MARKET RASEN |
Badges through the decades |
Brief History |
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| 1800 The White Hart Friendly Society was formed and the first races are held on the Monday of Feast Week. 1828 The Lincoln Herald report that Market Rasen races take place on 29th September. 1840 The Brocklesby Steeplechase is won by Gay Lad, who goes on to win the Grand National 2 years later at Aintree. 1848 The landlord of the Gordon Arms Hotel, George Rowell, takes over the hosting of races and continues to do so until 1872. He makes use of courses around Market Rasen situated at Linwood Road, Mill Lane, Legsby Lane and at Willingham Road close to the modern day course. 1854 Market Rasen holds its first recorded Selling Race. 1856 The first time the Market Rasen Weekly Mail was published and it makes reference to the racing which took place on Feast Week Monday 29th September. 1858 Market Rasen established itself as a racing centre because it is situated at the vertex of 3 fox-hunting packs, and it marked this in 1858 with the inaugural running of the Market Rasen Union Hunt Steeplechase. 1875 The Spring Meeting is revived after a break of 3 years when Fred Cartwright offers land in Walesby to be used, but this only survives for one more year. So begins a period of uncertainty for racing at the Lincolnshire course. 1876 A range of improvements to the facilities were made, under the direction of Sir John Dugdale a Jockey Club member, including a weighing tent, a judge's rostrum and saddling area. 1888 In September the Friendly Society, so important in starting racing at the course, collapsed. 1895 Early evidence of racing taking place in the vicinity of Market Rasen on 17th March with the Union Steeplechase being the main event. The course was situated on the Caistor Road.
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1923 Market Rasen Hunts Steeplechase Limited is formed and purchases land to build a new course with new buildings and amenities. 1924 The course, over which todays races take place, on the south side of Willingham Road, held its first meeting on 21st April. James Henry Nettleship and Wilfred Cartwright led a group of locals to purchase the ground. 1931The Totalisator Board is constructed and operates for the first time. 1939The meeting of 13th May is the last to be held before World War II. 1939-45 Course is closed for racing during the Second World War. The course and its buildings is used by the Yorkshire Hussars. 1946 Victor Lucas is appointed Clerk of the Course and makes an immediate impact not only on Market Rasen but on many other British courses. It is reputed that a crowd in excess of 20,000 attended the Easter Monday meeting. 1960 The main grandstand is completed and opened. 1964A photo-finish camera is installed for the first time at the course. 1967 A grandstand for the Silver Ring was completed in this year and was opened by Field Marshall Lord Harding. |
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