Earliest meeting: Monday 18th April 1836
Final meeting: Saturday 31st March 1888
The Sporting Magazine of 1839 recorded that racing took place at the Yorkshire town of Tadcaster on Thursday 3rd January 1839 organised by the sportsman Beilby Thompson who lived at Escrick Hall, although the Yorkshire Gazette reported B B Thompson was the joint organiser. It was not the first meeting held in the vicinity of Tadcaster because a steeplechase meeting was staged on Monday 18th April 1836, and another on Boxing Day 1837 when the Silver Cup was won by Transport, beating Conservative, and both ran again at the 1839 meeting. That Boxing Day meeting was held across various fields near the town, starting in a field owned by Sir Edward Vavasour. Later meetings were held on the Town Ings racecourse which was adjacent to the London Road and 'Surgeon’s Field'. At the Tuesday 21st January 1840 meeting the Tadcaster Sweepstakes was won by Mr Lamplugh's Prickbelt, but only after 4 of the entries arrived too late. Barred from running, they arranged their own meeting which was won by Lucerne after Prickbelt was one of those barred from contesting the race. The course on that day started at Mr Archbell's stone quarry and ran along the Bramham Road for 1 1/2 miles, turning onto the Leeds Road near Smaw's Head and back three quarters of a mile into Tadcaster. The final results recorded in the Racing Calendar were from the meeting on Wednesday 20th April 1870, although it is known that a further meeting took place on Sunday 24th January 1886 when Little Jim, owned by the local vet James Scriven, won a match against an unnamed horse owned by a local landlord Sampson Wood. Little Jim later won the Silver Cup on Tuesday 24th January 1888. However, the final races were staged on Saturday 31st March 1888 when Mr Scriven's Little Jim won again, although the final race was, appropriately enough, the Tadcaster Stakes which went to Mr Johnson's Madcap.
Honorable Colonel Caradoc, Colonel Sir Maxwell Wallace, Sir G Cholmley, BeilbyThompson, Benjamin Blades Thompson
A 3-day meeting from Thursday 27th August 1818 to Saturday 29th August 1818 was advertised in the York Herald on Saturday 22nd August 1818, with purses of Gold, Saddle and Bridles and other prizes on offer. However, there is no evidence that the actual meeting took place, and no results were reported from the meeting.
On Monday 18th April 1836 a steeplechase meeting was staged in the vicinity of Tadcaster under the stewardship of Lieutenant Colonel E G Douglas, with supporting stewards Lieutenant Colonel Wildman and Major Whydham. The fields adjacent to the course were completely covered by horsemen and pedestrians from Tadcaster, Leeds and other West-Riding places. The idea of a meeting originated from officers of the Scots Greys, stationed at nearby Leeds Barracks, and the terms read, 'A sweepstake of 5 sovereigns each, for gentleman riders, the purse open to all horses, each to carry 12st across 4 miles of country.' The start was in a field between Nun Appleton and Oxton, the beacon the riders headed for was the mill, while the winning flag was at the 5 milestone on the North side of the York road. At one o'clock the crowd was fully assembled in the correct fields lining the course, and the 6 runners came under starters orders at two o'clock.
Scots Greys Tadcaster Steeplechase Sweepstake over 4 miles
1. GRENADIER, grey horse owned and ridden by Captain Trafford
2. THE FARRIER, chestnut horse owned by Mr G Thompson and ridden by Worsley
3. GEORGE BARNWELL, bay horse owned by Mr T Fairfax and ridden by Smith
4. EAGLE, bay horse owned and ridden by Mr Murray
5. SATAN, brown horse owned by Mr Watson and ridden by Whitworth
6. EDITH, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Stansfield
The actual organisers of the Boxing Day meeting in late 1837 is disputed. John Fairfax-Blakeborough, in Volume II of his Northern Turf History states, 'The races were organised by Mr Beilby Thompson, brother of Lord Wenlock, whose father assumed the name of Thompson, but in 1839 resumed his patronymic Lawley before the name of Thompson, his children being Lawley only. Beilby lived at Escrick Hall (a house he rebuilt and extended almost continuously in the mid-18th century. Beilby gradually bought areas of the village and moved it further from the manor house, to the north. The estate grew in size and stature until its peak of 22,000 acres in the late-19th century. At this point the estate was one of the largest in the North of England), and his daughter married the famous northern Turfite, Peregrine Wentworth, of Toulson, near Tadcaster.'
The earliest record of a steeplechase meeting at Tadcaster was on Tuesday 26th December 1837 when a large crowd was present, travelling from as far afield as Leeds, Pontefract, Doncaster and York. Many racecgoers assembled at The White Swan Inn where most of the horses due to take part were stabled. The day began with a dense covering of fog which continued for much of the day, making it difficult to observe the races. The start was in a field owned by Sir Edward Vavasour, near the Cock Beck, a tributary of the River Wharfe. The Steeplechase course was mapped out by a line of red flags. The card consisted of a Sweepstake over 3 miles which was won by Captain Richardson's Deceiver, followed by the Tadcaster Silver Cup over 2 miles, confined to horses owned by local farmers. That race saw Mr Cook's Transport defeat Conservative and Mischief.
Tuesday 26th December 1837
Tadcaster 10 Sovereigns Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. DECEIVER, bay gelding owned by Captain Richardson and ridden by H S Thompson
2. SIR WILLIAM, chestnut horse owned and ridden by Mr McDonough
3. MAZEPPA, bay gelding owned by Captain Ibbetson and ridden by Whitworth
4. THE UNKNOWN, brown gelding owned by Mr Bentley and ridden by Arnold
5. PARASOL, brown mare owned by Mr Pedley and ridden by Nicholson
6. RORY O'MORE, chestnut gelding owned by Mr F Cholomeley and ridden by Captain Smith
7. DAIST CUTTER, chestnut gelding owned and ridden by Mr Sykes
The betting for the first race made Deceiver the 2/1 favourite, with 9/4 offered about Sir William, and only bits and pieces for the rest. As the flag fell Mazeppa cleared the first fence before his competitors, all of which refused, followed by Sir William, and they proceeded in this manner until they came to the road. Sir William and The Unknown then took the lead of the others about 100 yards, but both of them obstinately refusing to jump out of the lane, they lost a great deal of ground. Daisy Cutter was first out, and Deceiver next, the former having the decided lead over the remaining fences till they came to the last but one, the severest leap in the race, where Daisy Cutter refused. Sir William then came up, having made up lost ground over some ploughed fields; he hesitated at the last fence, but Young M'Donough cleared it in a beautiful manner. Deceiver then came out and took his place alongside Sir William, Daisy Cutter having bolted through the hedge, refusing to take the leap. Sir William kept the lead in the last field, but slackening his pace in going down the hill to the winning post, a countryman shouted out, 'Go it, Thompson! thou'lt have him; tuther's done' and Deceiver sprung forward, and after a splendid race, won by about a length. Mr. Arnold fell at the last fence, and was dragged a few yards in the stirrup but he was not much injured. The pace was very severe the greater part of the race.
Tadcaster Silver Cup over 2 miles
1. TRANSPORT, brown horse owned by Mr Cook and ridden by Nicholson
2. CONSERVATIVE, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Joseph Sykes and ridden by Demain
3. MISCHIEF, bay mare owned by Mr Lamplugh and ridden by Rounding
4. DRILLER, chestnut horse owned by Mr W Jackson and ridden by G Styan
5. VIOLET, chestnut mare owned and ridden by Mr I Allenby
6. ELIS, chestnut horse owned by Mr Swales and ridden by Gregory
7. MISS HONEY, bay mare owned by Mr T Hogg and ridden by Pierse
Transport led off in beautiful style, and took the fences gallantly; but he had nearly lost the race by going on the wrong side of the flag. Mischief fell three times but, after all, ran strong to the finish. There were three of them down altogether at one fence, but not much damage was done. Elis ran against a tree and lamed his shoulder, thus destroying all chance of his winning. This closed the day's sport; and, the country being so well adapted to steeple chases, another is talked of during the hunting season.
I am grateful to the Tadcaster Historical Society, expecially John Firth, for the map of the likely 1837 racecourse.
On Thursday 3rd January 1839 a further steeplechase meeting took place in the vicinity of Tadcaster, with the appointed Stewards being George Lane Fox, Sir Maxwell Wallace, J Constable Maxwell and C H Ibbetson. The line selected for the races, marked out by a single row of flags which were to be kept to the right of the riders who were not to ride farther to the left than the extent of the fence in which each flag was placed, was three miles in length. It extending from Grimston Park, (the seat of Lord Howden) to the boundary fence between Tadcaster and Newton Kyme, crossing the River Cock, about half way, at Stutton Mill, a well-known meet for Lord Harewood's hunt, where a turn to the right brought the horses heads on a straight line with the winning field, across the grass enclosures parallel with the rivulet, across the Stutton lane, Brearey Flatts Farm, the Leeds and York Road, the Inholmes Farm, and terminating with a splendid run in. The fences, about thirty-five in number, comprised about a dozen rasping stag headed ones, two drains, and two or three bullfinchers, the remainder being fair average leaps. Four roads had to be crossed, namely the London road, Stutton lane, Hazel lane and the main Leeds road. The ground passed over different gentlemen's estates and terminated in a field belonging to William Hatfield of Newton Kyme. Mr Benjamin Blades Thompson acted as umpire, while Mr Thomas Briggs was the steward.
Thursday 3rd January 1839
Tadcaster 10 Sovereign Sweepstake
1. TRANSPORT owned by Mr Cooke
2. CONSERVATIVE owned by Mr Sykes
3. SIR JOHN owned by Mr Whitworth
Tadcaster Silver Cup
1. PRICKBELT owned by Mr Lamplough and ridden by C Hopper
2. CONSERVATIVE owned by Mr Sykes and ridden by Rounding
I am grateful to the Tadcaster Historical Society, expecially John Firth, for the map of the likely 1839 racecourse.
Routes of 1840 Races shown on the map below. The red route was the 21st January and the blue 3rd February.
The first 1840 race was postponed from the 7th January to the 21st January because of a severe frost. As well as coach traffic coming to the races, the reporter describes the excitement of his journey to the races by special train from York to Bolton Percy reaching the giddy speed of 35 mph and then by 'an omnibus' to the races. Unfortunately, the day was wet and windy. The course ran from near Toulston, crossing the Leeds Road near 'the Hill of Comfort' about half a mile from Headley Bar, then via Jackdaw Crag finishing in the field which now is the home to the Police Station and Fire Station in Station Road (or Leeds Road as it was then). The route included crossing “Cut-throat lane” which by the description seems to be the farm track/Dorchester Road as we know it today. The second race of the day seems to have been interesting. Two of the six horses arrived at the starting point. After waiting some time with no other horses turning up, the race was started. After the race had been won, the 4 other horses arrived at the starting point, leading to a 'considerable dispute'.
Probably because of this confusion, another race was run on 3rd February. This was a circular 1-mile course around the enclosures of Inholmes, the course having 3 circuits to produce the 3 mile run. This is shown in blue on the map.Tuesday 21st January 1840
Tadcaster Silver Cup
1. PRICKBELT owned by Mr Lamplough
In this amazing race four of the entries did not turn up on time for the start and were barred from running. As a result of this incident the 4 arranged their own meeting.
The Wide-Awake Stakes
1. CHESTERFIELD owned by Mr Beilby Thompson and ridden by J Wilson
2. LUCERNE owned by Mr Fairbourn and ridden by Kidd
Tadcaster Silver Cup over 3 miles
1. LUCERNE, bay mare owned by Mr Fairburn
2. WHITE STOCKINGS, grey gelding owned by Mr Hughill
3. RAWDON, bay gelding owned by Mr Swire
Monday 3rd February 1840
Wide Awake Stakes over 3 miles
1. CHESTERFIELD owned by Mr B B Thompson and ridden by J Wilson
2. LUCERNE owned by Mr Fairburn and ridden by Kidd
3. MOLINEAUX owned by Mr Duke and ridden by T Kidd
4. ROWTON owned and ridden by Mr T Kidd
5. SALLY RODGERS owned and ridden by Mr Wormley
MATCH once round
1. BOB LOGIC owned by Mr B B Thompson and ridden by Kidd
2. THE COUNTESS owned by Mr T Herbert and ridden by J Allenby
Handicap Purse twice round
1. LUCERNE owned by Mr Fairburn and ridden by Kidd
2. MOLINEAUX owned by Mr Duke and ridden by J Allenby
I am grateful to the Tadcaster Historical Society, expecially John Firth, for the map of the likely 1840 racecourse.
Assumed route of the 1841 Race
Apart from the start and finish points of this race, the route is not well described, though it says that most of the course was visible from the finish point and it does not mention crossing any roads. The start was the Newton Kyme – Tadcaster boundary on Wetherby Road and the finish was Mrs Kidd's field. The map shows the best guess for a three miles course visible from the finish line.
Thursday 11th March 1841
Tadcaster 25 Sovereigns Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. PRICKBELT owned and ridden by Mr Lamplugh
2. GIPSY KING owned by Mr Haworth and ridden by Rounding
3. ORATIO owned and ridden by Mr Pedley
I am grateful to the Tadcaster Historical Society, expecially John Firth, for the map of the likely 1841 racecourse.
A steeplechase meeting was staged on Monday 14th March 1842 over a course which extended from the Roman-road, called Rudgate, across Newton Field, Smaw's Farm, and the Tadcaster Inholmes, and terminated in a grass field near the Leeds-road. Some delay occurred in the start, but the spectators were enlivened by the appearance of the Earl of Harewood's foxhounds, which drew the covert at Newton found, and passed across the line in full cry. At half-past two the word 'go' was given. Jerry taking the lead at a good pace, Bob Logic lying second. Bardsey Lass third and the remainder close at their heels. In this order they proceeded, clearing every fence, most of them formidable ones, showing great skill until they reached Smaw's Farm, when Mayflower took the third place, and Mr. Kidd, who had used his horse with great judgement carrying upwards of 3st dead weight, gradually crept up to Jerry, the two horses clearing the last fence abreast at which Mayflower met with an accident and lost her rider. A severe struggle now ensued betwixt Jerry and Bob Logic. which terminated in favour of the latter by half a neck. and owing to the extra weight of 25lbs which Jerry carried, he was not able to hold out against the well-known stamina of Bob Logic. A Pony Race came off afterwards, half-mile heats, on the flat, between Mr Hotham's Deception and Mr Wormley's Tom the Saddler. A capital race, and each heat was well contested.
Monday 14th March 1842
Tadcaster Sweepstake of 1 sovereign each
1. BOB LOGIC, brown gelding owned by Mr B B Thompson and ridden by Kidd
2. JERRY, grey gelding owned and ridden by Mr Crow
3. ROSETTE, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Fletcher
4. BARDSLEY LASS, bay mare owned by Mr Ogle and ridden by T Kidd
5. NIX-MY-DOLLY, brown mare owned and ridden by Mr Johnson
6. MAYFLOWER, bay mare owned by Mr Kidd and ridden by Hotham
Pony Race over 1/2 mile heats
1. DECEPTION, owned by Mr Hotham and ridden by Kidd
2. TOM THE SAILOR, owned and ridden by Mr Wormley
I am grateful to the Tadcaster Historical Society, expecially John Firth, for the map of the likely 1842 racecourse.
1843 Race
This was another two-mile race. Unfortunately, there is only a single report on the race and detail of the route is sparse. It started at Stutton Lodge then ran westerly before turning back to Mrs. Kidd's field. The map shows the most likely route based on this information.
Friday 3rd March 1843
Wide-Awake Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. ARIEL, bay mare owned by Mr Ireland and ridden by Thomas Birdsall
2. ROSETTE, bay mare owned by Mr Fletcher and ridden by Hops
3. MAYFLOWER, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Kidd
4. SARAH ANN, brown mare owned by Mr J Hartley and ridden by R Coulson
5. BLACK BESS, black mare owned by Mr Ogle and ridden by T Kidd
6. FANNY, bay mare owned by Mr Coulson
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below.
I am grateful to the Tadcaster Historical Society, expecially John Firth, for the map of the likely 1843 racecourse.
I am grateful to the Tadcaster Historical Society, expecially John Firth, for the map of the likely 1844 racecourse.
Monday 25th March 1844
Tadcaster Silver Cup over 2 miles
(Restricted to members of the Wide-awake Club)
1. PANTALOON, bay gelding owned by Mr W Hartley and ridden by George Ash
2. MERCURY, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Sampson
3. VIPER, grey gelding owned by Mr Kidd
4. QUEEN BEE, bay mare owned by Mr Scriven
5. ARIEL, bay mare owned by Mr Wormley
6. DREADNOUGHT, bay gelding owned by Mr Cade
7. CALCANA, bay mare owned by Mr Fletcher
Tadcaster Hurdle Purse for Club members
1. VIPER, grey gelding owned by Mr Kidd
2. QUEEN BEE, bay mare owned by Mr Scriven
The 1844 race had finished in the Ings. Later races were to be based on the Ings where temporary stands were built, making it more like conventional races. The route became a 1 1/2 mile loop, which was traversed twice for a 3-mile race. The start and end were on the Ings, but the track crossed London Road twice with the track paralleling the railway. There were no more races until 1852 and from then on they took a different form. It is not clear why there was a gap of 8 years. A possible cause may have been the building of the railway which began in 1845. This may have restricted some potential routes.
I am grateful to the Tadcaster Historical Society, expecially John Firth, for the map of the likely Ings racecourse which was used from 1852 onwards.
Wednesday 8th April 1868
Tadcaster Londesborough Cup over 4 miles
1. FUGLEMAN owned by Mr G Ringrose
Tadcaster Brantingham Stakes
1. DIANA owned by Mr G Simpson
The Londesborough Hotel opened in 1855 on the site of the White Horse. From 1875 to 1877 the Hotel deputised as the parish church while St Mary's was being rebuilt. In 1976 the Londesborough closed to become offices for Sam Smith's Brewery.
Wednesday 20th April 1870
Somerset 50 sovereigns Flat Plate over 2 miles
1. BARRISTER (7/4 fav) owned by Sir G Cholmley and ridden by Captain Inge
2. JOHN BRIGHT (5/1) owned by Mr J M Richardson and ridden by W Richardson
3. SANDALS (10/1) owned by Captain Preston and ridden by A Thompson
4. CINDERELLA (2/1) owned by Mr Ringrose and ridden by R Walker
5. OLIVER (4/1) owned by Mr A Oliver and ridden by T Spence
6. NARROW ESCAPE (10/1) owned and ridden by Mr H V Wilkinson
Hunters Steeplecahse for 40 sovereigns over 3 miles
1. JACK (6/4 fav) owned by Mr Wetherill and ridden by Usher
2. MAID OF THE MORNING (3/1) owned by Mr Backhouse and ridden by Hessell
3. TRUMPETER (4/1) owned by Mr J Bennett and ridden by Dalglish
4. FAIR MAN (10/1) owned by Mr Aslette and ridden by P Smith
5. ZEPHYR (10/1) owned and ridden by Mr Entwistle
6. CAMPAIGNER (10/1) owned by Prince Sapieha and ridden by Captain Foulkes
7. ADVANCE (4/1) owned by Mr G Simpson and ridden by Simpson
Londesborough 50 sovereigns Cup over 3 miles
1. GARRY OWEN (5/1) owned by Mr H Kilby and ridden by Usher
2. ISABEL (5/1) owned by Mr Kidd and ridden by J M Richardson
3. LITTLE TOTTIE (6/4 fav) owned by Mr Whiting and ridden by W Richardson
4. DEFENCE (5/2) owned by Mr Danby and ridden by G Walker
5. WROTTESLEY (3/1) owned by Mr W H Catton and ridden by Rolly
Hunters 50 sovereigns Selling Stakes over 2 miles
1. COUNTESS (5/1) owned by Mr Saunders and ridden by J M Richardson
2. GENEROSITY (5/4 fav) owned by Mr C Burton and ridden by Cunningham
3. TRUMPETER (5/1) owned by Mr Bennett and ridden by Dalglish
4. DOUBLE FIRST (10/1) owned by Captain Foulkes and ridden by Hopwood
5. MARIGOLD (10/1) owned by Mr Mason and ridden by E Harrison
6. ECLIPSE (10/1) owned by Mr T Forshaw and ridden by Hardwick
7. TURNER (5/1) owned by Mr Tidman and ridden by G Waddington
8. TOPSY (10/1) owned by Mr Stubbs and ridden by T Smith
9. DEERFOOT (4/1) owned by Mr Cuthbert and ridden by Nicholson
25 Sovereigns Match over 2 miles
1. SHEER LUCK (4/6 fav) bay gelding owned by Mr H Cooper and ridden by Captain Inge
2. FIREFLY (evens) bay mare owned by Major Coates and ridden by Stavely
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below. Note the stones set around the edge of what would have been the racecourse, and also the fact that the ground was liable to flooding, not ideal for a racecourse.
A steeplechase meeting was held on Saturday 24th April 1886 on a dull, cold day, but this did not prevent a large attendance from Leeds and York. The Clerks of the Course were Mr Houseman and Mr Jackson, while Mr J J Shilleto acted as Clerk of the Scales. There was a varied 6 race card, including Flat races, Hurdle Races and a steeplechase for which the winners were:-
Innkeepers Stakes, 2 mile hurdle race, won by Mr T Shaw's Cliftonian (evens fav)
Brewery Stakes, 2 mile flat race, won by Mr H Rolley's Barkston Ash (3/1)
Red Coat Steeplechase, 3 miles, won by Mr T Shaw's Cliftonian (1/2 fav)
Londesborough Plate, 3 mile hurdle race, won by Mr M Kirk's Morsel (2/5 fav)
Tadcaster Stakes, 1 1/2 mile flat race, won by Mr J Parson's Fairburn Lass (2/5 fav)
Tradesmen’s Stakes, 2 mile hurdle race, won by Mr Hemingway's Our Mary Ann (2/1)
The final race meeting held at Tadcaster was staged on Saturday 31st March 1888 when a 6 race card was offered. The winners were:-
Innkeepers Stakes, 2 miles, won by Mr Harper's Sarah (5/6 fav)
Red Coat Steeplechase, 3 miles, won by Mr Scriven's Little Jim (4/5 fav)
Brewery Cup, 2 miles, won by Mr Harper's Sarah (4/6 fav)
Londesborough Plate, 3 miles, won by Mr Wilkinson's Lady Grey (1/4 fav)
Tadcaster Stakes, 1 1/2 miles, won by Mr Johnson's Madcap (1/5 fav)
Consolation Stakes, 2 miles, won by Mr Hardisty's Little Bell, walked-over
The final record of racing recorded in the Racing Calendar was on Wednesday 20th April 1870, although it is known that further meetings took place on Sunday 24th January 1886 when Little Jim, owned by the local vet James Scriven, won a match against an unnamed horse owned by a local landlord Sampson Wood. Little Jim won the Silver Cup in January 1888, and also won the Red Coat Steeplechase at the final meeting held at Tadcaster on Saturday 31st March 1888.
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
