Earliest meeting: Monday 22nd May 1837
Final meeting: Thursday 8th July 1880
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea is a small fishing town in Northumberland which was a popular seaside resort in the early 19th century, and by 1828 had 5 pubs and a number of houses offering lodgings. It is likely that racing took place in the late 18th century because a newspaper reference stated that Henry Patton, Vicar of Woodhorn in 1772, died at Newbiggin races. However, in the middle of the century it certainly staged race meetings to entertain its numerous spring and summer visitors. On Monday 22nd May 1837 the Subscription race was won by Mr Donkin’s Sailor’s Joy, while the principal race, the Silver Cup, went to Norna. The two day meeting on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th June 1847 was a splendid affair with competitive racing, a Stewards Ordinary at the Mason’s Arms on Monday and a Ball at the King’s Head Inn each evening. At the meeting on Thursday 31st August 1876 the card consisted of a Hurdle race and the Freeman’s Handicap Plate which was won by Mr Messenger’s Queen of the Tyne. Racing under rules continued until Thursday 8th July 1880 after which races were run on a less formal basis. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Applegarth, Mr Carr & Mr Anderson (Stewards), Mr Messenger |
| Principal Races |
Newbiggin Silver Cup, Cadgers’ Plate, Cresswell Forced Handicap |
Monday 22nd May 1837
Newbiggin Silver Cup over 2 miles
1. Norna, 5 year old owned by Mr Falder
2. Sailor’s Joy, aged horse owned by Mr Donkin
3. Cottage Girl, aged mare owned by Mr Crawford |
Thursday 31st August 1876 |
The Freeman’s Handicap Plate
1. Queen of the Tyne owned by Mr Messenger |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 31st August 1876 |
| Course today |
Across fields on the edge of the village. |
| 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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