STOKESLEY RACECOURSE

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Earliest meeting: Monday 25th May 1752
Final meeting: Monday 1st June 1874
The North Yorkshire village of Stokesley, on the River Leven, is located in the Hambleton district of the county about 10 miles south of Middlesbrough. The ‘County History of Yorkshire’ recorded that a two day meeting first took place in the town from Monday 25th to Wednesday 27th May 1752. On the opening day the 2 mile Purse for 4 year olds was won after two heats by Colonel Lampton’s Orlanana, beating Creeping Jane and Bonny Lass. Two days later on Wednesday 27th May the Weight for Age Handicap was claimed by Young Badger after three heats. Over a century later, and with the meetings well supported over this period, a card was staged on Monday 17th May 1869 on a portion of Seamer Moor owned by Lord Leconfield. On this day the attendance was lower than usual, but those who were present enjoyed good racing. The Yorkshire Stakes went to Moll, owned by Mr Dick, while the Cleveland Handicap was won by Dick owned by Mr Stapleton. Three years later there was a curious incident at the May 1872 meeting when the jockey of Lady Don, J.Clark, was reported to be dead after a fall, only to turn up at his home having survived the shock.The final meeting took place on Monday 1st June 1874.

This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.
Local Patrons Lord Leconfield, Colonel Lampton, Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Bobby Shaftoe
Principal Races Stokesley Hunters’ Stakes, Yorkshire Stakes, Cleveland Handicap

25th May 1752

Stokesley Two mile Purse for 4 year olds
1. Orlanana, bay horse owned by Colonel Lampton 1 1
2. Creeping Jane, bay mare owned by Mr White 2 2
3. Bonny Lass, chestnut mare owned by Mr Forester 3 3
4. Hair-Brain, grey mare owned by Mr Snowden 4 dist

27th May 1752

Stokesley £50 Weight for Age
1. Young Badger, grey horse owned by Mr Shaftoe 2 1 1
2. Antelope, bay horse owned by Sir Marmaduke Wyvill 1 3 2
3. Young Forester, black gelding owned by Mr Sedgwick 3 2 4
4. Milk-Maid, grey mare owned by Mr Forster 4 4 3
5. Cotton Velvet, grey mare owned by Mr Lonsdale 5 dist

27th and 28th May 1782

Stokesley 20 Guineas Sweepstakes over 2 miles
1. Paymaster owned by Mr Addison
2. Unnamed filly by Oiho owned by Mr Pratt
3. Unnamed filly by Picture owned by Mr Burdon

Stokesley Maiden over 4 miles
1. Privateer owned by Mr Pratt
2. Gumilda owned by Mr Tempset
The winner, wearing Red with a Black cap, was 4/6 favourite.

I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below.

The final meeting took place on Monday 1st June 1874.
Course today At Seamer Moor.
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

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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