Richard Gauthier Collection

Ripon Racecourse

The earliest evidence of racing in the Ripon area was in 1664 when races were held at Bondgate Green, although by 1675 the meetings had moved to Monckton Moor. In 1713 a group of local enthusiast met to consider the idea of laying out a course on the High Common, with one meeting a year staged annually. In 1723 Ripon was ahead of its time by hosting a Ladies race which was sponsored and won by Mrs John Aislabie of Studley Royal. There were 9 lady riders who were dressed in drawers, waistcoats and jockey caps.  Races continued to be staged on Ripon Common, with a two day meeting on 12th to 13th September 1725 proving to be particularly gruelling. The races were run in 4 mile heats, with each horse having to complete a number of heats before claiming the prize. The Commons became enclosed in 1826 which caused racing to cease for a while, but the meetings were re-launched in 1837, beginning with a 2 day meeting on a course north of the River Ure. In 1865 a new course was opened off Whitcliffe Lane at Redbank (first results are shown below) where it remained for over forty years; the grandstand on that course is now used by Ripon Cathedral School. In 1876 special entry tokens were sold, an image of which is shown below, while in 1879 the Ripon Race Company was founded, but it was to be a further 21 years before the present day racecourse, nicknamed the Garden Racecourse, was opened on Boroughbridge Road on Monday 6th August 1900. Ripon’s most important race is the Great St Wilfred Handicap, first run on Tuesday 22nd August 1843 (with the 1900 result shown below), although the Champion Two Year Old Trophy is also fiercely contested. Currently the course hosts 17 fixtures annually.
Monday 6th August 1900
Great St Wilfred Handicap Plate over 1 ½ miles
1. Lilly Thorpe (9/1), owned by Mr Bungay and ridden by G Sanderson
2. Veroscope (11/10 fav), owned by Mr Vyner and ridden by F Finlay
3. Bencher (8/1), owned by Mr E W Tinsley and ridden by Fagan
4. Blue Minting (7/2), owned by Mr F W Spruce and ridden by M Vasey

1843 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Hippona, owned by Mr Harrison and ridden by Langstaff 4 ran
1844 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Robinson (Evens fav), owned by Mr F A Milbank and ridden by T Lye 5 ran
1845 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lord Saltoun (2/1), owned by Mr T Dawson and ridden by T Lye 4 ran
1846 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Little John (2/1), owned by Mr Lane Fox and ridden by J Marson 4 ran
1847 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lady Hilda (3/1), owned by Mr T M Fryer and ridden by G Abdale 6 ran
1848 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Brandy-Face (Evens fav), owned by Mr John Osborne and ridden by G Abdale 6 ran
1849 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Ada Mary (4/7 fav), owned by Mr C Hall and ridden by Osborne 4 ran
1850 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lady Eden (4/6 fav), owned by Mr J Pilling and ridden by J Osborne 6 ran
1851 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Mrs Birch (6/4 fav), owned by Mr Walker and ridden by J Osborne 5 ran
1852 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lough Bawn, owned by Mr R Hesseltine and ridden by Chillman 4 ran
1853 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Thirkleby (4/1), owned by Mr Gibbs and ridden by Chillman 6 ran
1854 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Maid of the Tees (4/1), owned by Mr Masterman and ridden by Gill 9 ran
1855 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Angelo (10/1), owned by Mr T Ruddock and ridden by J Noble 7 ran
1856 The Great St Wilfrid was won by The Scotchman (10/1), owned by Mr Fawcett and ridden by Ducker 13 ran
1857 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Vandal (3/1), owned by Sir C Monck and ridden by Cresswell 7 ran
1858 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Julian (3/1), owned by Mr Kirkbridge and ridden by Ducker 7 ran
1859 The Great St Wilfrid was won by The Slave (3/1 co fav), owned by Mr T Dawson and ridden by Madden 8 ran
1860 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Desmond (6/1), owned by Mr Byrne and ridden by Auckland 8 ran
1861 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Desmond (7/1), owned by Mr G Whittaker and ridden by Challoner 10 ran
1862 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Montrose (7/1), owned by Mr Menzie and ridden by Withington 7 ran
1863 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Flytrap (Evens fav), owned by Mr J Osborne and ridden by Whiteley 6 ran
1864 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Sir Watkin (5/1), owned by Mr T Peckitt and ridden by Allison 3 ran
1865 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Red Earl (6/4 fav), owned by Major Stapylton and ridden by Carroll 5 ran
1866 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Dart (8/1), owned by Mr Slater and ridden by Walker 7 ran
1867 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Chronometer (6/1), owned by Captain Gray and ridden by M Noble 6 ran
1868 The Great St Wilfrid was won by the unnamed sister to Little Agnes (5/2), owned by Mr J Osborne and ridden by W Platt 3 ran
1869 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Pretty John (5/2), owned by Mr John and ridden by Osborne 6 ran
1870 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Star & Garter (Evens fav), owned by Mr R Osborne and ridden by W Chaloner 4 ran
1871 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Star & Garter (9/4), owned by Mr H F C Vyner and ridden by Mr G S Thompson 5 ran
1872 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Painkiller (8/1), owned by Mr Strafford and ridden by W Gray 7 ran
1873 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Cincinnati (Evens fav), owned by Mr Crawshaw and ridden by Brookshaw 5 ran
1874 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lady Mary (5/1), owned by Mr E Messenger and ridden by Bruckshaw 5 ran
1875 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lady Mary (6/4 fav), owned by Mr H Messenger and ridden by Fagan 8 ran
1876 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lady Christina (7/2), owned by Captain Haworth and ridden by Bruckshaw 3 ran
1877 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Vestal (8/1), owned by Mr J Chapman and ridden by F Sharp 8 ran
1878 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lady Millicent (10/1), owned by Mr G D Lye and ridden by Sandiford 6 ran
1879 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Roualeyn (5/1), owned by Mr R Jardine and ridden by Kellett 6 ran
1880 The Great St Wilfrid was won by The Rowan (8/1), owned by Mr Vyner and ridden by Griffiths 6 ran
1881 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Princess Bladud (6/4 fav), owned by Mr J H Stephenson and ridden by Fagan 6 ran
1882 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Confusion (5/2), owned by Mr J Osborne and ridden by Bell 5 ran
1883 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Greek Maid (7/4 fav), owned by Mr Exley and ridden by W Platt 4 ran
1884 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Tita (5/2), owned by Mr H Hall and ridden by Fagan 6 ran
1885 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Hambledon (5/2), owned by Mr W L’Anson and ridden by Fagan 6 ran
1886 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Pampas Grass (4/5 fav), owned by Mr Craig and ridden by S Chandley 5 ran
1887 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Pampas Grass (3/1), owned by Mr S G Moss and ridden by J Rhodes 3 ran
1888 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lady Rosebery (2/1), owned by Mr W Winn and ridden by W Woods 4 ran
1889 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Derwentwater (2/1 jf), owned by Mr H Robertson and ridden by Fagan 4 ran
1890 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Warlaby (5/1), owned by Mr P Fing and ridden by Weldon 8 ran
1891 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Newcourt (2/1 fav), owned by Mr W L’Anson and ridden by Colling 7 ran
1892 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Portland (5/6 fav), owned by Mr S Platt and ridden by S Chandley 4 ran
1893 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Stalactite (9/2), owned by Mr T Lindsay, trained by Sanderson and ridden by Fagan 6 ran
1894 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Linney (2/1 fav), owned by Mr H B Paget and ridden by Colling 8 ran
1895 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Languid (5/1), owned by Mr John Osborne and ridden by E Smith 5 ran
1896 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Antonio Peckitt (5/1), owned by Mr J Tait, trained by Lund and ridden by Finlay 6 ran
1897 The Great St Wilfrid was won by The Shaughraun (7/2), owned by Mr Clark, trained by Armstrong and ridden by J Griffiths 6 ran
1898 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Queen’s Park (9/2), owned by Mr T Holmes, trained by Bruckshaw and ridden by Lofthouse 7 ran
1899 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Her Ring (Evens fav), owned by Mr Barrasford and ridden by S Chandley 3 ran
1900 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Lilly Thorpe (9/2), owned by Mr Bungay, trained by Sanderson and ridden by G Sanderson 5 ran
1901 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Dark Eye (6/4), owned and trained by W Elsey and ridden by C Yarnell 3 ran
1902 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Boss Crocker (7/4), owned by Mr W R Reid, trained by L’Anson and ridden by W Harvey 5 ran
1903 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Syneros (3/1 fav), owned by Mr Vyner, trained by Matthews and ridden by Finlay 6 ran
1904 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Orrag (3/1), owned by Mr J Wood, trained by W Elsey and ridden by E Wheatley 5 ran
1905 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Killigrew (3/1), owned by Mr H F C Vyner, trained by E Matthews and ridden by A Flanagan 6 ran
1906 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Sweet Rosalind (7/4 fav), owned by Mr F S Watts, trained privately and ridden by H Blades 6 ran
1907 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Swannington (11/4 fav), owned and trained by Mr J Fagan and ridden by William Griggs 7 ran
1908 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Noturnia (5/2 fav), owned by Mr N C Cockburn, trained by Captain N H Scott and ridden by C Ringstead 8 ran
1909 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Downshire (7/2 fav), owned by Sir R W B Jardine, trained by T Waugh and ridden by William Griggs 8 ran
1910 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Pietermaritzburg (10/1), owned by Mr W Cliff, trained by Osborne and ridden by A Flanagan 7 ran
1911 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Des Essars (11/2), owned by Mr J Batty, trained by Cotchester and ridden by C Ringstead 7 ran
1912 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Loup-Chien (7/2), owned by Mr D Cooper, trained by Binnie and ridden by M Carron 9 ran
1913 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Sun Cloud (2/1), owned by Mr H Rhodes, trained by Yapp and ridden by H Robbins 5 ran
1914 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Pochard (2/1 jf), owned by Mr Vyner, trained by F Cole and ridden by J Ledson 7 ran
1915-18 The First World War put paid to racing at Ripon which was used as a camp for soldiers.
1919 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Skager Rack (Evens fav), owned by Mr J Harris, trained by Sadler and ridden by C Foy 4 ran
1920 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Jacksdale (9/2), owned by Mr W Black, trained by Casebourne and ridden by C Ringstead 6 ran
1921 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Jacksdale (5/2 fav), owned by Mr W Black, trained by Casebourne and ridden by T Morgan 9 ran
1922 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Wise Folly (5/1), owned by Mrs A Blain, trained by Spittle and ridden by Harry Wragg 15 ran
1923 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Fastolite (14/1), owned by Mr J Sharp, trained by Walters and ridden by Crisp 5 ran
1924 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Right Ho (10/1), owned by Lord Queensborough, trained by J Dawson and ridden by K Robertson 9 ran
1925 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Seradella (13/8 fav), owned by Lady Chesterfield, trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort and ridden by Alford 6 ran
1926 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Hinton Bridge (3/1 jfav), owned by Mr F J Marshall, trained by Morris and ridden by A Burns 9 ran
1927 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Obvious (100/8), owned by Mr E Clayton, trained by J Cannon and ridden by G Baines 8 ran
1928 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Servus (10/11 fav), owned by Lord Durham ,trained by P Peck and ridden by R James 2 ran
1929 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Sir Picton (8/1), owned by Mr Botterill, trained by Botterill and ridden by C Adley 7 ran
1930 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Gigolo (6/4 fav), owned by Captain J Fielden, trained by O Bell and ridden by S Wragg 8 ran
1931 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Kerr’s Pink (7/1), owned by Mr J L Dugdale, trained by Peacock and ridden by W Nevett 8 ran
1932 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Sans Espoir (13/8 fav), owned by Sir Abe Butt, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by S Wragg 10 ran
1933 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Craig Park (9/4 fav), owned by Lord Harewood, trained by W Jarvis and ridden by F Lane 5 ran
1934 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Simonside (4/1), owned by Mr F Straker, trained by M D Peacock and ridden by W Nevett 6 ran
1935 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Moneybox (4/6 fav), owned by Sir E Hanmer, trained by M D Peacock and ridden by W Nevett 5 ran
1936 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Menton (7/1), owned by Mr J A Dawson, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by D Smith 11 ran
1937 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Miss Quiz (3/1), owned by Mr Marsden, trained by Storie and ridden by P Evans 4 ran
1938 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Great Barton (100/7), owned by Major D Matthews, trained by Wightman and ridden by H Blackshaw 8 ran
1939 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Nord Express (7/4 fav), owned by Mr H H Leven, trained by O Bell and ridden by S Wragg 8 ran
1940-45 Second World War
1946 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Trimbush (6/4 fav), owned by Mr F Senior, trained by P Vasey and ridden by H Blackshaw 6 ran
1947 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Good Company (9/4), owned by Mr J Truelove, trained by Harry Peacock and ridden by P Evans 4 ran
1948 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Private Affair (100/8), trained by P Beasley and ridden by D Schofield 9 ran
1949 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Tudor Emblem (5/1), owned by Mr W H Cockerline, trained by A Cooper and ridden by W Christie 6 ran
1950 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Starpoint (10/1), owned by Mr G L Cullington, trained by Sam Hall and ridden by Bill Rickaby 9 ran
1951 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Presyl (7/2), owned by Mr F Ellison, trained by R Peacock and ridden by A Roberts 5 ran
1952 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Dader (4/5 fav), owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by M Marsh and ridden by Doug Smith 6 ran
1953 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Torcross (9/2), owned by Mrs R Straker, trained by R Peacock and ridden by W Nevett 5 ran
1954 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Whitebrigg (5/2), trained by A Vasey and ridden by Stan Clayton 4 ran
1955 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Whitebrigg (9/4), trained by A Vasey and ridden by Joe Sime 6 ran
1986 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Catherine’s Well (100/30), trained by Mick Easterby and ridden by Gary Carter
1987 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Umbelata (7/1), trained by Mick Naughton and ridden by Tony Culhane
1988 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Golden Ancona (4/1 fav), trained by Peter Easterby and ridden by Mark Birch 19 ran
1989 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Thornfield Boy (7/2 fav), trained by Reg Akehurst and ridden by Pat Eddery 18 ran
1990 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Fascination Waltz (9/2), trained by John Mackie and ridden by Gary Carter 12 ran
1991 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Premier Touch (8/1), trained by David Barron and ridden by Alex Greaves 19 ran
1992 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Green Dollar (16/1), trained by Eric Wheeler and ridden by Michael Tebbutt 16 ran
1993 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Hard To Figure (10/1), trained by Ron Hodges and ridden by Steve Drowne 23 ran
1994 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Whittle Woods Girl (20/1), trained by Eric Alston and ridden by Jimmy Quinn 21 ran
1995 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Double Blue (15/2), trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Jason Weaver 14 ran
1996 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Samwar (15/2), trained by Gaye Kelleway and ridden by Ray Cochrane 17 ran
1997 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Tadeo (12/1), trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Dean McKeown 34 ran
1998 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Cadeaux Cher (8/1), trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ray Cochrane 22 ran
1999 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Pipalong (16/1), trained by Tim Easterby and ridden by Lindsay Charnock 23 ran
2000 The Great St Wilfrid was won by William’s Well (14/1), trained by Mick Easterby and ridden by Dale Gibson 22 ran
2001 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Antonio Canova (7/2 fav), trained by Bob Jones and ridden by Francis Norton 23 ran
2002 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Deceitful (20/1), trained by David Evans and ridden by Francis Ferris 22 ran
2003 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Hidden Dragon (16/1), trained by Paul Blockley and ridden by David Nolan 23 ran
2004 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Smokin Beau (16/1), trained by Nick Littmoden and ridden by Joe Fanning 19 ran
2005 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Ice Planet (10/1), trained by David Nicholls and ridden by Phillip Makin 23 ran
2006 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Excusez Moi (10/1), trained by Clive Brittain and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy 19 ran
2007 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Kostar (10/1), trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Philip Robinson 22 ran
2008 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Tajneed (17/2), trained by David Nicholls and ridden by Adrian Nicholls 20 ran
2009 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Markab (7/2 fav), trained by Henry Candy and ridden by Pat Cosgrave 17 ran
2010 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Damika (18/1), trained by Richard Whitaker and ridden by Michael Stainton 17 ran
2011 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Pepper Lane (11/1), trained by David O’Meara and ridden by Daniel Tudhope 19 ran
2012 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Pepper Lane (20/1), trained by David O’Meara and ridden by Daniel Tudhope 20 ran
2013 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Baccarat (9/2 fav), trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Tony Hamilton 20 ran
2014 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Out Do (7/1 fav), trained by David O’Meara and ridden by Daniel Tudhope 19 ran
2015 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Don’t Touch (4/1 fav), trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Tony Hamilton 13 ran
2016 The Great St Wilfrid was won by Nameitwhatyoulike (16/1), trained by Bryan Smart and ridden by Connor Beasley 20 ran