Earliest meeting: Monday 25th August 1817
Final meeting: Friday 5th September 1828
The town of Tenterden is in the Ashford district of Kent on the edge of the forest area called ‘The Weald’. Famously it was one of the original Cinque Ports, although today it would be impossible to get large vessels close to the town. The town has a rich history and can trace settlements back to the 14th century when the local industry was wool. The first race meeting, a 3 race card, was staged on Monday 25th August 1817 when the Town Plate was won by Sir John Honywood’s Barley-Corn defeating Clinker and Canopus. However, there is plenty of evidence to suggest meetings took place before 1817, some of which is shown below. Three years later, on Wednesday 30th August 1820 Sir John’s Benedick had to play second fiddle to Mr Brown’s Marksman in the Town Plate. Racing continued to be well supported annually and the meeting on Friday 7th September 1827 saw an immense crowd witness the Town Purse go to Mr Bennett’s Pat, while the concluding Rye Plate fell to Mr Coleman’s Honeysuckle. The final report of a meeting was on Friday 5th September 1828 when the Town Plate was won by Mr Coleman’s 3 year old delightfully named Sally of the Valley.
Thursday 30th August 1821
Tenterden Sweepstakes over 2 miles
1. Gift, a grey filly owned by Mr Brown
2. Enchantress, a bay mare owned by Sir J Honywood
3. Mrs Bang, a bay filly owned by Mr Scaith
Tenterden Sweepstakes for non-thoroughbreds over 2 miles
1. Waxlight, a chestnut colt owned by Mr E F Meynell
2. Rosebud, a chestnut mare owned by Mr Croughton
Tenterden Town Plate over 3 miles
1. Tempest, a grey horse owned by Mr Ryan
2. Muslin, a bay filly owned by Mr E F Meynell
3. Merrymaid, a grey filly owned by Sir J Honywood
Friday 7th September 1827
Tenterden Town Purse over 2 miles
1. Pat owned by Mr Bennett
2. Flamingo owned by Mr Coleman
3. Duchess owned by Mr Fuller
Rye Plate over 3 miles
1. Honeysuckle owned by Mr Coleman
2. Maid of Kent owned by Mr Brown
3. Maid of Sussex owned by Mr Maplesden
Friday 5th September 1828
Tenterden Town Plate
1. Sally of the Valley, 3 year old owned by Mr Coleman
2. Hawk’s-eye, 4 year old owned by Mr Kettel
3. Come by Chance, 6 year old owned by Mr Howard
The meeting held on Friday 5th September 1828 proved to be the last held in the town.
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
