Earliest meeting: Friday 23rd March 1888 (March 1875 by Norwich & Norfolk Hunt)
Final meeting: Thursday 4th May 1939
The Norfolk village of Hethersett is located two miles south west of Norwich and first staged racing in the latter part of the 19th century. The inaugural meeting was held on Friday 23rd March 1888 when organised by the Hussars. The locally based 19th and 20th Hussars Regiment enjoyed racing and the meetings continued throughout their time in the area. The course was situated approximately 2 miles from Norwich, close to the village of Hethersett and Hethersett Station. Racing returned to Hethersett in 1904 when the Norwich Hunt took over administrative duties. These meetings continued for ten years until the outbreak of World War I. In 1927 the 120 acres on which the course stood were sold by Mr Ketteringham to Mr R J Read, whose aim was to run the meetings as ‘Hethersett races’. He met his target the next year when the first meeting to be organised by the Hethersett race committee was staged on Thursday 8th March 1928. Meetings continued to be well supported by the locals, and races were always competitive, often with large fields. The final meeting under rules took place on Thursday 4th May 1939, after which the War intervened. However, once the war was over racing did not make an immediate return, the course eventually being used by the Norwich Staghounds for point to point races between 1953 and 1963, and meetings ceasing in 1970.
The first meeting to be organised by the Hethersett race committee was on 8th March 1928.
Hussars Regiment, Colonel Vincent, R J Read
Subalterns’ Challenge Cup, Staghunters Chase, Intwood Handicap Chase, Norwich Chase
Probably the first meeting to be held in Hethersett was organised by the Norfolk and Norwich Hunt on Monday 8th March 1875. It was on land owned by Mr Tice, situated between the railway line and Thiickthorne House, owned at the time by Mr F E Watson, the course being described as tolerably stiff with 16 fences, 3 flights of hurdles and a water jump.
Monday 8th March 1875
Farmers Stakes over 2 ½ miles
- Prince Plausible (5/4 fav) owned by Mr J Abel and ridden by Mr Michael
- Camel (2/1) owned by Mr T Everitt and ridden by Mr H Brooks
- Lace (3/1) owned by Mr R Bygott and ridden by Mr McVicar
For full details of the meeting CLICK HERE
The meeting at Hethersett on Thursday 8th April 1875 was organised by the Queen’s Own Hussars and followed just one month after the successful meeting held on the same course in March which was administered by the Norfolk and Norwich Hunt.
Thursday 8th April 1875
Subalterns Challenge Cup over 2 miles
(presented by Captain Joy)
- Meredith (5/1) owned and ridden by Mr T G Smith
- Burlesque (3/1) owned and ridden by Mr W Hope Johnstone
- The Weasel (4/5 fav) owned and ridden by Lord M Beresford
For full details of the meeting CLICK HERE
Friday 23rd March 1888
19th Hussars Regimental Challenge Cup over 2 ½ miles
1. Recluse, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Swan
2. Tony, bay gelding owned by Mr Craven
3. The Chief, black gelding owned by Colonel Combe
Betting: Evens Tony, 6/4 Recluse, 3/1 The Chief
The final meeting took place on Thursday 4th May 1939
The old course is no longer visible and is covered by a number of fields.
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
