Fontwell Racecourse History | ||||
Fontwell Park is one of the oldest watering holes in Britain! Named the 'Font', Roman soldiers knew the spring by the side of the road as an important stopping point on their journeys between the ancient towns of Chichester and Arundel. Passing monks who relied on the stream for clean drinking water, added the Anglo-Saxon word 'well', and ever since the village of Fontwell has stood at the busy junction of routes across West Sussex. However, it was only in 1923 that Alfred Day allowed his gallops to be developed into a course by the Fontwell Park Steeplechase Committee. He laid out the unique figure of eight steeplechase course at Fontwell Park in 1924, creating an important meeting place for the local community. Both the spring and the well can be found today within the grounds at Fontwell Park. The first meeting took place on Wednesday 21st May 1924, with the Duke of Richmond in attendance; Gem became the very first winner when ridden by F.B.Rees the champion jockey (Result shown below). Like the majority of courses, Fontwell closed during the war, but in 1947 National Spirit won at the course in preparation for his Champion Hurdle victory in 1947, repeating the feat the next year. The course launched the National Spirit Challenge Trophy to mark that success. Two years later Monaveen won at the October meeting to provide Princess Elizabeth, later to become Queen, her first racing success. It was the only horse she jointly owned with the Queen Mother. In 1951 Nickel Coin used a Fontwell victory as a stepping stone to Aintree success in the Grand National. Currently the course hosts 11 fixtures annually. |
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Fontwell continues to thrive today, whereas nearby Chichester closed its gates for the final time in 1740. | ||||
The West Sussex cathedral city of Chichester is the only city in the county and is its county town. It can trace its history back to before Roman times and was even an important centre in the Anglo-Saxon period. Its cathedral dates back to the 12th century. In the mid-1700s it staged its own race meetings, the first of which took place in 1735. The ‘County History of Sussex’ recorded that Chichester races took place in 1735 but seem to have been of very small importance. A further meeting was hosted in Chichester in 1740. |
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I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the 1945 map shown below. | ||||
1924 Matched Pair from the inaugural season | 1925 Matched Pair | |||
The front cover/ principal races from this rare racecard (the first meeting held at the course ) are provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection. | ||||
1956 Gents | 1957 Ladies | 1957 Gents | 1958 Gents | 1958 Ladies |
The rare handbill shown below is provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection. |
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1967 Gents | 1967 Ladies | 1968 Ladies | 1968 Gents | 1969 Gents |
The principal race at the track is the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle over 2 miles 4 furlongs. It is named after National Spirit who won the Champion Hurdle twice and, in a long successful career won 32 of his 85 starts. The inaugural running of the race was in 1965 when won by Salmon Spray. All winners are shown below. |
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1969 Ladies | 1970 Matched Pair | 1971 Matched Pair | ||
1975 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by Bladon, trained by Fred Winter and ridden by Robert Kington |
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1972 Gents | 1972 Ladies | 1973 Matched Pair | 1974 Gents | |
1979 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by Bird’s Nest, trained by Bob Turnell and ridden by Andy Turnell |
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1974 Matched Ladies Pair | 1975 Gents | 1975 Matched Ladies Pair | ||
1983 The National Spirit Hurdle was abandoned due to frost. |
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1976 Gents | 1976 Ladies | 1977 Gents | 1978 Gents | 1979 Gents |
1987 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by Corporal Clinger, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Peter Scudamore |
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1980 Member | 1981 Member | 1982 Member | 1983 Member | 1984 Member |
1991 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by Al Asoof, trained by Peter Hedger and ridden by Mark Richards |
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1985 Member | 1986 Member | 1987 Member | 1988 Member | 1989 Member |
1999 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by Lady Cricket, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Tony McCoy |
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1990 Member | 1991 Member | 1992 Member | 1993 Member | 1994 Member |
2003 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by Classified, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Tony McCoy |
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1995 Member | 1996 Member | 1999 Member | 1998 Member | 1999 Member |
2007 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by United, trained by Lucy Wadham and ridden by Leighton Aspell |
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2000 Member | 2001 Member | 2002 Member | 2003 Member | 2004 Member |
2011 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by Celestial Hero, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Harry Skelton |
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2005 Member | 2006 Member | 2007 Member | 2008 Member | |
2015 The National Spirit Hurdle was won by Kilcooley, trained by Charlie Longsdon and ridden by Noel Fehily |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3 652 pages 774 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0 352 pages 400 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7 180 pages 140 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4 264 pages 235 former courses |
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Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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