Earliest meeting: Tuesday 21st August 1832
Final meeting: Friday 25th September 1863
The West Sussex town of Littlehampton, a pleasant coastal, seaside town and harbour, is located in the Arun district of the county. It is situated 28 kilometres west of Brighton and 16 kilometres to the east of Chichester. The earliest record of racing in the town was on Tuesday 21st August 1832 when the Earl of Surrey’s Yeomanry Cup was won by Mr Wyatt’s Calcetto, beating Wiggenholt and Maid of all Work. Later in the day the Hack Stakes went to Mr Blunder’s Miss Freedom. Races were staged regularly, usually alongside the annual regatta, and on Monday 5th October 1835 the Hunters Stakes over a mile was won by Harkaway who got the better of Bobino and Clipper. Twenty Eight years later in 1863 the town witnessed an unusual race meeting which was held on the beach. Although races take place on beaches today, notably at Laytown, the Littlehampton meeting was a rare event and took place on Friday 25th September 1863.

Earl of Surrey Yeomanry Stakes, Littlehampton Cup

Monday 5th October 1835
Littlehampton Cup over 1 mile
1. Harkaway, aged horse owned by Mr Irish
2. Grape-Shot, aged horse owned by Mr Parker
3. Tom, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Flood

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

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