Earliest meeting: Saturday 23rd March 1833
Final meeting: Saturday 20th March 1858
The Northamptonshire village of Brixworth is situated in the Daventry district of the county some 5 miles north of Northampton. The village has a rich history, with All Saints’ church founded in 680 AD being a magnificent example of an Anglo-Saxon church. The village boasted its own racecourse, with meetings taking place as early as 1833. The ‘History of Northamptonshire’ recorded that a steeplechase took place between Brixworth and Cottesbrooke on Saturday 23rd March 1833. The race had the glorious title of ‘The Great Northamptonshire Steeplechase for 20 sovereigns each’, with the race being won by Daring Ranger owned by Mr Sollaway. One of the most famous racing men of the day was Squire Osbaldeston who, at the time, was Master of the nearby Pytchley Hunt, and he was the organiser of the race. However, his mount fell at the first brook.
The races had to cease in Brixworth when the new rail line from Northampton to Market Harborough ran straight through the centre of the Brixworth Vale course, the final meeting took place on Saturday 20th March 1858. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Patrons |
Squire Osbaldeston |
| Principal races |
Great Northamptonshire Steeplechase, Brixworth Chase |
Thursday 26th November 1840
The Brixworth Steeplechase
1. Cigar owned by Mr Anderson and ridden by Mr McDonough
2. Zethus owned by Mr Quartermain and ridden by Mr Powell
3. Grayling owned and ridden by Mr T Oliver
4. Tobacconist owned by Sir E Mostyn and ridden by Mr Whitworth
5. Gay Lad owned by Mr E Davey and ridden by Captain Skipworth |
The races had to cease in Brixworth when the new rail line from Northampton to Market Harborough ran straight through the centre of the Brixworth Vale course. |
| Racing continued in the village for the next 11 years before a final meeting took place on 20th March 1858. |
| Course today |
In the Brixworth Vale between the village and neighbouring Cottesbrooke. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
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 |
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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 |
| 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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