Earliest meeting: Wednesday 19th March 1890
Final meeting: Wednesday 10th October 1962
In 1887 Hampton Racecourse closed for the final time after the Jockey Club refused to renew its licence. It was not a closed Park course, like its near neighbours Sandown Park and Kempton Park, and was therefore more difficult to maintain. A group of local businessmen spotted an opportunity and formed the Hurst Park Club Syndicate Limited in 1889, with the sole intention of buying the old Hampton site and developing a closed course. This they did, but the problem was it was too small for Flat racing and only operated for a short time. Not to be deterred, they purchased nearby meadowland and extended the course to ensure that the Jockey Club would issue a licence to host Flat meetings. The first meeting to take place on Hurst Park, the replacement for Hampton Court Racecourse, was on Wednesday 19th March 1890 for a National Hunt meeting and Wednesday 25th March 1891 for a Flat race meeting. The course was situated near to Hampton village on the Thames, approximately 12 miles from London, and was an oval course of 11 furlongs with a special 'Victoria Cup' course of 7 furlongs. By the turn of the century the course was hosting top class racing and attracting the best horses. In 1901 the Derby winner Volodyovski was beaten by the Duke of Portland’s William the Third. The principal race was the Victoria Cup, a fiercely competitive handicap which was first contested in 1901 when won by Sweet Dixie. Racing ceased from 1916 to 1918 for the First World War, and there was no racing from 1940 to 1945 when the course was used as a military camp for the Second World War. To recognise the significant part Winston Churchill had played in securing victory in the war, the Winston Churchill Stakes was first run in 1946 when won by Preciptic, owned by the Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda. Winston Churchill visited the racecourse on a number of occasions, but his most exciting visit was in 1951 when his grey horse Colonist II won the Winston Churchill Stakes. The win was a very popular one and the course continued to be extremely well supported by the general public. However, the original venture was a business venture and the Company were keen to maximise their profit. They realised that the racecourse land was significantly more valuable as development land. Approval to build on the land was gained in 1961 leading to a final meeting on Wednesday 10th October 1962. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Derby, Mr T Cannon |
| Principal Races |
The Victoria Cup (7 furlong race now transferred to Ascot)
Triumph Hurdle (now transferred to Cheltenham ) |
Saturday 29th April 1899 |
Hurst Park Spring Handicap over a mile and a half
1. Morningdew owned by Mr Houldsworth
2. St Fort owned by Mr E H Baldock
3. Innocence owned by Mr J A Miller
The Durham Regulation race over a mile
1. Alt Mart owned by Lord Derby
2. Melampus owned by Mr T Cannon
3. Eugene Stratton owned by Mr R Astley |
Racing stopped between 1916 and 1918 for the First World War, and there was no racing from 1940 to 1945 as it was used as a military camp for the Second World War. |
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| The course circa 1901. Note the wonderful grandstand! |
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| Winston Churchill at Hurst Park watching Colonist II in 1951 |
| The maps below are shown courtesy of John Hodges. |
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| The final meeting took place on 10th October 1962 |
| Course today |
An oval 11 furlong course near to Hampton village. Main stand is at Mansfield Town. A supermarket, primary school and gardens now stand on the racecourse grounds. |
The rare handbill shown below is provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection. |
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After the end of the Second World War Hurst Park reopened on Saturday 20th April 1946, and I am grateful to Vinny Hinde for the rare racecard from that first meeting. On the card that day were the future winners of the 1946 Oaks and 1000 Guineas. Steady Aim (7/1) won the Oaks when owned by Sir Alfred Butt, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Harry Wragg, while Hypericum (100/6) won the 1000 Guineas when owned by HM King George VI, trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort and ridden by Doug Smith.
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| 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 |
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| 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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