Earliest meeting: Monday 12th September 1726
Final meeting: Tuesday 29th September 1801
The large Berkshire town of Maidenhead, south of the River Thames, is in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. It dates from Saxon times and its name derives from ‘Maiden Hythe’, although in the Domesday Book it was known as South Ellington. The earliest record of a meeting in the town was on Monday 12th September 1726 when Mr Trower’s grey mare won the £20 Plate, while two days later the Galloway Plate was won by Mr Sheppard’s grey horse Single Peeper. Two years later the meeting was graced by royalty on Thursday 3rd October 1728 when King George II accompanied the Duke of Newcastle to the meeting. The first meeting to take place in the town when a full set of results was made available was on Thursday 27th September 1731 at Maidenhead Thicket, with results included in Baily’s Racing Register, when the Purse was won by Mr Sheppard’s Conqueror. At the 3 day meeting from Monday 6th to Wednesday 8th September 1762 the Weight for Age Handicap was won by Mr Hillier’s Fair Rachel, while Lord Castlehaven captured the Whim Plate with Milk Maid. A special 3 day meeting from Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th September 1781 witnessed the attendance of His Highness the Prince of Wales on the last day, accompanied by the Duke of Cumberland, when the Give and Take was won by Mr Parker’s Luna. The final 2 day meeting took place on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th September 1801 when the Maidenhead Cup, over 4 miles, was won by Louisa for Mr Spencer on the first day, although she had to settle for second place behind Mr Smith’s Emperor in the Purse on the final day.
Thursday 27th September 1731
Maidenhead 25 Guineas Purse
1. Conqueror owned by Mr Sheppard
2. Cinder-Wench owned by Mr Tuting
3. Smuggler owned by Mr Griffin
Monday 6th to Wednesday 8th September 1762
Maidenhead 2 mile Weight for Age Handicap
1. Fair Rachael owned by Mr Hillier
2. Missinissa owned by Mr Churchill
3. Diana owned by Mr Brown
Maidenhead Whim Plate over 2 miles
1. Milk Maid owned by Lord Castlehaven
2. Dart owned by Mr Douglas
3. Violet owned by Mr Hillier
Wednesday 9th to Friday 11th October 1782
Maidenhead 4 mile Stakes
1. Brush owned by Mr Walbank
2. Miss Betty owned by Mr Wiltshire
3. John-a-Nokes owned by Captain Bertie
Gentlemen and Noblemens’ Purse over 4 miles
1. Little John owned by Mr Wildman
2. Luna owned by Mr Parker
3. Unnamed colt by Pantalon owned by Mr White
Monday 22nd September 1800
Maidenhead Gentleman’s Sweepstakes over 3 miles
1. Tunbridge owned by Mr Spencer
2. Bona Roba owned by Mr A Corbet
3. Milksop owned by Mr Smith
Maidenhead Subscription Bowl over 2 miles
1. Sweetlips owned by Mr Dockeray
2. Unnamed bay gelding owned by Lord Scarborough
3. Damon owned by Mr Howdelt
4. Bellona owned by Mr A Corbet
John Cary (1754-1835) was an English cartographer who published his atlas, The New and Correct English Atlas, in 1787. In 1794 he was commissioned by the Postmaster General to survey all English roads. The map shown below is an extract from his 1794 work.
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
