Earliest meeting: Thursday 22nd September 1726
Final meeting: Thursday 3rd October 1751
The Stockton-on-Tees town of Yarm sits on the River Tees and first held racing in 1726. The town is very much on the county border with North Yorkshire and was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book. The earliest meetings to be advertised in the Newcastle Courant took place from Thursday 22nd to Saturday 24th September 1726. Although details of the races were provided in the newspaper, no results were reported after the event had taken place. Three day meetings became annual events, often coinciding with a Fair on one of the 3 days.  It was only in 1729 that Baily’s Racing Register first provided detailed results from races held at Yarm which were run on Yarm Ings, with the meeting being held in September. Its meetings were graced by very distinguished company, including Bobby Shaftoe, made famous in song. The final meeting was held on Thursday 3rd October 1751.

Thursday 22nd to Saturday 24th September 1726
The Newcastle Courant advertised the 3 day meeting, when the programme on the Thursday included the Yarm £15 Plate over 3 miles for 5 year olds and less, each carrying 9 stone. On Friday 23rd September the Yarm £10 Plate over 4 miles was for horses not exceeding 14 hands. Also, on the same day, a Plate over 3 miles was sponsored by the Porters of Yarm. Finally, on Saturday 24th September the Yarm £20 Plate over 4 miles was restricted to horses which had not won races to the value of £40. Entries for all races had to be made at the Town House in Yarm by Tuesday 20th September.

Thursday 31st August to Saturday 2nd September 1727
The 3 day programme consisted of the Yarm £20 Plate over 3 miles on the Thursday; the Yarm £12 Plate over 4 miles on the Friday, and the Yarm £30 Plate over 4 miles on the Saturday.

A similar meeting took place between Thursday 5th and Saturday 7th September 1728, including a Fair on Thursday 5th September.

Sunday 11th September 1729

Yarm £25 Plate for 5 Year Olds
1. Moor Hen owned by The Duke of Bolton
2. Miss Stephenson owned by Mr Stephenson

Yarm £30 Plate for 6 Year Olds
1. Whitefoot owned by Mr Bowes
The Bay horse beat a field of 3 others but no further details were provided.

Tuesday 1st October 1751 Yarm Fifty Pounds Purse over 2 miles
1. Taylors Thimble owned by Cuthbert Routh
2. Victim owned by Robert Shaftoe
3. Sedbury owned by Mr Key
4. Leveret owned by Mr Croft
5. Miss Badger owned by Mr Robson
5. Maidenhead owned by Mr Rake

Wednesday 2nd October 1751 Yarm Fifty Pounds Purse
1. Tripping Nancy owned by Mr Bracken
2. Nettle owned by Mr Cowling
3. Drive Away owned by Mr Moorhouse
4. Clegg owned by Mr Coulson
5. Sutty Dan owned by Mr Wray

Thursday 3rd October 1751 Yarm Fifty Pounds Purse
1. Camilla owned by Sir William Middleton
2. Tinker owned by William Osbaldeston
3. Sampson Crusoe owned by George Spearman

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