Earliest record: 1574
Earliest meeting: Wednesday 31st August 1720
Final meeting: Sunday 2nd May 1734
The Scottish Borders market town of Peebles lies on the River Tweed and held its own races in the early part of the 18th century, although there is some evidence that racing began in the vicinity of the town in 1574, and was certainly taking place by 1608, although no results have survived from that time. The earliest evidence of racing in the town where results are included was provided by the Caledonian Mercury which advertised race meetings in both 1720 and 1721. Details of the two meetings are shown below. Today Peebles boasts a population just above 8,000; its population boosted by the part it played in the development of the woollen industry. Defended by a town wall, the town is divided into 4 once gated areas, namely Eastgate, Northgate, Ludgate and Bridgegate. Baily's Racing Register first provided detailed results from races held at Peebles in 1734, with the meeting staged in May resulting in a win for Victorious, owned by the Duke of Hamilton. The grey horse got the better of a field of 5. There are no records of racing being held in the town after this event, although minor races were held in nearby Broughton.
The newspaper extracts below are shown courtesy of the Caledonian Mercury and British Newspaper Online.
Sunday 2nd May 1734
Peebles £20 Plate
1. Victorious owned by The Duke of Hamilton
The Grey horse beat a field of 4 others, although no further details are available.
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
