Earliest meeting: Saturday 5th March 1625
Final meeting: Wednesday 23rd May 1711
Racing was first recorded in the Scottish Border town of Jedburgh in Roxburghshire on Saturday 5th March 1625. In 1622 Sir Andrew Ker inherited the title of Lord of Jedburgh Forest and used his influence to develop his love of racing, organising a meeting which was held on the edge of Oxnam Waters in the village of Crailing, just 4 miles east of Jedburgh. The local Council was encouraged to donate a Silver Cup worth £40 which was to be contested annually, while the Earl of Lothian provided a much sought after saddle. Although there was a lapse in racing after the 1628 meeting because Andrew, the Master of Jedburgh, died in 1628, races were certainly held in 1637 and 1638. The next record of the Jedburgh Silver Cup race was on Wednesday 5th May 1647, after which meetings were held intermittently until 20th April 1687. Racing returned in 1702, continuing until the final meeting took place on Wednesday 23rd May 1711 when the Jedburgh Silver Plate was still contested despite not meeting the original stipulation that there should be at least 3 runners. In the event, after much arm twisting, there were 4 entries; Colonel John Murray, Sir John Rutherford, Squire Shafto and Captain John Ferrer. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Jedburgh, Colonel John Murray, Captain John Ferrer, Sir John Rutherford, Adam Ainslie, John Haswell, John Kennedy |
| Principal Races |
Jedburgh Silver Cup (contested annually in either April or May) |
Wednesday 23rd May 1711
Jedburgh Silver Plate
1. Unnamed horse owned by Sir John Rutherford
2. Unnamed horse owned by Colonel John Murray
3. Unnamed horse owned by Captain John Ferrer
4. Unnamed horse owned by Squire Shafto |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 23rd May 1711. |
| Course today |
Starting at a ford at Oxnam Waters, near Crailing and continuing on to a winning post at the gate near Jedfoot Bridge. |
| 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. |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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