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The first recorded meeting took place on 5th August 1760, but not on the same Derby Racecourse where the final meeting took place. The course was an oval of 10 furlongs in circumference and was entirely flat. A new course of a mile in length was introduced in the 1890’s.
Local Patrons

Duke of Devonshire, Lord Fitzwilliam, Lord Anson, Sir T Mostyn, Sir C Sedley, Honorable J S Barry
Principal Races Derby Gold Cup, Sixty Guineas Sweepstake

Tuesday 7th to Wednesday 8th September 1762

Derby 2 mile Purse
1. Short Tom owned by Honorable J S Barry
2. Athamas owned by Mr Egerton
3. Young Roger owned by Mr Wentworth

Derby 2 mile Weight for Age Handicap
1. Patriot owned by Mr Wentworth
2. Daisy owned by Mr Chaplin
3. Aeolus owned by Sir C Sedley

Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th July 1824

Derby Gold Cup over 3 miles
1. Princess Royal owned by Sir T Mostyn
2. Rein Deer owned by Mr Heathcote

Sixty Guineas Sweepstake (2 miles) given by Duke of Devonshire
1. Nitrogen owned by Lord Fitzwilliam
2. Cheshire Lass owned by Lord Anson
3. Contention owned by Mr Platel

Less than 2 miles from the Midland Railway Station, near to the Nottingham Road. Map below is from 1836:-
1938 Hugh Lloyd Thomas, although nearly 50, decided to ride Royal Mail in the 1938 Grand National. To give himself race riding experience he rode Periwinkle II at Derby.
The final meeting took place on 19th August 1939
Course today No evidence of the previous racecourse except that the local cricket ground is called The Racecourse.
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 johnslusar@fsmail.net

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:-

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
1887 1888 1891 1892
1893 1894 1896 1897
1898 1899 1900 1901
1902 1903 1903 1905
1907 1912 1921 Ladies 1923
1924 1928 1929 1930 Pair
1931 Gents 1931 Ladies 1932 1934 Ladies
1934 Gents 1935 Gents 1935 Ladies 1936 Gents
1936 Ladies 1937 Gents 1937 Ladies 1938 Ladies
   
1939 Gents 1939 Ladies