Earliest meeting: Saturday 20th October 1810
Final meeting: Wednesday 22nd September 1830
Inverness races first took place as early as Saturday 24th May 1662, but move forward a century and a half and a series of meetings billed as ‘Northern Races’ were staged for a 20 year period at Inverness. They were promoted by the Marquis of Huntly, supported by Lord Seagrave, who presented the races from his extensive deer park at Brahan Castle. The first meeting took place on Saturday 20th October 1810, with races and hunting taking place throughout the next week. The highlight of each meeting was the Ross and Cromarty Gold Cup which had been given by Mr D.Davidson of Tulloch. In 1825 the race was won by Lord Kennedy’s Skiff, while at the three day meeting from Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th September 1827 the Caithness Purse and Isle of Skye Purse were both claimed by Mr Bagley with Peacock. Later in the meeting the feature Cromarty Gold Cup was won by Mr Fraser’s Hartlepool. Hartlepool repeated his success the next year when beating Ephesus and Cromarty. The meeting did take place over two days on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September 1829, although both entries and crowd sizes were decreased. Interest waned further and the final meeting took place on Wednesday 22nd September 1830 when John Scott’s bay gelding by Ardrossan walked over in both races. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Marquis of Huntly, Lord Seagrave, Lord Kennedy |
| Principal Races |
Cromarty Gold Cup, Macaroni Stakes, Caithness Purse |
Thursday 27th September 1827
Cromarty Gold Cup over 1 mile
1. Hartlepool, brown colt owned by Mr Fraser
2. Cromarty, bay horse owned by Mr J Davison
3. Richmond, grey gelding owned by Mr Fraser |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 22nd September 1830. |
| Course today |
On Inverness racecourse. |
| 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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