Earliest meeting: Monday 19th April 1909
Final meeting: Saturday 13th March 1915
The North Yorkshire hamlet of Picton, in the Hambleton district of the County, has a population of barely 100, but first held races on Monday 19th April 1909 and continued for just 6 years. The hamlet lies about 7 miles from Middlesbrough and is almost on the border of North Yorkshire and Stockton-on-Tees. The racecourse, just a mile from the Railway Station, was on farmland owned by Mr G Casebourne, with the inaugural 1909 meeting opening appropriately enough with the Inaugural Handicap Chase which was won by Ravenscliffe. By 1910 the course was hosting 3 meetings a year in March, April and November, with celebrations after racing at the Station Hotel. However, within 4 years, and near the outbreak of World War I, the course held a solitary meeting in April when only 13 horses raced. The War was of greater priority than horse racing and the final meeting at the track was on Saturday 13th March 1915.
G.Casebourne, Oliver Casebourne
Picton Handicap Chase, Picton Novices Hurdle
Saturday 15th March 1913
Grand Picton Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles
1. Closewood Beck, 4 year old owned by Miss E Taylor
2. Rough and Ready, 5 year old owned by Mr A Robinson
3. Ambrosius, 4 year old owned by Mr J Thompson
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
