Earliest meeting: Wednesday 3rd August 1836
Final meeting: Wednesday 11th August 1841
Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire, was first mentioned by Bede in 731AD when he called it Herutford, which means ford where stags are found. In the middle of the 19th century it became ford where horses are found because its first 2 day race meeting took place on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th August 1836. A packed card full of valuable races opened with the Hertford Trial Stakes over a mile which went to Tom Bleakley owned by Captain Fairlie. In the King’s Mead Stakes which followed Captain Fairlie achieved a double winning it with Spicer. A crowd of 6000 were kept in order by Sir J Sebright and his huntsmen dressed in scarlet with black velvet caps. After racing an Ordinary was served at the Saracen’s Head. Races continued to be successful for the next 5 years before a final meeting on Wednesday 11th August 1841.
Wednesday 3rd & Thursday 4th August 1836
Hertford Trial Stakes over a mile
1. Tom Beazeley owned by Captain Fairlie
2. Mozart owned by Mr Byrne
3. Menas owned by Mr Pettit
The King’s Mead Stakes over a mile
1. Spicer owned by Captain Fairlie
2. Harriet owned by Mr Hock
3. Bras de Fer owned by Mr Chase
Hertford Cup Stakes over 2 miles
1. Pincher owned by Mr Wickham
2. Ruinous owned by Mr W Smith
3. Zitella owned by Mr Crommelin
The Manor Stakes over a mile
1. Levity owned by Mr Balchin
2. Swallow owned by Mr King
3. Jenny Wren owned by Mr Bishop
Hertford Farmers Cup over a mile
1. Warwick owned by Mr Toulmin
2. Lewes Lass owned by Mr Nightingale
3. Unknown owned by Mr Anthony
The Panshanger Stakes over a mile
1. Mozart owned by Mr Byrne
2. Unnamed filly by Emilius owned by Mr Tilbrook
3. Cornet owned by Mr Bird
Wednesday 8th August 1838
The Hertfordshire Stakes over 2 miles
1. Maid of Hertford owned by Mr Cassidy
2. Surprise owned by Mr King
3. Bristolian owned by Mr Munro
The Ware Plate over 2 miles
1. Bravo owned by Mr Palmer
2. Anne owned by Mr Adams
3. Bristolian owned by Mr Munro
Hertford Cup Stakes over 2 miles
1. Bravo owned by Mr Palmer
2. Bristolian owned by Mr Munro
3. Unnamed colt by St Benjamin owned by Mr Adams
John Cary (1754-1835) was an English cartographer who published his atlas, The New and Correct English Atlas, in 1787. In 1794 he was commissioned by the Postmaster General to survey all English roads. The map shown below is an extract from his 1794 work.
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
