GATWICK
Aintree racecourse;Ascot;Ayr;Bangor;Bath;Beverley;Brighton;Carlisle;Cartmel;Catterick;Cheltenham Festival;Chepstow;Chester;Doncaster St Leger;Epsom Derby;Exeter racecourse;Fakenham;Folkestone;Fontwell Park;Glorious Goodwood;Hamilton Park;Haydock Park;Hereford Racecourse;Hexham;Huntingdon;Kelso;Kempton Park;Leicester;Lingfield;Ludlow;Market Rasen;Musselburgh;Newbury Racecourse;Newcastle;Newmarket;Newton Abbot;Nottingham;Perth;Plumpton;Pontefract Racecourse;Redcar;Ripon;Salisbury;Sandown Park;Sedgefield;Southwell;Stratford;Taunton;Thirsk;Towcester;Uttoxeter;Warwick;Wetherby;Wincanton;Windsor;Wolverhampton;Worcester;Yarmouth;York Ebor
Grateful thanks to Hilary and Michael Jones-Bolt for the excellent scan
FIRST MEETING
7th October 1891
SITUATED
Midway between London and Brighton.
DISTANCES
5 furlongs to 2 miles Flat
2 miles to 4 miles 856 yards NH
PRINCIPAL RACE
The Gatwick Cup.
WORLD WAR I
Open and 3 Grand Nationals run at the course during this period.
WORLD WAR II
Closed by mid 1940’s
FACT
At the August meeting in 1928, Welcome Gift was the 11/4 on favourite and was ridden by Charlie Smirke.
QUESTION
Why was the smirk wiped off Charlies face when he was warned off for his riding of Welcome Gift, and why did this prove to be unjust?
CURRENT SITUATION
No evidence of the previous existence of a racecourse, it being covered by the airport, although there is a Racecourse restaurant.
LAST MEETING
15th June 1940
If you have :-
a favourite memory of this racecourse;
photos or a postcard of the course;
a members badge from the course, either to sell or as a scan;
then email me at johnslusar@fsmail.net and I will include the details on this site together with an acknowledgement for you.