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Earliest meeting: Monday 16th April 1888
Final meeting: Tuesday 4th April 1939
The Hawthorn Hill racecourse was situated between Maidenhead and Windsor, close to the village of Hawthorn Hill, and first raced on Monday 16th April 1888. The meetings were the brainchild of Mr F Headington who first established the idea of races in 1887. He had the energy, drive and commitment to make them happen and acted as secretary, treasurer, stake-holder in the course and Clerk of the Course. He had realised the potential of using supporters of the Royal Buckhounds to instigate steeplechases and had mooted the idea to the Earl of Coventry that it would be beneficial to landowners if their land was used to race over. The course was set out on Redstone Farm, with a temporary grandstand transported from Egham, and the race committee had some very influential Stewards, including Lord Charles Beresford and Sir Reginald Cathcart. The day consisted of 6 races for hunters belonging to farmers who allowed their land to be run over by the Queen’s Hounds; the course being nicknamed ‘Young Ascot’. The inaugural meeting was such a success that it was followed in 1889 by a programme with 6 races contested by horses of some renown. These included Billy Pepper and Orrone, both owned by Mr Headington, Binfield owned by Mr Apthorp and Water Wagtail owned by Captain Crawley. By 1890 the Household Brigade had appreciated the set-up at Hawthorn Hill and decided to hold their Regimental Steeplechases at the track, the 12th Lancers and Royal Horse Guards both enjoying success at the meeting. Although at first some questioned the sense in building a racecourse amongst the fields, Redstone Farm, under the guidance of Sir Robert Wilmore, developed through the years and he ensured that facilities improved year on year. At its height the course was hosting 8 meetings each year, including in March the First Two Day Spring meeting, in April the Household Brigade two day meeting, in May the Hunt and Spring Meetings, whilst in October there was the two day Autumn Meeting. During the War a two day meeting was staged on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th April 1914 but the course then closed for the majority of the War, not reopening until April 1921. After all, the Royal Household Guards were otherwise engaged attending to the War. The final meeting took place on Tuesday 4th April 1939, although pony racing continued to be staged through to 1949. |
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