miles east of the racecourse town of Thirsk and 24 miles north of the Minster city of York. The town was included in the 1086 Domesday Book when known as Elmeslac, and enjoyed a close relationship with the Earls of Feversham who lived in Duncombe Park overlooking the glorious Helmsley Castle. In the early part of the 18th century the town held a race meeting on Tuesday 17th October 1732 which John Cheny included in his Historical List of that year.

Tuesday 17th October 1732
Helmsley 10 Guineas Purse
1. SWEETEST WHEN NAKED, chestnut mare owned by Mr Wallis 2 3 1 1
2. HIGHLAND LADY, bay mare owned by Mr Clark 3 1 4 2
3. BESS-A-BELL, bay mare owned by Mr Hutchinson 1 4 3 3
4. CAST AWAY, grey gelding owned by Mr Witty 5 2 2
5. UNNAMED bay gelding owned by Mr Meeks 4 3 dist
5 ran

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