Vincent Hinde Collection

Wye Racecourse

Earliest meeting: Tuesday 29th May 1849
Final meeting: Thursday 2nd May 1974
When Ashford racecourse closed in 1840 it seemed likely that this region of Kent would be without a racecourse. However, within 8 years another meeting was staged between Ashford and Wye in fields adjoining the works of the South Eastern Rail Company on Monday 10th July 1848. Within a year the first recorded meeting took place at Wye Racecourse at The Crown, a local landmark feature in the hillside, on Tuesday 29th May 1849 on a flat piece of ground on the Downs. The course extended to 1 ¾ miles with a 6 furlong straight run in. The meeting continued to offer flat racing at this venue, but gradually added hurdle races to the programme, operating at the same course for almost 30 years. On Wednesday 29th May 1878 the last flat race at Wye was staged when the 5 furlong Olanleigh Towers Handicap Plate was won by the aptly named Maid of Wye. By then the meeting had moved to what was to become its permanent home at Harville Farm, next to Wye railway station, on a course which was less than one mile round and more suited to a greyhound track than a racecourse. In 1925 the Farm was purchased by John Long, and he and his family ran the course as a private business, passing it down through the family via son Bedo and grandson Philip. Wye could never be classed as the ideal preparation for a tilt at the Champion Hurdle, but nevertheless some horses did use it as a preparation for the big race. In March 1970 the Deal Hurdle was won by Escalus, owned by the Queen Mother, and then went on to contest the Champion Hurdle, finishing a creditable third behind Persian War. The final National Hunt meeting took place on 2nd May 1974.