Earliest meeting: Monday 19th July 1728
Final meeting: Saturday 18th May 1907
The Yorkshire seaside resort of Scarborough first held races on Monday 19th July 1728 when the results were recorded in Baily’s Racing Register. The principal race, the Scarborough Plate over 2 miles, was won by the unfortunately named Cripple. Races continued on its famous beach in 1751 when a match was staged over half a mile between an unnamed black gelding owned by Captain Casebourne and ridden by Captain Jennison, and an unnamed bay horse owned and ridden by Captain Vernon. The black gelding prevailed and won his owner 180 Guineas. Within six years the first four day affair took place, once again on the beach, starting on Tuesday 6th September 1757 and continuing until Friday 9th September. By 1762 the course was being widely accepted as one of some importance and results from Monday 19th to Wednesday 21st July 1762 were included in the Racing Calendar. The 4 mile Purse was won by Mr Southerton’s Elephant, while the Scarborough Stakes went to Mr Preston’s Flora. It was not until 1867 that the races moved from the precarious beach surface to a purposely laid out grass track. In that year the Scarborough Race Company was formed and the new course developed on Seamer Moor. The course was round with a circumference of 10 furlongs and a 3 furlong run in, although a 4 furlong straight course merged with the main course. The first meeting was held on Monday 24th August 1868 when the principal race was the Prince of Wales Stakes. Although the final Flat race meeting was on Saturday 26th August 1893, when the Prince of Wales Plate was won by Lord Downe’s Mill Mount, National Hunt racing continued to be staged until the final card on Saturday 18th May 1907.
Lord Downe, Captain Machell, Miles L’Anson
Prince of Wales Stakes, Derwent Steeplechase, Spa Plate, Scarborough Handicap, Corporation Purse
Monday 19th July 1728
Scarborough Plate over 2 miles
1. Cripple owned by Mr Atkinson
2. Smiling Tom owned by Mr Gallant
3. Country Wench owned by Mr Wardle
19th to 21st July 1762
Scarborough 4 mile Purse
1. Elephant owned by Mr Southeron
2. Miss Thornville owned by Mr Preston
3. Stapleton Dick owned by Mr Stapleton
Scarborough 2 mile Stakes
1. Flora owned by Mr Preston
2. Spider owned by Mr Thorp
3. Lady owned by Mr Fenwick
Tuesday 27th to Friday 30th August 1782
Scarborough Noblemen & Gentlemen’s Purse over 4 miles
1. Young Morwick owned by Mr Vever
2. Hermit owned by Mr Hutchinson
The winner was the 4/7 favourite
Scarborough Corporation Purse over 3 miles
1. Alfred owned by Mr Witty
2. Minor Cock owned by Mr Dalton
Minor Cock was the 4/6 beaten odds on favourite.
Friday 25th to Saturday 26th August 1893
The Prince of Wales Plate over 5 furlongs
1. Mill Mount owned by Lord Downe
2. Red Agnes owned by Mr David Cooper
3. Terse owned by Mr James Snarry
The Spa Plate over 5 furlongs
1. Khartoum owned by Mr W L’Anson
2. Maxovitch owned by Mr T Bruckshaw
3. Sparkenhoe owned by Mr J G Menzies
The Scarborough Handicap Plate over 1 ¼ miles
1. Lady Maud owned by Mr R C Vyner
2. Lady Killer owned by Mr P Buchanan
3. Scent owned by Mr H Wilkinson
Although the final Flat race meeting was on Saturday 26th August 1893, with the results of that final meeting shown above, National Hunt racing continued to be staged until the final meeting on Saturday 18th May 1907.
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below. The earliest racing would have taken place on the sands, but then this racecourse was developed, complete with grandstand.
After racing ceased the land was used by the Navy and then acquired by Scarborough Corporation.
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
