Earliest meeting: Monday 10th March 1611
Final meeting: Wednesday 15th October 1890
Racing is known to have taken place in the Surrey town of Croydon in the early part of the 17th century, some years before King James I visited the course on Monday 10th March 1610. At that meeting James I, and his court, witnessed John Ramsey (later Lord Haddington) strike Philip Herbert (later the Earl of Montgomery) and, but for no weapons being available, a duel would have ensued. Fortunately, on that occasion the quarrel did not escalate and the King, taking the side of Philip Herbert, made him a Knight, Baron, Viscount and Earl so that his reputation did not suffer. Philip Herbert, a heavy gambler, went out of his way to seek quarrels, for in 1606 he had amassed such large gambling debts that James I had to pay them for him, while in 1610 he quarrelled with the 3rd Earl of Southampton over a tennis match. Furthermore, he did not learn from his errors because in 1617 he had a violent quarrel with Lord Howard de Walden. Racing continued at Croydon, although records of meetings are sketchy. By 1841 racing was recorded once again on Croydon Common, but there was then a lapse before a more formal period of racing began in 1860. The first 2-day meeting was staged on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th December 1860 when the Railway Stakes saw Harlequin beat Surprise, the Croydon Stand Plate went to Red Rover, and the Metropolitan to Johnny. The oval course was a mile and three furlongs in circumference, slightly downhill from the mile to 6 furlong marker, but then with an incline leading up to the winning post. Joining the main course was the 'Great Welcomes' course extending to 12 furlongs. Steeplechase and Flat meetings took place for the next 30 years, although they were often blighted by the weather. In 1867, and again in 1869, meetings had to be constantly postponed due to snow and frost. The final 2 day meeting was held on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th October 1890 when the Welter Plate over 2 miles went to Mr Clover's Sinfire who beat Minnedosa. The final Flat race saw Lamprey beat Jarretieres in the Welter Handicap.
Wednesday 2nd April 1890
The Welter Handicap over a mile
1. The Vicar owned by General Byrne
2. St Thomas owned by Mr T Murphy
3. Sturton owned by Chevalier Ginistrelli
The Norwood Handicap over 6 furlongs
1. Lord Douglas owned by Mr G Reynolds
2. Jervaulx owned by Mr E Tattersall
3. Bonnie Glen owned by Mr F Smith
The Great Welcomes Handicap over 1 ¼ miles
1. Lady Rosebery owned by Mr Abington
2. Eaglesham owned by Mr W Stevenson
3. Brownie owned by Mr J B Burton
Tuesday 14th & Wednesday 15th October 1890
The Welter Plate over 2 miles
1. Sinfire owned by Mr Clover
2. Minnedosa owned by Lord Calthorpe
3. Harpagon owned by Mr St Maur
The Welter Handicap over a mile
1. Lamprey owned by Mr W Heasman
2. Jarretieres owned by Mr J McKenna
3. Sobriety owned by Mr T S Starkey
This was the final Flat race run at the course
Thanks are due to Gordon Garrity for the scan of these rarest of badges.
A very detailed 52 page booklet, written by Jim Beavis and published by Local History Publications , 316 Green Lane, Streatham, London. The booklet examines the history of races at Croydon from 1286 to the very last flat meeting held on 15th October 1890, and the very last National Hunt meeting held on 26th November 1890.
The rare handbill shown below is provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection.
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
