Earliest meeting: Thursday 29th August 1839
Final meeting: Saturday 29th August 1846
The County Durham hamlet of Tibbersley, situated close to Billingham, was the scene of a series of race meetings in the middle of the 19th century. The meetings were billed as Stockton Races and although Stockton is on the County Durham side of the River Tees, their Flat meetings invariably took place on the Yorkshire side of the River. However, on Thursday 29th August 1839 they launched a meeting at a new course in Tibbersley. The land was owned by John Jackson a former Clerk of the Course at Stockton. The Gold Cup, run on Friday 4th September 1840, was interesting because the two driving forces behind the meeting, John Bell and Lord Eglinton, each had a runner, and they dead-heated for first place. In the run off Mr Bell’s La Femme Sage came out on top. These race meetings continued to be held in the hamlet until 1846 when a 3 day meeting took place from Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th August 1846, although the third day was so poorly attended that the Committee felt the need to look for a more appropriate venue. On the opening day the Members’ Stakes fell to Little Hampton owned by Mr Standish, while the Tibbersley Stakes was a disappointment when Psalmsinger beat his only rival Obscurity. The meeting ceased for eight years, after which it transferred again back to Yorkshire on its revival. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Earl of Eglinton, Mr John Bell (Steward) |
| Principal Races |
Stockton Gold Cup, Tibbersley Stakes |
Friday 4th September 1840
Stockton Gold Cup over 2 miles
1. La Femme Sage, bay mare owned by Mr Bell
2. St Bennett, bay horse owned by Lord Eglinton
3. Smollet, aged horse owned by Mr Vanshart |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 29th August 1846. |
| Course today |
On land owned by John Jackson 2 miles from Stockton. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
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 |
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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 |
| Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent. |
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