Vincent Hinde Collection

Alexandra Park Racecourse

Earliest meeting: Tuesday 30th June 1868
Final meeting: Tuesday 8th September 1970
The Alexandra Park Racecourse, situated near Muswell Hill in Greater London, first held races on Tuesday 30th June 1868. Ally Park, nicknamed the Frying Pan, was a much loved and sorely missed racecourse. The pear shaped course with a stick attached is how a number of people described the course, with 2 loops coming off a single straight, and all the races except the 5 furlong events run the reverse way of the course, with starts by the winning post. However, the 5 furlong course had well-graded curves about 2 furlongs from the start. At the inaugural meeting in 1868 the Palace Handicap over 2 miles was a keenly fought affair in which Mr Hamilton’s Mexico got the better of Success. The annual members badge pass for Alexandra Park racecourse had an AP in the centre, with members belonging to MIDDLESEX COUNTY RACING CLUB. One very special badge from 1906  with membership number 174 belonged to Mr H Archer and on the reverse reads ‘KILLED IN ACTION NOV 4 1914 QGOH H. ARCHER’ which his parents had inscribed when he was fatally wounded in the War. He had been a member since 1906 and purchased his member’s badge for 1914 in the hopes that he would serve his country and return to enjoy racing at his beloved Alexandra Park. However, it was not to be and his parent’s final gesture was to inscribe his most treasured possession, his members’ badge.