Earliest meeting: April 1864
Final meeting: Monday 25th April 1904
The earliest race meeting in the Worcestershire market town of Tenbury Wells was on Tuesday 12th June 1792 on a course at the Old Wood Common a mile south of the town centre. The races between this early date and the last flat race meeting in 1863 are covered elsewhere in this edition. Within a year Tenbury Hunt were staging steeplechase meetings in the town, but they were never of great quality, and even lacked quantity on most occasions. Despite this, by 1889 the town was holding two meetings yearly, the first in May and the later one in July. The next year, on Thursday 8th May 1890 the newspapers slated the meeting, writing that the attendance was fair given the meagre card on offer, and who could blame them? The Farmers’ Plate typified the meeting when three runners faced the judge, with Onyx going off the 2/1 on favourite over Kit at 3/1 and True Blue at 5/1. Every horse in the race fell at least once, yet all persevered to complete the course in a dreary affair. Those prepared to lay the odds out on Onyx were rewarded, but experienced an uncomfortable ten minutes before collecting. Racing continued to be well supported for the next 15 years, even though cards had few runners. The 1900 meeting had just 11 horses for the five races, offering very little sport. The final National Hunt meeting was held on Monday 25th April 1904.
Burford Steeplechase, Tenbury Hunt Farmers’ Race, Scurry Stakes, Teme Side Chase
Flat racing continued to be popular in the town, although they were unique in that a full day meeting offered races in the morning and in the evening. Despite this the crowds rolled in and stayed all day. It was in 1860 that a private meeting, with a Hurdle race was introduced, while in 1863 the first official National Hunt races were brought to Tenbury. By 1889 the town was holding two meetings yearly, the first in May and the later one in July. Racing continued to be well supported for the next 15 years until a final National Hunt meeting in 1904.
I am very grateful to local historian Graham James for the photos and details shown below.
In 1860 Tenbury was described as a, 'pretty town of Tenbury which stands apart in rural seclusion, a coy village with its beauty eager to be wooed, but soon to be wedded to the great railway system which works out a proposition unrecorded by Euclid, but manages to achieve prosperity and civilization in parallel.' A private day's sport was organized in the town for Thursday 15th March 1860 in which 'none but native talent should participate'. The event was staged on Tenbury Oldwood racecourse, with its 2 or 3 inhospitable sheds, but managed to attract 300 locals.
Farmers' Flat Race, once round and the distance
1. WEED, bay gelding owned by Mr E Mytton and ridden by Sutton
2. UNNAMED bay filly owned by Mr Jones and ridden by W Mytton
3. LANDLADY, chestnut mare owned by Mr Parsons and ridden by J Jones
4. DESPISED, black gelding owned by Mr Johnson and ridden by John Warroll
The principal event was the Shakenhurst Hunt Hurdle over 2 miles and 6 flights.
Thursday 15th March 1860
Shakenhurst Hunt Hurdle over 2 miles and 6 flights
(For non-thoroughbreds)
1. WEED, 6-year-old bay gelding owned by Mr E Mytton and ridden by Sutton
2. UNNAMED 5-year-old bay gelding owned by Mr R Stokes and ridden by Weston
3. BLACK EAGLE, aged brown gelding owned and ridden by Mr W Mytton
Although no betting took place on the first heat, Black Eagle cut out the early running, continuing to lead over the first 3 flights. As soon as Weed made his challenge the outcome was never in doubt, Weed defeating Mr Stokes's unnamed bay gelding with ease. As they lined up for the second heat bookmakers called 1/2 Weed which was taken. Black Eagle again set the early pace, but as they approached the last Weed took charge, going on to score by a comfortable length from Black Eagle, with Mr Stokes's charge a further 4 lengths back in third. After racing the Stewards Ordinary took place at the Swan Hotel with Mr Wicksted junior in the chair, supported by his father C Wicksted of Shakenhurst Hall.
During the week which included Wednesday 24th April 1878 no less than 31 race fixtures were advertised, yet the Tenbury Hunt meeting possessed considerable attraction for those fond of steeplechasing and Hunters races. The meeting had taken on a fresh lease of life since moving from the ground near the Swan Hotel to the Old Wood course, and was put on a firm financial footing by Mr G H Winton, Mr C Price and Mr J W Hall. The card on Wednesday 24th April 1878 consisted of 7 events, with £250 offered by the race committee. The Old Wood course, a mile and a half from the town centre, was 10 furlongs round and extremely flat throughout. The distance by road from Worcester was 22 miles, but by train it took 2 1/2 hours.
Stewards Steeple Chase Plate over 3 miles
1. ALICE 3/1 owned by Mr E Wadlow and ridden by Palin
2. DRY TOAST 4/6 fav owned by Mr J N Astley and ridden by F Holman
3. BELL TINKER 8/1 owned by Mr C Gregg and ridden by F Gregg
4. MARY SUART 8/1 owned by Mr Whittingham and ridden by Hemmingway
5. WESTHIDER 6/1 owned by Mr S Smith and ridden by T Heartfield
Kryewood Hunters Selling Flat Race over 2 miles
1. MARLBOROUGH 3/1 owned by Mr C Willis and ridden by Ware
2. ALPHA 2/1 owned by Mr R Rostron and ridden by F Holman
3. FILLE D'OR 5/4 fav owned by Mr A Cooper and ridden by Mytton junior
4. PHYSICIAN 8/1 owned and ridden by Mr R M Giles
West-Worcestershire and South Shrophsire Members Steeplechase
1. FILBERT 1/2 fav owned and ridden by Mr C M Friend
2. TAFFY 6/4 owned by Mr R Castle and ridden by J Holman
Ludlow Hunt Cup over 2 miles
1. LADY ETHEL 4/5 fav owned and ridden by Mr J Gough
2. PLAY BOY 8/1 owned by Mr S Hotchkiss and ridden by W Hotchkiss
3. CHARITY 4/1 owned by Mr D Moseley and ridden by Hemmingway
4. WHISKEY 4/1 owned by Mr J Hardy and ridden by H Smith
5. LADY CURRALL 4/1 owned by Mr A Groves and ridden by T C Nott
Old Wood Hunters' Selling Hurdle over 2 miles and 8 flights
1. THINSKIN 6/4 fav owned by Mr R Gordon and ridden by W Holman
2. RECIPROCITY 3/1 owned by Mr E Wadlow and ridden by Palin
3. UMPIRE 6/1 owned by Mr J A Duffield and ridden by Ware
Burford Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. Elmore End, 11st 7lb ridden by Mr Villar
2. Pink Thorn, 11st 7lb ridden by Mr A Brocklehurst
3. Chancellor, 12st ridden by Mr O T Mence
The map below indicates an outline of the former racecourse and is shown courtesy of Google.
The final meeting took place on Monday 25th April 1904.
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
