Earliest meeting: Tuesday 7th April 1868
Final meeting: Tuesday 7th April 1868
The County Durham rural village of Sadberge lies in the borough of Darlington and was, in the early days, the capital of a Viking settlement which was known as a wapentake. There are wonderful views of the surrounding countryside from the village which stands on a hill, and maybe that same hill provided a good viewing point for the races which took place in the village in the middle of the 19th century. The sole meeting was held on Tuesday 7th April 1868, opening with the Hunters Stakes over 3 miles which saw Mr J Harrison’s Topsy beat Bob Brunton and Yeoman. The Innkeepers’ Hunt Stakes followed and was won by Wonderful Woman from Maid of the Mill and Governor. The main contest, the Farmers’ Hunt Steeplechase, was won by an easy 20 lengths by 6/4 favourite Maid of the Mill. There are no further records to indicate later race meetings in the village. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr E Waldy, Mr W Henderson, Mr J Shepherd (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Sadberge Hunters Stakes, Innkeepers Hunt Stakes, Farmers’ Hunt Steeplechase |
Tuesday 7th April 1868
Farmers’ Hunt Steeplechase once round
1. Maid of the Mill, bay mare owned by Mr Aungle
2. Rosa, bay mare owned by Mr Leng
3. Ely, 5 year old owned by Mr W Harrison
Betting: 6/4 Maid of the Mill, 2/1 Rosa, 6/1 Ely |
The only recorded meeting took place on the Tuesday 7th April 1868. |
| Course today |
In fields on the edge of the village, with the hill providing an excellent viewing point. |
| 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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