Earliest meeting: Wednesday 20th July 1853
Final meeting: Wednesday 20th July 1853
The Derbyshire village of Winster, in the beautiful countryside of the Derbyshire Dales, is located some 5 miles from Matlock and just 6 miles from Bakewell. It has a rich history dating back to the Domesday Book and, at that point in time, was owned by Henry de Ferrers. The ‘History of Derbyshire’ recorded that meetings took place in the village of Winster and noted that it, along with other Derbyshire courses, suffered as a result of the Jockey Club introducing minimum daily prize money of £300, and insisting that at least one race be worth at least £150 and run at a mile and upwards. This is thought to have had greatest impact in 1880, by which time the Winster meetings had ended. Each year on the first Sunday after 24th June the village held a week long carnival called the ‘Winster Wakes’. In July 1853 the village held a race meeting when the Winster Cup was won by Brilliant owned by Mr Newham. The horse was aptly named because it started 14 races and won 12 of them. There are no further racords of racing taking place in the village.

Wednesday 20th July 1853
Winster Cup
1. Brilliant, aged horse owned by Mr Newham
The horse had an impressive record of 12 wins from 14 starts.

Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-

London Illustrated News

Racing Illustrated 1895-1899

The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated

Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough

The Sporting Magazine

A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8

Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses