Earliest meeting: Wednesday 19th April 1637
Final meeting: Saturday 10th September 1730
The historic market town of Rothwell, in Northamptonshire, first held races in the early part of the seventeenth century. It is situated to the north west of Kettering and was granted a charter by King John in 1204 to hold a market every Monday and have an annual Fair after Trinity Sunday. Slade, a Ward in the Borough of Kettering, jointly organised race meetings with Rothwell in the 17th and early 18th centuries. One of the earliest recorded meetings in the town was on Wednesday 19th April 1637 when a £50 race took place between Lord Cullen and Mr Washbourne which was won by Lord Cullen’s horse. A further meeting took place in September 1638 when Lord Sherard won a Silver Flagon with a horse ridden by Lord Westmoreland, defeating horses owned by Mr Digby and Sir Noel. The Digby horse was ridden by George Blunt, and the Noel horse by Captain Lisle. Races were widely reported, and in 1672 reference was made to a meeting at Rothwell on 5th September 1672 in the Thomas Isham Journal. Thomas Isham lived at Lamport Hall, some 5 miles from Rothwell. An extract from his journal is shown below. He later comments that further races were staged on 4th September 1673 and were held annually for a considerable period thereafter. The London Gazette of 9th to 13th August 1683 advertised a meeting at "Rothwell Slade in the county of Northampton at which the two usual Plates will be run for on the first Wednesday and Thursday in September; for the Thursday Plate each Horse to carry 12 Stone, gentlemen only to ride, three Heats, 4 miles each Heat; the Horses are obliged to be at Rothwell Town three weeks before the Day. For the Wednesday Plate each Horse to carry 10 stone, two miles each Heat; what horse runs for it is obliged to be at Rothwell ten days before the day of the Race." The next evidence of racing at Rothwell was a two day meeting held on 30th and 31st August 1727. Baily’s Racing Register does not provide results from races held at Rothwell Slade until the final meeting which took place on Saturday 10th September 1730.
In addition to races being advertised as 'Rothwell Slade races', in the latter part of the 17th century newspapers advertised a meeting to be held at Market Rothwell on Thursday 2nd September 1697. The advert read, 'On the first Thursday in September next will be run for at Market- Rowell in Northamptonshire, a Plate worth £40. Every Horse, Mare, or Gelding to carry 13 Stone weight, and run 3 Heats, 4 Miles each Heat ; but if these 3 Heats are won by 3 several Horses, a separate heat must decide the Controversie ; None but Gentlemen must Ride ; and every Horse, Mare, or Gelding must appear to be entered at the Weighing Post the Wednesday seven nights before the Race ; and none to run that has ever won the value of £20 in Money or Plate ; The Winner to be sold for 30 Guineas.'
Saturday 10th September 1730
Rothwell Slade 30 Guineas Selling Plate
1. Carlisle Gelding owned by Mr Bainbrigge
2. Red Rose owned by Sir A Hasilrigg
3. Cripple owned by Lord Essex
4. Now-or-Never owned by Mr Hawkins
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
