Earliest meeting: Thursday 20th August 1801
Final meeting: Thursday 1st November 1821
Petworth, a small West Sussex town in the Chichester district of the county, is located 21 kilometres from the town of Chichester. The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book, although today it is more famous for its stately home, Petworth House and the grounds of Petworth Park. In the latter part of the 18th century army officers of the Sussex Militia stationed nearby organised races on Petwork Park which was owned by the Earl of Egremont. The Earl won the Epsom Derby 3 times in 4 years in 1804 Hannibal (SR 2046), 1805 Cardinal Beaufort (SR 1984) and in 1807 Election (SR 2030). He also won the Oaks in 1800 with Ephemera (SR 1939). That invitation by the Earl to use his estate did not extend into the 19th century, except for a meeting held on Thursday 20th August 1801. The meeting involved a Match over 6 furlongs between Mr Panton and Lord Egremont which the former won, with the result shown below. Meetings thereafter were uncommon, but a final meeting was staged on Thursday 1st November 1821, opening with the Petworth Plate won by Mr Molineux’s Ranter. The concluding Hunters’ Sweepstake went to Mr B Prince’s Jezebel. The Duke of Richmond was Colonel of the Sussex Militia, and when the Earl of Egremont refused permission for his estate to be used by the Officers for their races the Duke stepped in and offered his Goodwood Estate. Goodwood races came in to being in 1801, albeit on a section of the estate known as 'The Harrowby' about 3 furlongs from the site of the present grandstand, and from that initial acorn has grown the magnificent, glorious Goodwood racecourse. |
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 |
