Earliest meeting: Thursday 26th April 1866
Final meeting: Saturday 1st May 1886
The Kent town of Sevenoaks, located in the western part of the county, is steeped in history. In the 13th century it held its first markets and 200 years later Knole House was built in the vast grounds of Knole Park. In the latter part of the 19th century the town organised a series of race meetings along with the Mid Kent and West Kent groups. The inaugural 2 day meeting was held on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th April 1866 on a course on Mr R Russell’s farm at Greatness Park. On Friday 24th April 1874 the meeting had a special guest when HRH Prince Arthur joined a party of officers from Maidstone and witnessed Ranger win the West Kent Hunters Stakes for Mr T Fagg. Racing under rules continued for a further 14 years until a final meeting on Saturday 1st May 1886. However, racing not under rules was staged again in the early part of the 20th century when the Sevenoaks and Chipstead races were held annually.

West Kent Hunt Steeplechase, Galloway Chase

Friday 24th April 1874
Military Hunt Cup Steeplechase
1. Belladonna, bay mare owned by Major Taylor
2. Robin Grey, grey gelding owned by Mr Banbury
3. Knight of St John, bay gelding owned by Major Brown

The final meeting took place on Saturday 1st May 1886.

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

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses