Vincent Hinde Collection

Chelmsford Racecourse

Earliest meeting: Monday 30th July 1759
Final meeting: Monday 29th April 1935
Today Chelmsford has the newest course in Great Britain called Chelmsford City, which is dealt with in the Matches section of this edition, but back in the middle of the 18th century racing was staged in Chelmsford. The earliest record of racing was a two day meeting on Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st July 1759, opening with a Plate for 4 year olds over 2 mile heats which went to Mr Stamford’s Sullen beating a good field of eight. The next day a Hunters race saw Mr Macclesfield’s Why-Not beat Copper Face and Badger.  The course, an oval of 2 miles in length with a half mile run in that was gradually uphill, also had a straight mile course adjoining the main course. It was situated two miles south of Chelmsford in the village of Galleywood on its Common. The steeplechase course enclosed the steeple of St Michael and All Angels Church, although the racecourse apparently came first to indicate that races of a sort were held prior to 1759. The meetings were held in very high regard and the three day meeting from Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 25th July 1782 was typical. It hosted a prestigious His Majesty’s Purse which was won by General Smith’s Rosaletta, defeating the strongly fancied Dido owned by the Duke of Cumberland, and also the Chelmsford Town Plate which went to the Duke of Cumberland’s Pumpkin. Leading up to the First World War the quality and size of fields decreased, as did attendances, and racing ceased between 1915 and 1923. When it returned it began to attract better horses, including Golden Miller who won twice at the course, including the Witham Hurdle on Monday 12th October 1931. Soon after this purple patch entries started to decrease, launching Chelmsford on the vicious circle of decreasing entries decreasing crowds. The final meeting took place on Monday 29th April 1935.