Earliest meeting: Wednesday 14th April 1852
Final meeting: Wednesday 9th April 1856
The County Durham mining village of Tanfield lies close to Stanley and can trace its history back to 1179 when it was known as Tamefield. It held its own series of race meetings in the mid-1800s, the first taking place on Wednesday 14th April 1852 on five fields on the outside of the village. The opening North of England Steeplechase went to Little Jessie who beat Snap, while the feature Tanfield Steeplechase was won by Gulnare. Meetings continued annually on the same course for the next 4 years and each meeting started with the North of England Steeplechase, and each year, apart from 1853, it was won by Little Jessie. The final meeting was staged on Wednesday 9th April 1856 on a miserable day with such heavy going that 2 of the fields could not be used and the course had to deviate. Once again the opening North of England Chase was capturd by Little Jessie, winning 4 of the 5 occasions it was contested, and the final Tanfield Steeplechase went to the Mr Dunlop’s The Pretender.
Wednesday 11th April 1855
Tanfield Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. MICHAEL, aged horse owned by Captain Lane and ridden by Coxon
2. HEATHER JOCK, aged horse owned by Mr Golightly and ridden by Harrison
3. LADY MOWBRAY, 5-year-old owned by Mr W Robson and ridden by Smith
4. PULLAWAY, aged horse owned by Mr Coulson and ridden by Jones
5. PATCH, aged horse owned by Mr J Summers and ridden by Cutting
In addition to the main race, there were two further races, a Hunter's Stakes for gentlemen riders, and the North of England Handicap Steeplechase, both results are shown below.
Hunter's Stakes over 3 miles
1. SIR COLIN CAMPBELL (4/1), owned by Mr Dunlop and ridden by Coxon
2. MICHAEL (4/1) owned by Mr Hoyle and ridden by John Fife
3. PALE BRANDY (1/2 fav) owned by Mr Coulson and ridden by Jones
4. BROWN BRANDY (3/1) owned by Mr Hindhaugh and ridden by Turner
Michael had a different owner, Mr Hoyle, because one of the conditions of the Tanfield Steeplechase was that the winner had to be sold straight afterwards. Evidently Captain Lane sold Michael to Mr Hoyle.
North of England Handicap Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. LITTLE JESSIE (4/1) owned and ridden by Mr William Robson
2. THE PRETENDER (2/1 fav) owned by Mr John Dixon and ridden by Thrift
3. JEREMY TWITCHER (5/1) owned by Mr William Smith and ridden by Smith
4. STAR OF THE WEST (3/1) owned by Captain Lane and ridden by Coxon
5. GULNARE (100/8) owned by Mr R Lister and ridden by Walker
6. SAM SLICK (100/8) owned by Mr G White and ridden by Dickson
7. CLARION (4/1) owned by Mr Applegarth and ridden by Brown
8. BAY GREGSON (100/8) owned by Mr Stott and ridden by Dinning
9. CREEPING MOLLY (100/8) owned by Mr Blandford and ridden by Cutting
10. TOPPER (100/8) owned by Mr Stephenson and ridden by Harrison
11. LADY ALMA (100/8) owned and ridden by Mr Williams
I am grateful to John Turton, Atiquarian and quality second hand bookseller, who brought my attention to the Double column broadside shown below, comprising twenty four six-line stanzas written by Matthew Wilson, known as the Hexham poet-laureate. The original historic poem, about Tanfield Steeplechases held on 11th April 1855, can be purchased from John Turton by contacting him at johnturton@turtome.co.uk
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 9th April 1856.
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
