Earliest meeting: Wednesday 18th March 1812
Final meeting: Wednesday 23rd March 1824
The Oxfordshire village of Cottisford Heath first held Flat racing in 1812, with meetings continuing annually for the next 15 years until 1836. The earliest record of racing at Cottisford Heath was on Wednesday 18th March 1812 when the Oxford University and City Herald reported on the meeting which replaced a meeting previously held at Norbrook Downs, but which had, by then, been enclosed. The meeting consisted of a Gold Cup, valued at 100 Guineas, a 50 Guineas race sponsored by John Harrison, two handicaps, one for 10 Guineas each entry and one for 5 guineas each entry, with a Cup valued at 10 guineas, restricted to horses within the limits of the Sir Thomas Mostyn Hunt, completing the card. At the 1821 meeting the Mostyn Hunt Sweepstakes was won by Pantaloon and the concluding Hunt Cup by Coach-Horse. Mr Sadler was always a prominent owner at the races and enjoyed a spectacular day on Tuesday 27th March 1832 when his mare Eleanor won the Cottisford Stakes, while his gelding Confidence landed the Cottisford Hunters Stakes. There was then a lull in proceedings after 1836 until the organisers reconvened in 1841. However, the reprieve was short-lived and the final meeting took place on Wednesday 23rd March 1842. The crowd was thin on the ground due to the unfavourable weather conditions, but the Cottisford Stakes went to Mr Rawlinson’s Coral, while the Hurdle Race was won by Poulette.
Wednesday 18th March 1812
Sir Thomas Mostyn Hunt Cup 10 Guineas Sweepstake over 2 miles
1. PANTALOON grey gelding owned by Mr John Harrison
2. FAREWELL bay gelding owned by Mr Drake
3. HARLEQUIN bay horse owned by Lord Anson
4. VIVIDUS chestnut gelding owned by Mr Phillips
5. UNNAMED chestnut gelding owned by Sir H Peyton
50 Guineas Race sponsored by John Harrison
1. PANTALOON owned by Mr John Harrison
2. HANDICAP owned by Mr Dorrien
3. UNNAMED bay gelding owned by Mr Udney
4. FAREWELL bay gelding owned by Mr Drake
5. VIVIDUS owned by Mr Phillips
6. UNNAMED chestnut gelding owned by Colonel Joddrell
6. UNNAMED chestnut gelding owned by Sir H Peyton
7. HARLEQUIN owned by Lord Anson
Gold Cup 10 Guineas donated by Sir Thomas Mostyn over 2 miles
1. DOUBTFUL owned by Mr G Councer
2. LITTLE MASTER bay gelding owned by Mr Collingridge
Wednesday 4th April 1821
Mostyn Hunt Sweepstake over twice round
1. Pantaloon, a grey gelding owned by Mr Harrison
2. Welchman, a chestnut gelding owned by Mr Webster
Mostyn Hunt One Mile Sweepstake
1. Victorine, a bay mare owned by Mr Mytton
2. Swindon, a bay gelding owned by Mr Bartley
3. Tilbury, a chestnut horse owned by Mr Whitmore
Mostyn Hunt Cup over 2 miles
1. Coach-Horse, a bay gelding owned by Mr Dickens
Tuesday 27th March 1832
The Cottisford Stakes over once round and the distance
1. Eleanor owned by Mr Sadler
2. Gab owned by Mr Yates
3. Pandora owned by Mr Ongley
4. Busk owned by Mr I Day
Cottisford Hunters’ Stakes over once round and the distance
Billesden Coplow weights with any winner of the Pillerton, Coplow or Bosworth to carry 7 lbs extra
1. Confidence owned by Mr I Sadler
2. The Flyer owned by Mr Ongley
3. Brunswicker owned by Mr Brickwell
4. Brilliant owned by Mr I Day
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below.
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
