The earliest evidence of racing in the Uttoxeter area was at Netherwood in the early years of the 18th century. In the early 1800’s Uttoxeter combined with the nearby Meynell Hunt Group to stage steeplechase meetings, one of which took place on Thursday 6th April 1820 with results shown below. However, meetings on the current course were designed to replace those at nearby Keele Park which had closed by 1907. A company was formed in 1907 to take over the licence of Keele Park racecourse, with 100 members of the nobility and gentry of the county forming the club to run the racecourse. The inaugural 2 day meeting took place on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th May 1907, with results shown below. There were 3 further days of racing in 1907. Racing ceased in 1914 because of the outbreak of War, and did not return until two years after the War had ended. The first meeting was abandoned due to inclement weather, but a meeting was held in April 1921 and 3 further meetings took place that year. No racing took place between 1939 and 1945, initially because the course was requisitioned by the War Department and then because the farmer, whose land the course was on, could not agree appropriate terms for racing to take place. It was not until 1951 that Uttoxeter Urban District Council took over the running of the course, holding an inaugural meeting on 12th April 1952 when a crowd in excess of 12,000 attended. In 1968 a new grandstand was opened at a cost of £167,000 and twenty years later the course was bought by Northern Racing, led by Sir Stanley Clarke. He instigated the building of a new paddock and two new grandstands, transforming the course from a lowly, rural track into one which became known nationwide. The feature race is the Midlands Grand National which was first run in 1969, but in 1997 Sir Stanley Clarke had his sights set on the Aintree Grand National which he won with Lord Gyllene. Currently the course stages 19 fixtures annually.
Thursday 6th April 1820
Meynell Hunt Sweepstake over 2 miles
1. Sailor, bay gelding owned by Captain Henry Meynell
2. Legacy, brown gelding owned by Mr W Trevanion
3. Collier, brown gelding owned by Mr Stubbs Wightwick
The Silver Cup over 2 miles
1. Sir Henry, grey gelding owned by Mr Bagguley
2. Glaucus, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Thomas Briggs
3. Hebe, brown mare owned by Mr Bailey
Although racing is mentioned taking place in the Derbyshire county city of Derby in a publication in 1639, the earliest evidence of racing on Sinfin Moor was 1707, although it was not until 1748 that Sinfin Moor became firmly established as Derby’s racecourse. The first results listed in the ‘Historical List of Races’ were from a three day meeting in Derby which took place from Tuesday 3rd to Thursday 5th October 1752 when the Give and Take Selling Race was won by Oh My Eye owned by Miss Sherley, with the winner to be sold for 20 Guineas. The Sporting Magazine reported on a meeting on Tuesday 5th August 1760 which was held on nearby Sinfin Moor, where racing continued until transferring to Siddals in time for the 1831 meeting, remaining there for 4 years before moving to its final loaction. The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, now contested at the annual Cheltenham Festival in March, was held at Derby on 5 occasions, the last in 1892 when the Lord Royston owned Royal Buck was ridden to victory by Mr Yorke. Racing ceased during the First World War but resumed shortly afterwards. The final two day National Hunt meeting was held on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st February 1939, while a 3 day Flat meeting was staged from Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th August 1939. The course closed during the War and the owners, Derby Recreation Company, were refused permission by the Council to hold any further meetings in 1942.
Tuesday 3rd October 1752
Derby 4 year old Stakes over 2 miles
1. Mettle, grey horse owned by Mr Hunt
2. Snip, bay horse owned by Mr Shield
3. Northern Nancy, grey mare owned by Mr Howe
The rare handbill shown below is provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection.
1969 The Midland Grand National was won by Happy Spring, trained by J Wright and ridden by Ken White
1970 The Midland Grand National was won by Two Springs, trained by G Owen and ridden by R Edwards
1971 The Midland Grand National was won by Grey Sombrero, trained by David Gandolfo and ridden by Graham Thorner
1972 The Midland Grand National was won by Proud Percy, trained by W A Stephenson and ridden by G Faulkner
1974 The Midland Grand National was won by Fighting Chance, trained by Gay Kindersley and ridden by Bill Shoemark
1975 The Midland Grand National was won by Rag Trade, trained by Arthur Pitt and ridden by John Burke
1976 The Midland Grand National was won by Burrator, trained by A Jarvis and ridden by Mr J Decker
1977 The Midland Grand National was won by Watifella, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Bryan Smart
1978 The Midland Grand National was won by Kick On, trained by K Lewis and ridden by R Hyett
1979 The Midland Grand National was won by Jimmy Miff, trained by I Wardle and ridden by S Kemble
1980 The Midland Grand National was won by Pacify, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Steve Jobar
1981 The Midland Grand National was won by Master Brutus, trained by Caroline Mason and ridden by John Goulding
1982 The Midland Grand National was won by Bridge Ash, trained by J Johnson and ridden by Keith Johnson
1983 The Midland Grand National was not contested
1984 The Midland Grand National was won by Mr Mole, trained by John Webber and ridden by A Webb
1985 The Midland Grand National was won by Northern Bay, trained by Tom Bill and ridden by Philip Hobbs
1986 The Midland Grand National was won by The Thinker, trained by Arthur Stephenson and ridden by Ridley Lamb
1987 The Midland Grand National was won by Midnight Madness, trained by Dai Bloomfield and ridden by Derek Morris
1988 The Midland Grand National was won by Knock Hill, trained by John Webber and ridden by George Mernagh
1989 The Midland Grand National was won by Gallic Prince, trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Peter Hobbs
1990 The Midland Grand National was won by Willsford, trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by Mark Pitman
1991 The Midland Grand National was won by Bonanza Boy, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Peter Scudamore
1992 The Midland Grand National was won by Laura’s Beau, trained by Francis Berry and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer
1993 The Midland Grand National was won by Mister Ed, trained by Roger Curtis and ridden by Derek Morris
1994 The Midland Grand National was won by Glenbrook d’Or, trained by Jim Wilson and ridden by Brian Clifford
1995 The Midland Grand National was won by Lucky Lane, trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Norman Williamson
1996 The Midland Grand National was won by Another Excuse, trained by Eugene O’Sullivan and ridden by Brendan Powell snr
1997 The Midland Grand National was won by Seven Towers, trained by Mary Reveley and ridden by Peter Niven
1998 The Midland Grand National was won by Miss Orchestra, trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Barry Geraghty
1999 The Midland Grand National was won by Young Kenny, trained by Peter Beaumont and ridden by Brendan Powell snr
2000 The Midland Grand National was won by Ackzo, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire
2001 The Midland Grand National was not contested
2002 The Midland Grand National was won by The Bunny Boiler, trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Norman Williamson
2003 The Midland Grand National was won by Intelligent, trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Robbie Power
2004 The Midland Grand National was not contested
2005 The Midland Grand National was won by Philson’s Run, trained by Nick Williams and ridden by Paul Carberry
2006 The Midland Grand National was won by G V A Ireland, trained by Francis Flood and ridden by Ruby Walsh
2007 The Midland Grand National was won by Baron Windrush, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Jason Maguire
2008 The Midland Grand National was won by Himalayan Trail, trained by Sue Smith and ridden by Tjade Collier
2009 The Midland Grand National was won by Russian Trigger, trained by Victor Dartnall and ridden by Jack Doyle
2010 The Midland Grand National was won by Synchronised, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy
2011 The Midland Grand National was won by Minella Four Stars, trained by David Pipe and ridden by Conor O’Farrell
2012 The Midland Grand National was won by Master Overseer, trained by David Pipe and ridden by Tom Scudamore
2013 The Midland Grand National was won by Big Occasion, trained by David Pipe and ridden by Mr Mikey Ennis
2014 The Midland Grand National was won by Goulanes, trained by David Pipe and ridden by Richard Johnson
2015 The Midland Grand National was won by Goonyella, trained by Jim Dreaper and ridden by Johnny Burke
2016 The Midland Grand National was won by Firebird Flyer, trained by Evan Williams and ridden by Adam Wedge
2017 The Midland Grand National was won by Chase The Spud, trained by Fergal O’Brien and ridden by Paddy Brennan
2018 The Midland Grand National was won by Regal Flow, trained by Bob Buckler and ridden by Sean Houlihan
2019 The Midland Grand National was won by Potters Corner, trained by Christian Williams and ridden by James Bowen
