WINCANTON RACECOURSE FROM 1867 - 2017
From the beginning of the 19th century, cross country match races between hunting men had become a commonplace, not least at Hatherleigh Farm to the South West of Wincanton in Somerset. Matches soon developed into races, mostly confined to qualified hunters, and in 1861 the National Hunt Committee was formed to regularise these meetings.
Wincanton Races held their first meeting at Hatherleigh on 1st August 1867 and ‘several thousand’ spectators threw themselves into the occasion, dressed in all their finery ‘as though they were going to the Derby’. It is worth considering here what country life was like in the late 1860’s. The ordinary agricultural labourer earned 12 shillings a week – the equivalent of £40 today. He had almost no holiday, and the weekend break wouldn’t become normal for another thirty years. Neither motorcars nor bicycles had been invented, so the opportunity of a day at the races for minimal financial outlay must have been very tempting and the early meetings attracted huge crowds.
To put the birth of Wincanton Races into an historical context, the Crimean War had ended ten years previously, Queen Victoria was on the throne (and would be for another thirty-four years), Disraeli was about to become Prime Minister for the first time and Thomas Hardy’s first major literary success, Far From The Madding Crowd, which vividly portrays the harsh realities of farming life in Wessex, was not to be published until 1874.

In 1893 the Wincanton Hunt Steeplechases were formed, and on Easter Bank Holiday they held the first meeting under what was known as the ‘Grand National Rules’. The very first race of this meeting was won by MacDuff, ridden by Laurence McCreery and owned by Richard McCreery. Richard McCreery was the uncle to General ‘Dick’ McCreery and great-uncle of Bob McCreery, both of whom were won many races at Wincanton and went on to be Stewards there. This is an excellent example of the long family connections that run through the history of Wincanton racecourse.
Two years later, in 1897, a company was officially incorporated, leases were obtained on the land at Hatherleigh Farm and Wincanton Hunt Steeplechases were instituted under National Hunt Rules. This body remained in operation until 1913 when ownership passed to the Wincanton Races Company. However, racing ceased during the First World War and was not resumed until 1920, a situation that proved financially disastrous for the company.
The following year Lord Stalbridge, of Motcombe House, Shaftesbury formed a new board of directors with himself as Chairman and injected much-needed capital. The prize money was greatly increased, and in addition to the Easter Meeting, a new Meeting was held in the autumn.
In 1925 the lease of Hatherleigh Farm expired. With Lord Stalbridge’s help, the Company purchased Kingwell Farm on the high ground above Wincanton, and a new course was laid out and constructed at considerable expense. The first meeting on the present site was held exactly ninety years ago on Easter Monday 1927, and a third meeting was added the same year. During the Second World War the racecourse was requisitioned by the Military, and racing was once again abandoned at Wincanton.
By the summer of 1945 the racecourse was in a sorry state; the running rails and the stand in the public enclosure had been demolished, and most of the buildings required restoration. That, combined with Lord Stalbridge’s ill health, persuaded the Directors to put the racecourse up for sale. However, on 11th July 1945 it failed to make the reserve at auction and Harry Dufosee, former estate manager and friend of Lord Stalbridge, asked for and was given an option on the property for forty-eight hours. He called a meeting of ten of his sporting friends (including leading amateur riders, father and son, Eldon and Dick Hunt) and between them, they formed a syndicate there and then to save Wincanton.
Due to wartime restrictions on the use of agricultural labour, the new Directors were obliged to make all the necessary repairs to the racecourse themselves, and through sheer hard work, they were successful in holding the first post-war race meeting in October 1945. Wincanton became the second racecourse (after Cheltenham) to join the Racecourse Holdings Trust in 1966, which is now called Jockey Club Racecourses.
The stands were rebuilt in 1968, the offices, weighing and changing rooms were built in 1978, and in 1990 the Hatherleigh Stand was opened. Wincanton now holds seventeen meetings during the Jumps season. Highlights are the Badger Ales Trophy in November, The Lord Stalbridge Memorial H’cap Chase on Boxing Day and the Kingwell Hurdle, traditionally a Champion Hurdle trial, in February. The Racegoers club have voted Wincanton the Best Small Racecourse in the South West twenty times since 1990.
The course is fortunate to be close to many of the leading Jumps trainers and is also within easy reach of Lambourn. With its reputation as a safe and fair galloping track, it attracts good quality horses and provides competitive racing. The course remains true to its dairy farming roots and visitors from further afield often note, and remark upon, the knowledgeable and committed crowd.

The Badger Ales Chase was first established in 1962 and won by W R Williams and Quick Step II. Further winners of The Badger Ales Chase can be seen below.
Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
---|---|---|---|
1962 |
Quick Step II |
W R Williams |
W R Williams |
1963 |
Beau Normand |
Jeff King |
Bob Turnell |
1964 |
Sign Post |
Owen McNally |
Mr L W Stokes |
1965 |
Dellanist |
Jimmy Fitzgerald |
Earl Jones |
1966 |
Highland Wedding |
Willie Robinson |
Toby Balding |
1967 |
Dozo |
Owen McNally |
Toby Balding |
1968 |
Fearless Fred |
Terry Biddlecombe |
Fred Rimell |
1969 |
Teryrose |
Graham Thorner |
H W Payne |
1970 |
Nova Light |
R Smith |
Les Kennard |
1971 |
Just The Job |
Graham Thorner |
David Gandolfo |
1972 |
Nova Light |
R Smith |
Les Kennard |
1973 |
Land Lark |
Bob Champion |
Mr T E Pocock |
1974 |
Royal Marshall II |
Graham Thorner |
Tim Forster |
1975 |
Somethings Missing |
S May |
David Barons |
1976 |
Zeta's Son |
Ron Barry |
P G Bailey |
1977 |
Bit of Manny
|
E Wright |
Miss S O Morris |
1978 |
Kininvie |
Philip Hobbs |
Mr A Dunn |
1979 |
Chuckles Hansel |
Paul Leach |
David Barons |
1980 |
Henry Kissinger |
Paul Barton |
David Gandolfo |
1981 |
Rathconrath |
John Francome |
Fred Winter |
1982 |
Celtic Isle |
Sam Morshead |
Mercy Rimell |
1983 |
Half Free |
Richard Linley |
Fred Winter |
1984 |
Beau Ranger |
J Hurst |
John Thorne |
1985 |
Oyster Pond |
Graham McCourt |
Matt McCourt |
1986 |
Von Trappe |
Ben de Haan |
Jenny Pitman |
1987 |
Sun Rising |
Kevin Mooney |
Fulke Walwyn |
1988 |
Farmlea Boy |
Richard Guest |
Toby Blading |
1989 |
Tonights The Night |
Jamie Osborne |
Oliver Sherwood |
1990 |
Panto Prince |
Brendan Powell Snr |
Chris Popham |
1991 |
Foyle Fisherman |
Eamon Murphy |
Josh Gifford |
1992 |
Captain Dibble |
Carl Llewellyn |
Nigel Twiston-Davies |
1993 |
Panto Prince |
Brendan Powell Snr |
Chris Popham |
1994 |
Lusty Light |
Warren Marston |
Jenny Pitman |
1995 |
Tug of Peace |
Barney Clifford |
Toby Balding |
1996 |
Coome Hill |
Jimmy Frost |
Walter Dennis |
1997 |
Lively Knight |
Leighton Aspell |
Josh Gifford |
1998 |
Teeton Mill |
Norman Williamson |
Venetia Williams |
1999 |
Flaked Oats |
Robert Widger |
Paul Nicholls |
2000 |
Flaked Oats |
Timmy Murphy |
Paul Nicholls |
2001 |
Montifault |
Timmy Murphy |
Paul Nicholls |
2002 |
Swansea Bat |
Andrew Thornton |
Peter Bowen |
2003 |
Swansea Bay |
Andrew Thornton |
Peter Bowen |
2004 |
Royal Auclair |
Christian Williams |
Paul Nicholls |
2005 |
Iris Bleu |
Timmy Murphy |
Martin Pipe |
2006 |
Parsons Legacy |
Richard Johnson |
Philip Hobbs |
2007 |
Abragante |
Timmy Murphy |
David Pipe |
2008 |
Cornish Sett |
Nick Scholfield |
Paul Nicholls |
2009 |
Ellerslie George |
Robbie Henderson |
Nick Mitchell |
2010 |
Meanus Dandy |
Ian Popham |
Paul Nicholls |
2011 |
The Minack |
Daryl Jacob |
Paul Nicholls |
2012 |
The Package |
Timmy Murphy |
David Pipe |
2013 |
Standing Ovation |
Conor O'Farrell |
David Pipe |
2014 |
Court By Surprise |
Daryl Jacob |
Emma Lavelle |
2015 |
Drop Out Joe |
Aidan Coleman |
Charlie Longsdon |
2016 |
Gentleman Jon |
Tom O'Brien |
Colin Tizzard |
2017 |
Present Man |
Bryony Frost |
Paul Nicholls |
2018 |
Present Man |
Bryony Frost |
Paul Nicholls |
2019 | Give Me A Cooper | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |