history

History of UK Horse Racing - British Bloodstock Marketing

  • C1165

    King William of Scotland gifts the people of Lanark, Scotland, a silver bell which is used as a prize for the oldest established race in Britain

  • 1174

    first recorded race meeting in England takes place at Smithfield, London

  • 1539

    a meeting is held for the first time at Chester’s Roodeye racecourse on February 9th

  • 1599

    first running of the Carlisle Bell, still a fixture on the Racing Calendar today

  • 1605

    King James I visits Newmarket and later establishes a palace there

  • 1664

    Newmarket Town Plate, established by Charles II and the first race to be run under official rules, is held for the first time, and continues to be a fixture today

  • 1711

    Queen Anne founds racing at Ascot; Her Majesty’s Plate the first race to be run, in August

  • 1750

    the Jockey Club is founded in Pall Mall, London, with the intention of establishing the Rules of Racing and soon takes on the role of governing racing

  • 1764

    Eclipse foaled during the solar eclipse on April 1st. It is estimated that over 80% of modern thoroughbreds trace back to him

  • 1766

    Richard Tattersall founds his eponymous auction house at Hyde Park Corner, London

  • 1776

    first running of the St Leger at Doncaster, won by Allabculia

  • 1779

    Bridget wins the first running of the Oaks for Lord Derby

  • 1780

    Diomed triumphs in the first Derby for Lord Bunbury

  • 1791

    James Weatherby publishes the first General Stud Book

  • 1809

    Wizard wins the first running of the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket

  • 1814

    Charlotte the inaugural winner of the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket

  • 1839

    Lottery wins the first running of the Grand National at Aintree

  • 1853

    West Australian becomes the first winner of the Triple Crown

  • 1866

    National Hunt Committee is established

  • 1916

    National Stud is founded

  • 1917

    The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is formed

  • 1925

    Red Splash wins inaugural Cheltenham Gold Cup at Prestbury Park

  • 1945

    Racehorse Owners Association founded

  • 1961

    Horserace Betting Levy Board established by the Betting Levy Act

  • 1962

    Doncaster Bloodstock Sales (DBS) founded

  • 1970

    Nijinsky wins the Triple Crown

  • 1985

    Oh So Sharp wins the Fillies Triple Crown

  • 1993

    British Horseracing Board is established, with the Jockey Club continuing in its regulatory role

  • 2006

    Horseracing Regulatory Authority set up to increase transparency and police the sport. The Jockey Club becomes independent of its regulatory role

  • 2007

    British Horseracing Board and Horseracing Regularity Authority merge to form the British Horseracing Authority, while the Jockey Club continues its commercial activities of maintaining its racecourses, the Jockey Club Estates, and the National Stud.

Key Racing Dates
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Key Racing Dates
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