Earliest meeting: Monday 8th April 1833
Final meeting: Friday 10th September 1869
The market town and civil parish of Biggleswade lies on the River Ivel in Bedfordshire, although back in the middle of the 19th century it was part of Hertfordshire. It had its own racecourse which opened on Monday 8th April 1833 with a Hunters race, a Hack race and a Pony race. The racecourse was situated to the southern end of Biggleswade Common and continued until 1841. However, despite the town’s prominent position, crowds were not high, and racing appears to have ceased for the next 2 years until Friday 12th April 1844 when the main Sweepstake was won by Mr Powell’s Bess, beating Creeping Jenny and Speculation. Racing lapsed again shortly afterwards, only to return on Monday 21st April 1862. It held its final meeting on Friday 10th September 1869 with a programme consisting of four races, including a Plate race over the flat course and a Hurdle race. The crowds were said to be immense, although mainly consisted of betting men, with every possible form of gambling available on the course. The ‘County History of Bedfordshire’ was rather disparaging and dismissive when it stated that ‘the races do not demand notice’.
The programme consisted of two races, a Flat Race and a Hurdle race. The ‘County History of Bedfordshire’ is rather disparaging and dismissive when it records that ‘the races do not demand notice’.
Biggleswade Flat Race, Biggleswade Hurdle Race
Monday 16th April 1838
Biggleswade Hurdle over 1 ½ miles and four 4ft 6in hurdles
1. Ruby, brown mare owned by Mr Carrington
2. Hazard, bay gelding owned by Mr Master
3. Matilda, brown mare owned by Mr W Hogg
4. Creeping Jane, bay mare owned by Mr Bryant
Biggleswade Town Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Buck, bay gelding owned by Mr Carter
2. Antiquity, bay gelding owned by Mr Berry
3. Matilda, brown mare owned by Mr W Hogg
4. Faithful, brown mare owned by Mr Barton
Biggleswade Hurdle Sweepstake over 1 ½ miles and 4 leaps
1. The Dwarf, bay gelding owned by Honourable G Ouseley
2. Marc Anthony, brown gelding owned by Captain Barton
3. The Rusher, brown gelding owned by Mr Chafey
4. Brampton Junior, bay gelding owned by Mr Maule
5. Enchantress, black mare owned by Mr Robinson
Friday 26th April 1839
Biggleswade 10 sovereigns Hurdle over 1 ½ miles and 4 hurdles
1. Grimaldi, grey gelding owned by Mr Peacock
2. Thorncote, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Master
3. Longtail, bay mare owned by Mr Cole
4. Makeshift, bay gelding owned by Mr Wright
Biggleswade 10 sovereigns Town Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Gamester, bay gelding owned by Mr Pope
2. Buck, bay gelding owned by Mr Carter
3. Express, brown gelding owned by Mr Gudgin
4. Forester, brown gelding owned by Mr Nash
Biggleswade 17 sovereigns Hurdle Sweepstake
1. Seduction, bay horse owned by Mr Jenkins
2. Brampton Junior, bay gelding owned by Mr Maule
3. Fanny Hill, brown mare owned by Mr Baker
Friday 24th April 1840
Biggleswade Town Stakes over 1 1/2 miles
1. Gamestar, bay gelding owned by Mr W Pope and ridden by Carrington 2 1 1
2. Buck, bay gelding owned by Mr Cater and ridden by Werthem 1 2 2
3. Nell, brown mare owned by Mr Ayres and ridden by Morgan
Produce Stakes for colts/fillies foaled in 1837 over 6 furlongs
Restricted to property of subscribers living within 8 miles of Biggleswade
1. Mount Pleasant, bay filly owned by Mr W Burton and ridden by H Bell
2. Smirke, brown colt owned and ridden by Mr Cater
3. Juliet, bay filly owned by Mr Nash and ridden by Sly
Hurdle Race (10 sovereigns) over 1 1/2 miles
Restricted to horses the property of subscribers living within 8 miles of Biggleswade
1. Medora, brown mare owned and ridden by Mr Masters
2. Gulnare, chestnut mare owned and ridden by Mr Carrington
3. Leamington, brown gelding owned by Mr Purser and ridden by Martin
Hunters Stakes (15 sovereigns) over 1 1/2 miles and 4 leaps
1. Brampton, brown gelding owned by Mr Maule and ridden by Maule junior 1 1
2. Bletsoe, bay gelding owned by Mr Bainbridge and ridden by Higgins 2 2
3. Unique, bay gelding owned by Mr George and ridden by Martin 3 wdr
Galloway Stakes (6 sovereigns) over 1 1/2 miles
1. Buck, bay gelding owned by Mr Cater and ridden by Werthem
2. Deceiver, brown gelding owned and ridden by Mr Leete
3. Unnamed horse owned by Mr Carrington and ridden by Malden
Sweepstakes (10 sovereigns) for horses carrying 12 stone
Gulnare, chestnut mare owned and ridden by Mr Carrington 1 1
1. Belinda, brown mare owned and ridden by Mr Strickland 2 3
2. Leamington, bay gelding owned by Mr Purser and ridden by Mr Martin 4 2
3. Victoria, bay mare owned by Mr Fowler and ridden by Ward 3 wdr
Handicap Sweepstakes (5 sovereigns) over 1 mile
1. Unique, bay gelding owned by Mr George and ridden by Werthem
2. Mount Pleasant, bay filly owned by Mr Burton and ridden by Bell
3. Victoria, bay mare owned by Mr Fowler and ridden by Ward
Stewards at the meeting were Charles Barnett (Master of Cambridgeshire Hounds, living at Stratton Park) and H Beauford
Friday 23rd April 1841
Biggleswade Town Stakes (10 sovereigns) over 1 1/2 miles
1. Tormentor, grey mare owned by Mr Perkins and ridden by Morgan 2 1 1
2. Mount Pleasant, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Burton 1 2 2
3. Spicy, bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Grave 3 wdr
Sweepstakes (10 sovereigns) for horses carrying 12 stone
1. Vandyke, bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Folbigg 1 1
2. Lady Elizabeth, chestnut mare owned by Mr Browne and ridden by Martin 2 4
3. Anonymous, bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Pope 3 2
4. Pretty Janes, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr G Higgins 4 3
5. Crucifix, bay mare owned by Mr J Dickinson and ridden by Wallis 5 0
Galloway Stakes (6 sovereigns) for horses under 14 and a half hands
1. Vandyke, bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Folbigg
2. Tormentor, grey mare owned by Mr Perkins and ridden by Morgan
3. Slothful, bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr H Leet
4. Mount Pleasant, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Burton
Hurdle Race Sweepstakes (20 sovereigns) over 1 1/2 miles and 4 leaps
1. Unique, brown gelding owned by Mr George and ridden by Martin 1 2 1
2. Abinger, bay gelding owned by Mr Bainbridge and ridden by G Higgins 3 1 2
3. Baron St Liz, chestnut gelding owned by Captain Daintree and ridden by Beville 2 3 wdr
4. Excitement, chestnut mare owned by Mr Sparrow and ridden by Nunn 4 dist
5. Dumblane, chestnut horse owned and ridden by Mr Vane 6 wdr
6. Red Indian, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Ward and ridden by Maule 2 dist
Stewards at the meeting were Charles Barnett (Master of Cambridgeshire Hounds, living at Stratton Park) and William Hogg of Biggleswade
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the 1830 map shown below.
After a 2-year break, the races were revived on Friday 12th April 1844, although crowds were down on former races, and it was strongly advised that entries were opened up in the future to horses outside of an 8-mile radius from Biggleswade so that interest and appeal was greater.
Friday 12th April 1844
Pony Stakes (2 sovereigns) over 4 furlongs
1. Deceiver owned by Mr W Kingsley and ridden by John Kingsley 1 1
2. Jerry owned by Mr Ward 2 2
3. Tom Thumb owned by Mr Henshaw dist
Pony Race (2 1/2 sovereigns over 4 furlongs
1. Hit or Miss owned by Mr Marson and ridden by Cox 1 1
2. Deceiver owned by Mr Henshaw 2 2
3. Doubtful owned by Mr Kingsley 3 3
Galloway Race (4 sovereigns) over 1 mile
1. Harlequin owned and ridden by Mr G Wright 1 1
2. Careful owned by Mr Melrose 2 2
3. Malander owned by Mr G Wright 3 3
Town Stakes (4 sovereigns) over 1 mile
1. Cavendish owned by Mr Marson and ridden by John Kingsley 1 1
2. Betty owned by Mr Titmas 0 2
3. Hit or Miss owned by Mr Marson 2 3
4. Tormentor owned by Mr Perkins 3 4
Sweepstakes (5 sovereigns) over 1 1/2 miles
1. Bess owned by Mr H Powell 4 2 1 1
2. Creeping Jenny owned by Mr W Kingsley 2 1 0 2
3. Speculation owned by Mr C Hending 3 4 3 0
4. Fill Up owned by Mr Piper 1 3 2 0
5. Haphazard owned by Mr G Wright wdr
Hurdle Race Sweepstakes (10 sovereigns) over 2 leaps
1. Unnamed black mare owned and ridden by Mr W Carrington
2. Wallington, bay horse owned by Mr Free
3. Unnamed chestnut horse owned by Mr Horrell
Racing at Biggleswade lapsed for almost 2 decades, but returned on Monday 21st April 1862 and was well received by the town. It was a fine day which encouraged almost 5000 spectators to attend, entertained by 5 races on a course which looked a real picture. The Stewards were C S Lindsell, G Barnett, T H D Bayly and G Race, the Judge was J Smythe, the Starter G Race and the Honorary clerk of the Course was Mr W Ford.
Sweepstakes (10 sovereigns) for Galloways over 1 mile
1. Miss Watts, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Tanqueray
2. Queen Mab (5/1), bay mare owned by Mr Barker and ridden by J Jinkins junior
3. Harry, bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Crawley
4. Firefly, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Balding
5. Plait Girl, bay mare owned by Mr Evans and ridden by Mr Purser
6. Quicksilver, brown mare owned by Mr H Gibbins and ridden by Mr W Cole
7. Friday, bay gelding owned by Mr Overman and ridden by Mr Pedder
8. Magic (3/2 fav), grey mare owned by Mr T H D Bayly and ridden by Mr Bevill
9. Miss Pedder, chestnut mare owned by Mr R Hunt and ridden by Mr H Lotan
Sweepstakes Hurdle (20 sovereigns) over 2 miles and 6 bushed hurdles
Restricted to horses regularly hunted with the Cambridgeshire, Oakley, Puckeridge, or Lord Dacre’s hounds, owned by residents living within 15 miles of Biggleswade
1. Actress, chestnut mare owned by Mr R Hill and ridden by Mr F Lotan
2. Skeleton, brown gelding owned by Mr G Higgins and ridden by Mr W Bevill
3. Haymaker (10/1) bay gelding owned by Mr W Pope and ridden by Mr Fawkes
4. Jenny, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr G Robinson
5. Gibraltar (3/1 fav) owned and ridden by Mr H Smythe
6. Daylight, grey gelding owned by Mr Kempson and ridden by Mr Vincent
Pony Sweepstakes (5 sovereigns) over 4 furlongs
1. Johnny (5/1), skewball owned by Mr Livett and ridden by Mr Barnes
2. Taffy owned by Mr Tanqueray and ridden by Mr R Lindsell
3. Brown Buck owned and ridden by Mr H Henshaw
4. Tom Thumb owned by Mr Wilkie and ridden by Mr Baker
5. The Rat owned and ridden by Mr Burner Sharpe
6. Eclipse owned and ridden by Mr Vincent
Hurdle Sweepstakes (15 sovereigns) over 2 miles and 6 bushed hurdles
Restricted to horses the property of residents within 8 miles of Biggleswade
1. Jersey (3/1 fav), brown gelding owned by Mr Heading and ridden by Mr Lotan
2. Queen Bess (5/1), brown mare owned by Mr Robinson and ridden by Mr Marsh
3. Bouncing Bess (10/1), bay mare owned by Mr J Smythe and ridden by H Smythe
4. Rosalte (10/1), brown mare owned by Mr H Purser and ridden by Mr Gibbons
5. Bitter Beer (5/1), bay gelding owned by Mr Layton and ridden by Mr W Bevill
6. Daylight (10/1) grey gelding owned by Mr Kempson and ridden by Mr Vincent
7. Haymaker (10/1), bay gelding owned by Mr W Pope and ridden by Mr Fawkes
8. May Morning (10/1), grey gelding owned and ridden by Mr Hickman
9. Danny Mann (10/1), bay gelding owned by Mr R Hunt and ridden by Mr Hayward
10. Tipperary Boy (10/1), grey gelding owned by Mr Dawkins and ridden by Mr H Swooder
11. Flirt (10/1), bay mare owned by Mr T Ayres and ridden by Mr J Jinkins
Scurry Stakes (10 sovereigns) over 1 ½ miles
1. Actress, chestnut mare owned by Mr R Hill and ridden by Mr Marsh
2. Cottage Girl, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Hill
3. Flotilla (3/1 fav), bay mare owned by Mr H Brown and ridden by Mr Price
4. Jersey, brown gelding owned by Mr C Heading and ridden by Mr Lotan
5. Emeline, chestnut mare owned by Mr Evans and ridden by Captain Webster
6. Black Prince, bay gelding owned by Mr Powell and ridden by Mr Vincent
7. Dwarf, bay gelding owned by Mr T H D Bayly and ridden by Mr W Bevill
Racing then ceased for another 6 years before a meeting took place on Friday 24th April 1868 where the Stewards were C Barnett, Colonel Lindsell, F Dawkins, C E Prime and Captain Barnett, while the Honorary Secretary was Mr H Barker from Biggleswade.
The programme began at 1.15pm with a Pony Race for 5 sovereigns, followed half an hour later by the most valuable race of the day, the United Hunts Stakes over 2 miles and 6 hurdles worth 30 sovereigns. A Selling Race over a mile, for 20 sovereigns followed, with the winner being sold for 50 sovereigns. The next race was the Farmers Plate over a mile and a half for 30 sovereigns, while the card concluded with the Biggleswade Stakes over 2 miles and 6 hurdles worth 20 sovereigns.
The final meeting at Biggleswade too place on Friday 10th September 1869 overseen by Stewards C Barnett, C Newton, G Leigh, T H D Bayly, C Marshall, J Layton, E Dawkins, J Linton, Captain Barnett, Captain Polhill-Turner and J Allington. With such a powerful, well-reprented group of Stewards, it is surprising that no future meetings were staged. The Honorary Secretary was Mr H Barker and the esteemed handicappers were Messers Weatherby.
The newspapers commented, 'This old-established and recently revived Bedfordshire meeting came off on Friday 10th September under favourable auspices, the Committee using their utmost exertions to obtain a good afternoon's sport, and although the weather was not exactly up to the mark, a large number of visirors came by special train from Kings Cross. The course, well adapted for racing, is conveniently situated about three-quarters of a mile from the town, the recent rain having rendered it capital going.'
Farmers Plate for 40 sovereigns over a mile and a half
1. Clara (4/5 fav) owned by Mr Harwood and ridden by Gregory
2. General (8/1) owned by Mr J Hill and ridden by Saxton
3. Trottle (5/2) owned by Mr Hill and ridden by Wodehouse
4. Blue Jacket (8/1) owned by Mr Evans and ridden by J V Barling
5. Ashridge (8/1) owned by Mr Darley and ridden by Purr
6. Octoroon (8/1) owned by Mr Hargreave and ridden by E Flack
Biggleswade Selling Plate (40 sovereigns) over 6 furlongs
The winner to be sold for 50 sovereigns
1. Darlington (2/1) owned by Mr Evans and ridden by Peters
2. Elston (10/1) owned by Mr Spafford and ridden by Neale
3. Frailty Gelding (10/1) owned by Mr Wodehouse and ridden by Coslett
4. Ashridge Queen (10/1) owned by Mr Darley and ridden by Parr
5. Nutbourne Filly (10/1) owned by Mr Hargreave and ridden by E Flack
6. Divorce (6/1) owned by Mr Waller and ridden by Robinson
7. Beautiful Spring (7/4 fav) owned by Mr W Russell and ridden by Chambers
Maiden Hurdle (50 sovereigns) over 2 miles and 4 hurdles
1. Sir Walter (2/1) owned and ridden by Mr G Spafford
2. Woodpigeon (10/1) owned by Mr Wallis and ridden by Forty
3. Niva (8/1) owned by Mr Desmond and ridden by P Barker
4. Trottle (10/1) owned by Mr Hill and ridden by Wodehouse
5. Caprice (evens fav) owned by Mr Swan and ridden by Gregory
6. Beanstalk (10/1) owned by Mr Hartown and ridden by Reynolds
Welter Handicap (30 sovereigns) over a mile
1. Clemency (4/7 fav) owned by Mr G Higgins and ridden by W Bevill
2. Sir Walter owned and ridden by Mr G Spafford
3. Beautiful Spring owned by Mr W Russell and ridden by Gregory
4. Inheritance owned and ridden by Mr Hartown
5. Darlington owned by Mr Evans and ridden by Peters
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
