Earliest meeting: Tuesday 10th August 1824
Final meeting: Thursday 11th September 1851
The large Kent town of Tunbridge Wells, close to the Sussex border, lies 40 miles south east of Charing Cross. Whilst there is an indication racing of a sort took place in the vicinity of the town as early as 1738, the earliest results were from a two day meeting from Tuesday 10th to Wednesday 11th August 1824 when the opening Freeholders Plate over 2 miles was won by Mr Waller’s Irene. The later Sweepstake, also over 2 miles, saw Mr Coleman’s Duckling beat Fortune Teller and My Aunt. Meetings were very popular, well supported events which continued to be staged for the next 27 years. The meeting in 1834 was a very special occasion because the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria attended the races, and maybe this was a sign of things to come, because in 1909 King George VII recognised the popularity of the spa with members of the Royal Family and granted the town the ‘Royal’ prefix. On Wednesday 22nd August and Thursday 23rd August 1849 a two day meeting took place, each day starting at 1 o’clock. The first day saw the Eridge Stakes, the Steward's Plate and the Visitors Stakes, while on the second day the Manor Stakes, the Town Plate and the Railway Stakes all took place. The final meeting was staged on Thursday 11th September 1851. Racing resumed in 1856 just down the road at Tonbridge and continued until 11th September 1874.
Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent, Lord Lennox
Tuesday 10th August to Wednesday 11th August 1824.
The Freeholders Plate over 2 miles
1. Irene owned by Mr Waller
Tunbridge Wells Sweepstake over 2 miles
1. Duckling owned by Mr Coleman
2. Fortune Teller owned by Mr Whyte
3. My Aunt owned by Mr A Braithwaite
Tunbridge Wells Town Plate over 2 miles
1. Fortune Teller owned by Mr Whyte
2. My Aunt owned by Mr A Braithwaite
3. Mortimer owned by Mr Jones
The Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria attended the 1834 Tunbridge Wells meeting.
Records show that on Wednesday 22nd August and Thursday 23rd August 1849 a two day meet took place, each day starting at 1 o,clock. The first day saw the Eridge Stakes, The Steward's Plate and the Visitors Stakes. On the second day the Manor Stakes, The Town Plate and The Railway Stakes took place. The runners for the Eridge Stakes are shown below:-
ERIDGE STAKES ( 10 sovereigns to enter)
GISALLA 6 8st 9lb F R Clark
BEKBARA 6 8st 4lb Mr Hornsby
TIT-TAT 6 8st 0lb Mr Baleham
ROSALINDA 5 7st 10lb Mr Tubbs
LOVELACE 4 7st 10lb Mr Land
GRIST 4 7st 10lb C Formby
THE NORTHERN EAGLE 4 7st 5lb Mr Masser
Unnamed 4 7st 4lb Mr Formby
SECOND SIGHT 3 6st 8lb Mr Cowley
TELEGRAPH 3 6st 4lb Mr Cowley
DAMSON 3 6st 0lb Mr Cowley
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below.
.jpg)
I am very grateful to Robin Johnson for the following details:-
The racecourse remains a local landmark and it is still possible to walk round the entire course which is now a bridleway. It can be found on Major York's Road which links the A26 and A264.
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
