Beverley Racecourse

BRIGHTON	*Badges through the decades*	Brief History
1713 Early records show that a Race Post stood in Brighton suggesting that some form of racing did take place earlier than the 17th Century. 1783 The first evidence of a race meeting at Brighton (Brightelmstone), the meeting taking place on 26^th and 27^th August. The main race on the first day was a 4 mile sweepstake for horses of 4 and upwards, with an entry fee of 20 guineas and won by Puff. On the second day the feature race was a gentleman’s plate with 4 runners, the winner being owned by Mr Williams. However, the Brightelmstone Plate had been competed for at Lewes since 1774. The main forces enabling Brighton to establish itself were the Dukes of Richmond and Cumberland, Lord Egremont and none other than Sir Charles Bunbury. 1784 The Prince of Wales visits Brighton races for the first time on 2nd and 3rd of August. He is accompanied by a number of French noblemen. 1785 The Prince of Wales (later to become Prince Regent in 1810) took an interest in the races at Brighton, and was amongst the subscribers for the Conflans Stakes. An interesting feature of this meeting was that French horses were given a weight allowance of 7 lbs. Another interesting development was to enable local traders and piblicans to set up stalls selling their wares. 1788 Racing was here to stay and a small stand was erected which could hold just over 20 guests. 1796 The Grandstand is burned down in August and a number of local stories prevail as to the cause of the fire. 1805 Trouble brewed at Brighton when the farmer, whose land the racecourse was built upon, claimed 100 guineas or 27 gallons of wine for the privilege of leasing his land. The Jockey Club did not honour the deal and the farmer threatened to plough the racecourse. However, he saw the light when a group of thugs employed by the Jockey Club threatened to escort the farmer to the Napoleonic Wars. Also in this year the Prince of Wales donated a silver cup to be presented to the winner of the Brighton Cup. The cup still survives today and is housed in the Brighton Pavilion. 1806 Colonel Henry Mellish was a heavy gambler of the day and his horse Trafalgar gained dual success in the Pavilion Stakes and the Egremont Stakes. 1810-18 Racing at Brighton became less and less popular, with crowds declining, and in some of the years during this period no racing took place. 1819 Racing returned to Brighton ably supported by the Prince Regent who donated a Gold Cup. 1839 A newly formed race committee consisted of 100 local dignitaries and noblemen whose job was to promote the local race meetings. 1850 The old stands are demolished and brand new stands erected and opened in August with Mr Dorling acting as Clerk of the Course. 1857 A dinner was held to celebrate the retirement of one of Brightons most famous racing sons Leviathan Davise, one of the biggest bookmakers of his day. 1864 The Brighton Club Stakes is won at the August meeting by Alcibiade, not remarkable in itself, but made remarkable because he went on to win the Grand National the next year in his first steeplechase. 1884 Brighton Corporation takes charge of the racecourse under the terms of the Improvement Act. 1889 Brighton Racecourse witnesses its last hurdle race.		1914 The August meeting is the last to be held before the War. 1916 Main stands are used to store ammunition for the War effort. 1919 Racing resumes after the War, the course being kept fit for racing by using sheep to keep the grass down to a manageable length. 1920-36 Racing continues throughout this period but is often beset by crime. Pickpockets, tricksters, razor gangs and protection racketeers ruin the racecourse for normal, law-abiding citizens. 1936 Riots erupt at nearby Lewes Racecourse and the police take firm, decisive action against the Hoxton gang which is probably the one event which is the beginning of the end for severe racecourse trouble. The War almost certainly plays its part! 1939 The meeting held on 31st August was the last to be held before the War and racing ceases for 6 years. 1965 Main stands are completed and opened this year. 1970 World record time of 1 minute 30.9 seconds over the mile was set in the 1970's by Chase the Door. 1987 Steve Cauthen rides Picnicing to record his 1000th victory in England. 1996 The final 3 day August meeting with crowds of less than 2500 on each of the 3 days. 1997 The running of Brighton Racecourse is taken over by Northern Racing ,led by Sir Stanley Clarke, and its future is secure.