Earliest meeting: Friday 11th September 1846
Final meeting: Friday 25th June 1869
The small Suffolk market town of Sudbury, on the River Stour, is situated some 100 kilometres from London. The town boasts a rich history dating back to at least the 8th century and had established a market by the 11th century. In the mid-1800s it held its own races, the earliest taking place on Friday 11th September 1846, when over 8000 people attended to witness the Hunters Stakes go to Mr Brown’s Chance, while the Hack Stakes was won by Doubtful. Meetings were not regular, but a significant meeting was staged on Friday 25th August 1854 on the North Meadow, adjacent to the Melford Road. The Hunters’ Stakes was won by Mr Bunyon’s Day Star, while the main race, the Borough Stakes, went to Mr Searl’s Nerva. There was then a lapse in racing until the Sudbury Yeomanry organised a series of meetings under the direction of Major Barnardiston. The first of these took place on Friday 21st June 1867 and continued for two further years until the meeting on Friday 25th June 1869 when the Borough Plate was won by Evelege owned by Private St Clements.

Friday 25th August 1854
Sudbury Borough Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Nerva, bay mare owned by Mr Searl
2. Chorus, 6 year old owned by Mr Sare
3. Susannah, 3 year old owned by Mr Norton

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