| It is well documented in official town records that racing first took place in the Selkirk area, at the Gala Rig, as early as 1715. However, it is thought that racing took place well before that date, probably as early as 1656. A silver Town Plate was contested on the last Tuesday of April each year, with the Burgh Plate being run on the following day. In the early 1970's a cup was discovered which was dated 1720 and contained the Town's coat of arms and was thought to be the prize for the Selkirk Cup Race from that early date. | |
| I am grateful to the contributors of the photos shown below, which they allow to be produced under the Creative Common Licence, and can recommend a visit to the webpage via the link given. |  With grateful thanks to Stephen McCurrie for this rare scan of a Race Pass for Selkirk |
  The Old Racecourse at Selkirk The Padock at Selkirk I am grateful to Walter Baxter for allowing the use of the pictures via the Creative Common Licence |
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| By 1824 a new course at the Gala Rig had been established with its inaugural meeting taking place on Friday 25th June 1824 when a 4 race programme was organised. The principal race at this time was the Tradesman's Stakesover 1 1/2 miles and won in 1870 by Yarrow, owned by G. Dryden. Yarrow repeated his success in the same race in 1874. It was in 1870 that the races at Selkirk dropped out of the official Racing Calendar and were organised more on the lines off 'flapping' racing. Whilst recognised racing was reintroduced in 1875, the final meeting at the track took place on 17th June 1881. | |
  The Bend at Selkirk The Weighing Room at Selkirk I am grateful to Iain Lewis for allowing the use of the pictures via the Creative Common Licence |
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| If you can provide any details about the course then email me at johnslusar@fsmail.net | |