Earliest meeting: Monday 11th August 1873
Final meeting: Thursday 9th August 1888
The Northumberland village of Shilbottle lies just 3 miles south east of Alnwick and 5 miles from the coastal port of Alnmouth. The village enjoys a strategically important position close to the A1 road and benefitted from the mining industry which began mining in 1728. In the latter part of the 1800s the village held its own series of race meetings, beginning on Monday 11th August 1873 on Din Moor. Meetings were well-supported and in August 1876 the feature Shilbottle Cup and the Alnwick Hunt Cup were both won by Mr Taylor’s Vanquisher, defeating Dolgelly in the former and Chieftan in the latter. Meetings continued to be held annually and the 1885 races were staged on Monday 10th August 1885 on a course on the Whittle Estate owned by Mr T Clutterbuck of Warkworth. The Shilbottle Hunt Cup over 1 ½ miles was won by Loonie, owned by Mr Robertson, beating Ethel and Coquet Lad, while throughout the meeting the Shilbottle Brass Band entertained the large crowd. The final meeting took place on Thursday 9th August 1888, the end being brought about because too much was asked of race sponsors, causing their interest and support to fade. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr R Archbold (Steward), Mr R Coxon (Starter) |
| Principal Races |
Shilbottle Hunt Cup, Alnwick Hunt Cup |
Monday 10th August 1885
Alnwick Hunt Cup over 1 ½ miles
1. Little Duchess, 5 year old owned by Mr Campbell
2. Pickles, aged horse owned by Mr W Wood
3. Killingworth Lad, aged horse owned by Mr Wilson
Betting: 1/3 Little Duchess. 4/1 Pickles, 7/1 Killingworth Lad |
The final meeting took place on Thursday 9th August 1888. |
| Course today |
Initially on Din Moor and then on the Whittle Estate on the outskirts of the village. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
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 |
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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 |
| Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent. |
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