Earliest meeting: Monday 4th April 1870
Final meeting: Monday 1st February 1875
It seems remarkable today that the large North Yorkshire industrial town of Middlesbrough began as a small farming village at the start of the 1800s. Middlesbrough lies on the south bank of the River Tees, bordering Redcar and Cleveland, and got its big break with the coming of the railway. Originally the Stockton to Darlington railway line was built to help support coal mining in the area, and it was thought that Stockton could become a prominent port. However, it was Middlesbrough which became more suitable for the purpose and from that time it went from strength to strength. In the latter part of the 1800s the town held its own race meetings. The inaugural meeting was held on Monday 4th April 1870, while the next year the meeting took place on Monday 3rd April 1871 on Mr Wight’s Farm on the southern boundary of the borough and was well supported by the local gentry and industrial workers. The opening Hunters Steeplechase over 3 miles was won by Carbineer for Mr Applegarth, while the following Cleveland Hunt Stakes saw Merry Maid beat Duke and Annie. Although a meeting did take place the next year, there was no steeplechase racing in 1873 or 1874. The final meeting was staged on Monday 1st February 1875 on the farms of Mr Greathead amd Mr White on Linthorpe Road, with the last Hunt Steeplechase going to Nimrod from Carbineer and Consolation. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Applegarth, Mr Charles Burton |
| Principal Races |
Middlesbrough Grand Open Steeplechase, Cleveland Hunt Stakes |
Monday 3rd April 1871
Middlesbrough Grand Open Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. Generosity, 6 year old owned by Mr Charles Burton
2. Carries, 6 year old owned by Mr R Jackson
3. Dan, 5 year old owned by Mr Hirst |
The final meeting took place on Monday 1st February 1875. |
| Course today |
On Mr Wight’s Farm on the southern edge of the town. |
| 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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