Earliest meeting: Tuesday 14th September 1880
Final meeting: Wednesday 9th September 1885
The Devon district of Heavitree, on the outskirts of the city of Exeter, at one time was a small village mentioned in the Domesday Book when known as Hevetrowa. It was so named because it is derived from ‘head tree’ and was, even as late as 1818, the site of executions in the City when the criminal’s heads were placed on trees after they were executed. The village had its own racecourse which was operational in the latter part of the 19th century. The inaugural meeting was held on Tuesday 14th September 1880 in conjunction with the East Devon Hunt who had previously been operational at Colyton. The 1 ½ mile course, owned by Mr J Newberry, was on Hill Barton and began on the Honiton Road near the railway line to Exmouth. Such was the popularity of the meetings that they continued for the next 5 years until the final meeting on Wednesday 9th September 1885.

Tuesday 14th September 1880
Heavitree Stakes over 2 ½ miles
1. Master Skerratt, bay gelding owned by Mr F Lynham
2. Curator, bay gelding owned by Mr J W Letheren
3. Progress, bay horse owned by Mr V P Calmady

The final meeting took place on Wednesday 9th September 1885.

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

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