Earliest meeting: May 1866
Final meeting: Monday 30th May 1870
The North Yorkshire area of Normanby is now in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland. The area has a rich history and the Manor of Normanby was held by the de Brus family who were based at Skelton Castle, although another important building at the time was Normanby Hall. To the west of the village is the village of Eston and together they combined to organise their own race meetings in the latter part of the 1800s. The inaugural meeting jointly organised by the villages was held in May 1866, although the races were of no significance. However, 4 years later a meeting took place on Monday 30th May 1870 which attracted the attention of over 3000 people. The course was in fields between Normanby and Eston, about 5 miles from Middlesbrough. The chief Steward was Mr R Jackson and he ensured the crowd were entertained throughout the afternoon by a packed race card and by Normanby Brass Band. The Innkeepers Hunt Stakes was won by Lady Bolton, and the Normanby Hunt Stakes by favourite Carbineer. However, the afternoon was somewhat marred by the crowd believing that Nancy had been held back by her jockey in the Selling Hunt Stakes. There is no record of any meetings taking place in the future. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr R Jackson, Mr T P Andrew, Mr R Searth (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Normanby Hunt Stakes, Innkeepers Hunt Stakes, Selling Hunt Stakes |
Monday 30th May 1870
Normanby Hunt Stakes over 3 miles
1. Carbineer, aged horse owned by Mr Applegarth
2. Tom Andrew, aged horse owned by Mr R Jackson
3. Lady Bolton, aged mare owned by Mr J Bradley
Betting: Evens Carbineer, 5/4 Tom Andrew, 8/1 Lady Bolton |
The final meeting took place on Monday 30th May 1870. |
| Course today |
In fields between Normanby and Eston, about 5 miles from Middlesbrough. |
| 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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