Earliest meeting: Tuesday 21st March 1809
Final meeting: March 1811
The Oxfordshire hamlet of Northbrook, referred to in olden times as Norbrook and situated 2 miles to the north of Kidlington, held a famous race meeting in 1809. The local Hunt was named the Mostyn Hunt and they are credited with organising the first hunt races in the county. Sir Thomas Mostyn was the master of the hunt and organised a hunt meeting at Northbrook on Tuesday 21st March 1809. The first race of the day was confined to members of Sir Thomas Mostyn’s Hunt and run over 3 miles with each horse carrying 13 stone. The race was won by Mr Drake’s Pewet. Although there is no record of a meeting taking place in 1810, the meeting did return to Northbrook in March 1811 when the principal race, the Northbrook Gold Cup valued at 100 Guineas, was won by Mr Harrison’s Barleycord. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir Thomas Mostyn |
| Principal Races |
Northbrook Gold Cup, Sir Thomas Mostyn 10 Guineas Sweepstakes |
Tuesday 21st March 1809 |
Sir Thomas Mostyn 10 Guineas Sweepstakes
1. Pewet, a bay mare owned by Mr Drake
2. Mountebank, a brown gelding owned by Mr Harrison
3. Romeo, a brown gelding owned by Mr Cope
4. Gunpowder, a brown gelding owned by Mr Taylor |
Although there is no record of a meeting taking place in 1810, the meeting did return to Northbrook in 1811. The principal race was the Northbrook Gold Cup valued at 100 Guineas with a sweepstake of 10 Guineas added. Details are shown below. |
| March 1811 |
Northbrook Gold Cup
1. Barleycord, a chestnut gelding owned by Mr Harrison. |
| The final meeting took place in March 1811. |
| Course today |
On a 3 mile course over fields on the edge of Northbrook. |
| 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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