Earliest meeting: Wednesday 13th April 1859
Final meeting: Wednesday 28th March 1866
The Tynside cities of Newcastle and Gateshead combined forces in the mid-1800s to promote a series of race meetings billed as ‘Newcastle & Gateshead Hunt Steeplechases’, the first of which was held on Wednesday 13th April 1859. The meetings were organised by Newcastle and Gateshead Harriers Hunt Club, ably directed by John Gray. On Wednesday 16th April 1862 the course was a 3 ½ mile course over good hunting ground less than 10 miles from Newcastle, the meeting opening with the Harriers’ Hunt Cup over 3 ½ miles which was won by Mr F Lamb’s Romeo who beat Jessie and Glendale. The Tyne Spring Handicap was held on the nearby ‘North Derby course’ and saw Mr Fobert’s Upperhand get the upperhand over Willie Wright and Donne Canne. The feature race, the Northumberland Hunt Plate over 2 miles, was won by Mr McHenry’s Fly by Night. By 1865 the event was extended to two days on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th April 1865 when the Braes of Derwent Hunt Club joined the organising Committee. The prestigious Northumberland Hunt Plate, over 2 miles, was won by Mr Surtees’s Cragsman who beat The Owl and Margherita. The final card was staged on Wednesday 28th March 1866. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mayor of Gateshead (B.Bigger), Sheriff of Newcastle (B.Plummer), Mr John Gray |
| Principal Races |
Northumberland Hunt Plate, Tyne Spring Handicap |
Wednesday 16th April 1862
Northumberland Hunt Plate over 2 miles
1. Fly by Night, 6 year old owned by Mr McHenry
2. Chieftain, aged horse owned by Mr E Milvain
3. The Cashier, 5 year old owned by Mr B Swan
Betting: 6/4 Robin Hood, 3/1 The Cashier, 6/1 Chieftain, 10/1 Fly by Night |
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 28th March 1866. |
| Course today |
A 3 ½ mile course across good hunting ground between Newcastle and Gateshead, less than 10 miles from Newcastle. |
| 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. |
| ORDER FORM |
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| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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