Earliest meeting: Monday 21st August 1710
Final meeting: Tuesday 30th May 1882
The Northamptonshire market town of Wellingborough, on the River Nene, lies just 11 miles from Northampton. It is steeped in history, being known as Wendelingburgh in Saxon Times, although it was recorded as Wendelburie in the 1086 Domesday Book. The earliest record of racing in the vicinity of Wellingborough was from the diary of Thomas Isham (extract shown below) when he mentions a meeting on Artelbrow Meadow on Monday 21st August 1710. The County History of Northamptonshire first recorded racing at Wellingborough in August 1720 when a 3 race card was staged. In the Galloway event 2 horses were entered, while 3 contested the Gentlemen’s Contribution and 4 took part in the Wellingborough Plate. A later, second period of racing began on Monday 2nd August 1880, lasting for two years. The course used was in a field owned by Mr J Wallis, half a mile from town, and the card opened with the Knuston Hall Plate which went to Mr R C Naylor’s Tydeus. The Innkeepers’ Plate which followed fell to Mr T Pegg’s Sunshade, defeating Little Queen and Kitty, while the feature race, the Wellingborough Stakes, was captured by Lord Rocksavage’s Schoolboy. The final meeting took place on Tuesday 30th May 1882.
Monday 2nd August 1880
Wellingborough Stakes over 2 miles
1. Schoolboy, bay gelding owned by Lord Rocksavage
2. Storm King, 4 year old owned by Mr T Pegg
3. Outfit, brown gelding owned by Mr J Hall
Betting: 2/1 On Storm King, 5/2 Schoolboy, 5/1 Outfit
The final meeting took place on Tuesday 30th May 1882.
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
