Earliest Meeting:- Monday 12th April 1858
Final Meeting:- Tuesday 21st April 1885
In 1858 the first York Steeplechases were organized by the 5th Dragoon Guards who were stationed at the York Barracks. The meeting was staged on Monday 12th April 1858, offering a 4 race programme, where the Stewards were Major Inglis, Captain Goodman and Captain Montgomery. The course was so appointed that a view of the entire race was visible from the Grand Stand. It was an oval course of length 2 ½ miles. The starting flag was in a field near Middlethorpe, following a line parallel with the Bishopthorpe road, over 7 fields all of which gently sloped towards the Knavesmire. It then curved towards the racecourse, entering the Knavesmire and crossing the new, recently opened carriage road, then taking a westerly route across the Knavesmire, it crossed the great ‘goit’ where a good jump was positioned. It then curved to the Dringhouses paddocks, two of which contained fences which had to be crossed before it again entered the Knavesmire, coming with a good curve into the straight and on to the finish directly in front of the Grand Stand.

A map of the former steeplechase course is available. CLICK HERE

Monday 12th April 1858
5th Dragoon Officers Challenge Cup (100 sovereigns) over 3 miles
Cup presented by H H McNeill

1. Balaklava (2/1 fav) bay gelding owned by Major Thompson and ridden by Shawe
2. Thimblerig (5/1) brown mare owned by Mr Duffield and ridden by Duffield
3. The Prince of Orange (5/1) brown horse owned by Major Inglis and ridden by Captain Burnand
4. The Maid of Athens (5/1) owned by Captain Montgomery and ridden by Bower
5. Poynton (5/1) bay gelding owned by Mr Heyworth and ridden by Captain Heyworth
6. The Nun (5/2) chestnut mare owned by Captain Ferguson and ridden by Captain B R Shaw

Farmers and Tradesmens Steeplechase over 3 miles

1. Camelion (2/1 fav) bay mare owned by Mr John Simpson and ridden by R Nelson
2. Odd Leg (4/1) bay horse owned by Mr Ward and ridden by Ward
3. Purcell (5/1) chestnut horse owned by Mr R B Allenby and ridden by R Allenby
4. Midnight (4/1) brown mare owned by Mr Nalton and ridden by Dykes
5. Lucy (5/1) brown mare owned by Mr R B Allenby and ridden by Richard Allenby
6. Eliza (5/1) bay mare owned by Mr Hayward and ridden by Cowper
7. Little Wonder (5/1) chestnut horse owned by Mr Flowers and ridden by J Elmer
8. Gaterley (5/1) chestnut gelding owned by Mr Fred Coulson and ridden by Coulson

Hunters Steeplechase over 3 miles

1. Milkmaid (7/4 fav) chestnut mare owned by Mr Ferguson and ridden by Price
2. Chieftain (4/1) bay horse owned by Mr Ellis and ridden by J Hopper
3. The Swan (5/1) brown horse owned by Mr Loy and ridden by Loy
4. Mary Barton (7/1) bay mare owned by Mr H A Allenby and ridden by Richard Allenby
5. Tollerton (7/1) bay horse owned by Mr Batty and ridden by Batty
6. Barmpton (7/1) bay horse owned by Mr Cookson and ridden by Robinson

50 Sovereigns Sweepstake over 3 miles

1. Freddy (2/1 fav) brown gelding owned by Mr Hay and ridden by Hay
2. The Prince of Orange (6/1) brown horse owned by Major Inglis and ridden by Captain Shawe
3. The Rose of York (7/1) brown mare owned by Major Inglis and ridden by Captain McNeille
4. The Wild Irishman (5/1) chestnut gelding owned by Captain Montgomery and ridden by Bower
5. Talhaliarn (7/1) brown gelding owned by Mr Hampton and ridden by Captain B R Shawe
6. The Nigger (3/1) black gelding owned by Mr Heyworth and ridden by Heyworth

The York Race Committee acknowledged the success of the inaugural steeplechase meeting organized by the 5th Dragoon Guards in 1858 and, ever anxious to please the public, decided to organize a similar programme in 1859 as the first day of the 3 day Spring Meeting. The starting point of the course differed from the 1858 course, starting near the Knavesmire Gate next to the ‘old 2 mile post’, after which it ran along the ‘flats’ in the direction of Dringhouses where there were two flights of hurdles before reaching the ‘garths’ or enclosures. It then progressed onto the Knavesmire at the mile and a quarter post before entering fields on the Middlethorpe side of the course, near the 4 furlong post, running at the back of the Stand before re-entering the Knavesmire to be greeted by a 16 feet wide water jump, this being the principal leap in the entire race. The horses then ran into the former part of the course, finishing in the inner circle in front of the Grandstand.

Monday 11th April 1859
The Londesborough Great Handicap Steeplechase over 3 1/2 miles
(26 subscribers, 14 declared, 560 Sovereigns)

1. Chance (4/1) black mare owned by Mr Catton and ridden by Marshall
2. Jealousy (15/8 fav) owned by Mr Bayly and ridden by Kendall
3. Glautias (6/1) owned by Mr Jacobs and ridden by Thomas
4. Old Dog Tray (3/1) owned by Mr Reynolds and ridden by C Green
5. Miss Talbot (6/1) owned by Mr Harrison and ridden by Dickson

Farmers and Tradesmens 50 Sovereigns Steeplechase over 3 1/2 miles

1. Purclee (4/1) owned by Mr Allenby and ridden by Richard Allenby
2. Old Leg (5/2) owned by Mr Ward and ridden by Batty
3. Gaylad (5/1) owned by Mr Codd and ridden by Cowper
4. Lucy (10/1) owned by Mr Bean and ridden by Bean
5. Young Fisherman (10/1) owned by Mr Shepherd and ridden by Jutty
6. Sir Charles (2/1 fav) owned by Mr Smallwood and ridden by G Nelson

Note that Sir Charles finished second, but failed to make the weight having lost his saddlecloth a mile from home.
Hunters Steeplechase over 3 1/2 miles

1. Mac Bonnie (evens fav) owned by Mr H Bartindale and ridden by Kendall
2. Cleveland (5/1) owned by Mr Mewburn and ridden by Skeene
3. Diana (6/4) owned by Captain Elliott and ridden by Crawshaw

Selling Stakes for 40 Sovereigns over 2 miles

1. Galliant (10/1) owned by Mr Duncombe and ridden by Marson
2. Crinoline (10/1) owned by Mr Swindell and ridden by Swindell
3. Birdneczer (10/1) owned by Mr Crawshaw and ridden by Crawshaw
4. Tom Buck (10/1) owned by Mr Clark and ridden by Clark
5. Young Galaor (3/1) owned by Mr H Johnson and ridden by Kendall
6. Rodney (16/1) owned by Mr Elmer and ridden by J Elmer
7. Bess (16/1) owned by Mr Aldcroft and ridden by Aldcroft
8. The Courtier (6/4 fav) owned by Mr Robson and ridden by G Nelson

A steeplechase programme was offered annually for the next quarter of a century and occasionally two days per year. The final record of steeplechase at York was a two day meeting in 1885, the first run by the local 3rd King's Own Hussars, while the following day the York Race Committee organized the meeting.

Monday 20th April 1885
3rd King's Own Hussars Steeplechases
3rd Hussars Subalterns Challenge Cup over 2 1/2 miles

1. Elmsall (6/4) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Long
2. Tom Cat (evens fav) roan gelding owned and ridden by Mr Chapman
3. Snapper (10/1) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr St Oswald
4. Ronald (10/1) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Crabbe
5. Peter (10/1) brown gelding owned by Hon C E Bingham and ridden by Forester
6. Dandy (10/1) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Patton-Bethune

3rd Hussars Regimental Challenge Cup over 3 miles

1. Abd-el-Kadir (4/5 fav) black gelding owned and ridden by Mr R G Long
2. Barabbas (5/1) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Chapman
3. Monaghan (5/1) grey gelding owned by Captain Godson and ridden by Purefoy
4. Belle of York (5/2) grey mare owned and ridden by Captain Godson

3rd Hussars Starkey Challenge Cup over 2 1/2 miles

1. Elmsall (5/4 fav) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr R C Long
2. Snapper (10/1) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr St Oswald
3. Stargazer (16/1) brown gelding owned by Hon C E Bingham and ridden by Forester
4. Kate (6/1) bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Chapman
5. Belle of York (2/1) grey mare owned by Captain Godson and ridden by Captain Alexander
6. Sarsfield (16/1) brown mare owned by Captain Godson and ridden by Purefoy

York Race Committee Steeplechases
Tuesday 21st April 1885
Ebor Steeplechase Plate over 2 miles

1. Glenapp (5/6 fav) bay gelding owned by Mr W Gardner and ridden by G Lowe
2. Highgrove (6/4) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr C J Cunningham
3. Morocco (10/1) bay gelding owned by Mr J North and ridden by Lane
4. Gratin (10/1) bay gelding owned by Mr E Goodman and ridden by J Bell

Selling Steeplechase Plate over 2 miles

1. Prince Paul (4/5 fav) bay gelding owned by Mr Levingstone and ridden by Ludlow
2. Sunningdale (5/1) chestnut gelding owned by Mr J Walter and ridden by Rolwyn
3. The Old (10/1) chestnut gelding owned and ridden by Mr St Lawrence
4. Disturber (3/1) brown mare owned by Mr R Bygott and ridden by Nicholson
5. Duchess (10/1) bay mare owned by Mr R G Long and ridden by Purefoy

Garrison Hunters Plate over 3 miles

1. Tom Cat (2/1) roan gelding owned and ridden by Mr Chapman
2. Abd-el-Kadir (5/4 fav) black gelding owned and ridden by Mr R C Long
3. Monaghan (10/1) grey gelding owned by Captain Godson and ridden by St Oswald
4. Nil Admirari (3/1) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Purefoy

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