Earliest meeting: Friday 4th March 1853
Final meeting: Friday 4th March 1853
Sutton is the main town in the London borough of Sutton and lies 10 miles south west of Charing Cross. It was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, although at the time it was barely more than an agricultural village. It enjoyed a prominent position on the main road linking London with Brighton, and benefitted from the coming of the railway in 1847. Galloway races were held in the vicinity of Sutton as early as September 1716 when a Galloway Plate was contested on Casehorton (sic) Downs, later Cassaulton and then Carshalton. Just 6 years after the railway came to town Sutton organised its own race meeting on Friday 4th March 1853, although the meeting had been scheduled for 25th February but was postponed due to a severe frost. The Greyhound Inn was the headquarters for entries and an Ordinary after racing. The opening Railway Stakes, over 4 miles, was won by Mr Searle’s Harlequin who justified 6/4 favouritism by beating Countess and Fazeley. In the concluding race, the Selling Stakes, Fazeley gained his revenge to reward owner Mr C Higgins. However, sandwiched between these two races was the feature Sutton Handicap over a testing 4 mile steeplechase course which began in fields near to the Greyhound Inn. The runners then passed the stand and took two fences before heading for Mr Overton’s long meadow at the rear of the cottages, and then crossed 2 further fields before making their way back to the winning pole in front of the stands. The race was won by 7/2 shot Janus owned by Mr Clayton, defeating The Brewer and Sam Hood.

Friday 4th March 1853
Sutton Handicap over 4 miles
1. Janus, aged horse owned by Mr Clayton
2. The Brewer, aged horse owned by Mr Barclay
3. Sam Hood, aged horse owned by Mr Sait
4. Young Lottery, aged horse owned by Mr Barnard
Betting: 5/2 The Dean, 3/1 Young Lottery, 7/2 Janus

The only recorded meeting took place on Friday 4th March 1853.

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