Earliest meeting: Monday 30th November 1868
Final meeting: Wednesday 3rd February 1869
Today Sudbury is a suburb of London in the Boroughs of Brent and Harrow to the north-west of the capital. However, back in the mid-1800s it was a town in Middlesex and enjoyed plenty of open spaces on Sudbury Park Common. The majority of the town and surrounding land was in the ownership of the Barham family, and the town held its first races on Monday 30th November 1868. The Stand Plate was won by Inheritor, owned by Mr J Nightingale, who beat Primula and Cassia, however the organisers were heavily criticised for the sharp turns, with too many horses falling or running out. Despite its excellent position near to London, the vast open grassland, and the wealth of the Barham family, the races were not particularly successful and only lasted one more year. The final 2 day meeting was held on Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd February 1869 when the stand and course were modified. The opening Trial Stakes did not start the meeting off well when the 6/4 favourite Little Coates was left 50 lengths at the start yet still finished third behind Colonel P and Sweet Boy. The Two Year Old Stakes saw Mousetrap beat Hyndhope, while the feature race, the Sudbury Handicap, was won by Mr G Reynolds Nannie. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Barham family, Sir T B Leonard |
| Principal Races |
Sudbury Handicap, Trial Stakes, Sudbury Two Year Old Stakes |
Wednesday 3rd February 1869
Sudbury Handicap over 2 miles
1. Nannie, 5 year old owned by Mr G Reynolds
2. Poleaxe, 4 year old owned by Mr Rover
3. Vision, aged horse owned by Mr Morris
Betting: 2/1 Nannie, 5/1 Whitworth, 5/1 Mathilde, 8/1 Poleaxe, 8/1 Vision |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 3rd February 1869. |
| Course today |
On the open land of Sudbury Park. |
| 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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