Earliest meeting: 1791
Final meeting: Tuesday 17th April 1860
The earliest date on which racing took place in the Hampshire district of Hambledon was in 1791 at Soberton Downs. The meeting was organised by Hambledon Foxhound Committee and they continued on this course until 1860. Throughout the 1850s and 1860s the Hambledon Hunt visited a range of courses, but they returned to Soberton for the 1857 meeting on Thursday 7th May when the opening Stewards’ Selling Stakes was won by Mr Nightingales’ Amelia, and remained on the Downs for the next 3 years until Tuesday 17th April 1860. The meeting then moved on to Waterloo, Droxford and Bushey Downs before settling on a permanent home at Grenville.
Earl Poulett, Captain Berkeley; Mr C.Shard
Hambledon Trial Stakes ( 1 ¼ miles)
1. Gossoon owned by Mr H Smith
2. Unnamed filly by Waterloo owned by Mr C.Shard
3. Swindon owned by Captain Berkeley
Hambledon Farmer’s Cup (2 miles)
1. Buccaneer owned by Mr Legg
2. Ploughboy owned by Mr Saint
Throughout the 1840’s and 1850’s the meetings continued but a range of courses were used, although Soberton Downs continued to be the most popular, being used from 1791-1855 and 1857-1860. Other courses used were Wickham (1856 only) to the South West of Hambledon, Waterloo in 1861 (Waterlooville), Droxford (from 1862) and Bushey Downs (up to 1873) to the North West and Grenville Hall. Once Hambledon Hunt Committee moved the races to Grenville Hall in 1874 this became their permanent home, and racing continued until Thursday 7th May 1914 when the War caused the meetings to cease.
Thursday 7th May 1857
Hambledon Hunt Cup
1. Freemason, aged horse owned by Mr Tredcroft
2. St Patrick, aged horse owned by Mr Day
3. Wildgrave, aged horse owned by Mr Dorrien
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below.
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On Soberton Downs near Bishop’s Waltham. Today there is little visible evidence of where the racecourse once stood, with the ground being ploughed and used as farm land, but the remains of the old grandstand can still be seen as a reminder to glorious race days that once graced the ground. The course was used for point to point races until Saturday 15th March 1952
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:-
Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727
