Earliest meeting: Tuesday 25th October 1785
Final meeting: Thursday 8th April 1869
Thoroughbred racing first took place in the Scottish landed estate of Lamberton, just 4 miles from the town of Berwick on Tweed, in October 1785 when a 3 day meeting was held to mark the ‘beating of the bounds’. I am grateful to Jim Herbert of Berwick Time Lines for indicating that the Races had been in existence since at least 1661, although it is likely that the early cards consisted of Galloway Pony races. Furthermore, he states that 'The Riding of the Bounds' has been on the go since 1603. The opening Purse on Tuesday 25th October 1785 was won by Sir H Liddell’s Dunce, while the feature Silver Cup went to Mr Turner’s Stay Till I Come. The first occasion results were reported in the Racing Calendar was from a three day meeting starting on Wednesday 7th July 1802. The opening Plate was won by Mr Lonsdale’s Beningbrough, defeating Antelope and Mr Cuming’s John Bull colt. The Hunters Sweepstake which followed was won by Colonel Renton’s Comet. The meeting deteriorated in quality the next two days, with pony races on the Thursday followed by trotting races. The meetings were always well supported by the nobility and landed gentry, and the 2 day meeting held on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th August 1836 was typically sponsored by local dignitaries. At this meeting Sir Hugh Campbell sponsored the feature 3 mile Purse which was won by Clinker, while the Town Council stumped up 50 Guineas for the Sweepstake which was won by Lord Elcho’s Phillip, defeating Lord Loughborough’s Shamrock and Sir W Scott’s The Count. Racing continued for over 80 years until a final meeting on Thursday 8th April 1869 when the last Lamberton Silver Cup was won by Mr R Calder’s Satellite. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Elcho, Lord Loughborough, Sir Hugh Campbell, Sir H Liddell |
| Principal Races |
Lamberton Silver Cup, Sir Hugh Campbell's Purse, Lamberton Hurdle, Hunters Stakes |
October 1785 |
Lamberton £50 Purse
1. Dunce owned by Sir H Liddell
Lamberton Silver Cup
1. Stay Till I come owned by Mr Turner
Lamberton Hunters Stakes
1. Gorum owned by Mr Robertson |
Wednesday 3rd & Thursday 4th August 1836 |
Lamberton Farmers Plate over a mile
1. Remember owned by Mr Elliott
2. Locksley owned by Mr Fawcus
3. Wallsend owned by Captain Pott
Sir Hugh Campbell’s Purse over a mile
1. Clinker owned by Mr Cossar
2. Remember owned by Mr Elliott |
Thursday 8th April 1869 |
Lamberton Silver Cup
1. Satellite owned by Mr R Calder
Lamberton Hurdle
1. Fiery Cross owned by Mr Charlie Cunningham |
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below.
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| The final meeting took place on Thursday 8th April 1869 and race details for the final meeting are shown above. |
| Course today |
On the Lamberton Estate. |
| 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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