Although it is believed that the 'romantic little village of Beckford' held annual sports days well before 1840, the earliest indication that organised races formed part of the celebrations was in 1840 when the racecard consisted of a number of pony races. The meeting was staged on Friday 1st May 1840 and was fully covered by the Cheltenham Examiner which commented, ‘The merry month of May enlivens the hearts of all true Englishmen, and brings us to the season of our out-door amusements, and never was 'Merrie England' ever blessed with weather more adapted for such pastimes as took place at the romantic little village of Beckford on Friday. Pony races over one of the neatest courses in the country, on the estate of the much-respected Charles Freeman, meant all were up and stirring early on this memorable day; old and young, rich and poor, were in their gay attire, and appeared to compete with each other to add a zest to the amusements of the day. The urbanity, hospitality, and kindness of that true English sportsman, Charles Freeman of Beckford Hall is proverbial, his liberal example was well supported by the whole of his neighbours, and he provide good cheer and a hearty welcome to all.'
Friday 1st May 1840
Pony Race over a mile and the distance for a saddle and bridle
1. PLOUGHBOY owned by Mr Joseph Freeman and ridden by Archer 1 1
2. NOW OR NEVER owned by Mr Phelps 2 3
3. MAID OF ALL WORK owned by Mr Burgess 4 3
4. SNOWBALL owned by Mr Rymell 3 2
5. GYPSEY QUEEN owned by Mr Hatche dist.
6. VILLAGE MAID owned by Mr Woodward dist.
Pony Race for a bridle over a mile
1. NOW OR NEVER owned by Mr Phelps and ridden by Archer
2. SNOWBALL owned by Mr Rymell
Pony Sweepstakes over a mile
1. VILLAGE MAID owned by Mr Woodward and ridden by Archer
2. MAID OF ALL WORK owned by Mr Burgess
3. GYPSEY QUEEN owned by Mr Hatche
Beckford Stakes for 4 sovereigns
1. MAYFLY owned by Mr John Freeman and ridden by Ballinger
2. BLACK JACK owned by Mr Cook
3. I WISH YOU MAY GET IT owned by Mr Hawk
Overbury Stakes for 5 sovereigns
1. SWING owned by Mr Maule and ridden by Archer
2. KEMERTON LASS owned by Mr Tidmarsh
3. BOBTAIL owned by Mr Hawkes
4. POLLY HOPKINS owned by Mr Green
5. ANYTHING owned by Mr Lightburn
The next year the annual sports were extended beyond pony races to include flat races and a hurdle race. The meeting was held on the usual race ground on Beckford Hill, about a mile from the village, on Tuesday 11th May 1841. The weather was delightful and the occasion was looked forward to by all inhabitants of the village, and many surrounding villages, with great interest and anticipation.
Beckford Silver Cup for £12 over a mile and a half
1. NANCY DAWSON, owned by Mr Price and ridden by Archer 1 1
2. ASPER owned by Mr Griffiths 2 2
Beckford Hurdle race for 5 sovereigns over a mile and a half and 3 hurdles
1. PLOUGHBOY owned by Mr Freeman and ridden by Archer 1 1
2. ASPER owned by Mr Griffiths 2 2
Match for £50 a side
1. PLOUGHBOY owned by Mr Joseph Freeman and ridden by Archer
2. MISS EMILY owned by Mr Whitehead and ridden by Ballinger
In 1842 the races were so popular and well-supported that they were advertised in Bell's Life and the Sporting Chronicle and extended to two meetings, one in May and one in June. The meeting, dubbed as the annual meeting, took place on the usual Beckford Hill racecourse on Tuesday 17th May 1842 when the weather was good and the attendance more numerous than on any former occasion. The course afforded a splendid view from the summit of the hill, rewarding the many visitors from Beckford, Cheltenham and the surrounding villages and hamlets. A month later, on Tuesday 7th June 1842, a second meeting which went hand in hand with the earlier Spring meeting, took place on 'one of the most delightful spots that the fair lands of England can boast of'.
Beckford Silver Cup over a mile and a half
1. MISS PRESTWOOD owned by Mr Dunn and ridden by Holman
2. FANNY owned by Mr Lewkus
3. QUEEN owned by Mr Mellon
Beckford Hurdle race over a mile and a half and 3 hurdles
1. EMANUEL-PATOR owned and ridden by Mr Holman
2. OH FIE owned by Mr Foster
Silver-Mounted Whip over a mile
Restricted to farmers or tradesmen within 5 miles of Beckford
1. LAZY BET owned by Mr Quarrell
2. GAY LASS owned by Mr Thomas
By 1847 the races had progressed to steeplechases under the Stewardship of Captain Fleming. The meeting was staged on Friday 5th March 1847 and held on a course which drew spectators not only from Beckford, but as far afield as Cheltenham. At this period in time Cheltenham was struggling to find a permanent home for its races, judging the Cleeve Hill course to be too difficult to get to for the locals, and the Prestbury course was still not firmly established. The Beckford Steeplechase course was not a permanent course, but started in a grass field up the hill owned by Mr Neale before crossing onto Mr Freeman's farm, with an easy turn to come down the hill approaching Beckford Brook. It then crossed 3 fields owned by Mr Edwards of Little Washbourne, a field of Mr Flemings, and at the extreme end of the course a flag was located on Mr Allen's field. A further field of Mr Edwards led to the crossing of the Evesham Road into Mr Isaac Henning’s 3 green fields before finishing close to the Beckford Inn. The many fences were described as fair, and even the hunting leaps were not dangerous to cross, seldom testing the mettle of a good hunter.
Beckford 25 sovereign Steeplechase Selling Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. STANMORE owned and ridden by Mr T Parr
2. MAGIC owned by Mr Tollitt and ridden by Turner
3. MISCHIEF owned by Mr Bretherton and ridden by Stagg
4. FAIR owned by Mr G Newman and ridden by William Archer
5. MORGAN RATTLER owned by Captain Boyd and ridden by J Sadler
Beckford 10 sovereigns Steeplechase Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. CRICKET owned by Major Letasme and ridden by Turner
2. RADICAL owned by Mr Griffin and ridden by Jacob
3. EVE owned by Mr Evans and ridden by J Holman
4. WHALEBONE owned and ridden by Mr Bagner
5. WILDBOY owned by Mr Reeves and ridden by William Archer
Meetings continued on an annual basis, some being more popular and better supported than others. The meeting in 1856 took place on April Fool's day:-
Tuesday 1st April 1856
Beckford Sweepstakes over 4 miles
1. Rebecca, bay mare owned by Mr Barnard
2. Ironbrace, bay gelding owned by Mr Sommers
3. Motley, bay gelding owned by Mr Byers
By 1867 the races were held in the Summer, with meetings in July and on Friday 2nd August 1867. This is somewhat surprising given that the locals would have been at the height of the harvest season, so would they have taken a day off to go to the races?
The Archer family had a close association with Beckford races, both as jockeys and owners. The father of Fred Archer, William Archer, won the 1858 Aintree Grand National on Little Charley and later rode Little Dwarf at Beckford in his final race as a jockey. The young Fred Archer often rode in pony races at the course. In 1867 an entirely new course was used for the meeting on Tuesday 30th July, which ran adjacent to the previous course. It had a dangerous descent on the right-hand side of the course, and on the run-in it had a formidable hill. The main race of the day was the Farmers' Hurdle Race, but the card finished with an interesting pony race in which Fred Archer came second.
Tuesday 20th July 1867
Farmers’ Hurdle Race over 1 1/2 miles and 4 hurdles
1. Wiseman owned by Mr Butt and ridden by Woods
2. The Orphan owned by Mr G Capel and ridden by Wavison
3. Miss Jones owned by Mr Taylor and ridden by Anthony
Beckford Pony Race
1. Nelly owned by Mr Williams and ridden by J Robertson
2. Moss Rose owned by Mr William Archer and ridden by Fred Archer
The local paper recorded the August meeting in full detail, commenting 'The annual races at Beckford took place on Friday in the presence of a very considerable number of spectators who arrived from Cheltenham, Gloucester, and other places, by special train, cars, carriages and breaks. The arrangements of the day were well carried out by the Stewards Mr E Griffiths and Mr J Freeman, and each of the events passed off satisfactorily. Tents and booths were erected on the usual course, which was in fine condition for running, and all the fun experienced at more important meetings was evident at Beckford, although the betting ring was limited and only small wagers changed hands.'
Friday 2nd August 1867
United Hunters Hurdle race for 10 sovereigns over a mile and a half and 4 flights
1. MIDNIGHT owned by Mr Aldy
2. BLACK BESS owned by Mr J Capel
3. NEW BROOM owned by Mr Lloyd
4. LADY ERYX owned by Mr Taylor
Farmers Race for 10 sovereigns over a mile and a half
Restricted to farmers owning at least 100 acres in the vicinity of Beckford
1. WISEMAN owned by Mr Butt
2. MISS JONES owned by Mr Taylor
3. THE ORPHAN owned by Mr G Capel
4. THE FARMER owned by Mr J Capel
Pony Race over 1 mile
1. WHITE FOOT owned by Mr Sheaf
2. PRINCE OF WALES owned by Master Fred Holman
3. MOSS ROSE owned by Mr Archer
4. BECKFORD LASS owned by Mr Crosswell
5. JACK OF TRUMPS owned by Mr J Capel
Pony Race over 1 mile
1. NELLY owned by Mr Williams
2. MOSS ROSE owned by Mr Archer
3. BECKFORD LASS owned by Mr Cresswell
4. HARKAWAY owned by Mr Morris
5. OMAR PASHA owned by Mr Capel
The meetings continued to be staged on Bredon Hill until 1878 when that meeting was actually known as Bredon Hill races. The meeting was held on Friday 3rd May 1878 and the local newspaper wrote, 'It has been customary to hold Bredon Hill races on Easter Monday, and thus secure a good attendance of holiday folk. This year a change was made, the meeting was not among the 31 meetings that were brought off in Easter week. Last Friday was fixed, and as one time is the same as another to racing men the promoters were justified in expecting a fair amount of patronage. When the entries were published it was seen that owners of horses had given as much support as could reasonably have been looked for. Bredon Hill races do not have the same history as nearby Bromyard races, but the attractions on Friday were similar in nature, on a course on the hill, with beautiful views on every hand and there are many pleasant ways of reaching it. Large numbers travel to the top of the hill, and many had been put up at Elmley Castle and neighbouring water holes. Charles Archer had a particularly good meeting showing considerable horsemanship which runs through the family'.
Friday 3rd May 1878
Bredon Hill Plate for 30 sovereigns over 2 miles and 8 hurdles
1. BRISTOL (evens fav) owned by Mr G Clement and ridden by W Holman
2. GENERAL PEEL (5/1) owned by Mr Madeley and ridden by Sam Darling
3. GOLDSMITH (5/4) owned by Mr W Fletcher and ridden by Charles Archer
La Loo Cup £25 over 2 miles and 8 hurdles
1. FIDGET (3/1) owned by Mr W Hughes and ridden by Mr T Hughes
2. BIBURY (5/1) owned by Mr G Fletcher and ridden by Charles Archer
3. DIDBROOK (6/4 fav) owned by Mr J Theyer and ridden by W Holman
Croome Plate for 40 sovereigns over 2 miles on the flat
1. GUNLOCK (6/4 jt fav) owned by Mr P Aaron and ridden by Mr J H Peart
2. BRISTOL (6/4 jt fav) owned by Mr G Clements and ridden by W Holman
3. GENERAL PEEL (100/8) owned and ridden by Mr E T Pritchard
Selling Hunters 2 mile Flat race
1. PISA (evens fav) owned by Mr H Owen and ridden by Mr Goodwin
2. LACYDEA (100/8) owned by Mr Emery and ridden by Mr Bartlett
3. ARTHUR (6/4) owned by Mr A Cooper and ridden by Mr Wilson
The feature race of the day was the Stone Wall Steeple Chase where Charles Archer showed his considerable skill to get the favourite home in easy style.
Stone Wall Silver Cup Steeple Chase over 3 miles, fair stone walls and gorse hurdles
1. GOLDSMITH (4/6 fav) owned by Mr Fletcher and ridden by Charles Archer
2. ALLESBORO (4/1) owned and ridden by Mr J H Walker
3. THE TRAPPER (5/1) owned and ridden by Mr T G Smith
4. KITTY (8/1) owned by Mr T Cook and ridden by Mr Hathaway
5. DIDBROOK (3/1) owned by Mr J Theyer and ridden by W Holman
6. COBWEBB (8/1) owned by Mr S Greaves and ridden by Mr J Mytton |
