Yorkshire Racing
& Breeding History
Recent ~ 20th Century ~ 19th Century ~ Early History
| Year | Event |
| 1900 | Ripon racecourse moves to it's current site. This was it's sixth location!! The previous site was at Red Banks where Ripon Cathedral Choir School now incorporates part of the old grandstand that was erected in 1870. |
| 1903 | Malton racecourse is closed. |
| 1906 | Spearmint, bred at the Sledmere Stud, wins the Derby. His sire line lives on to this day and includes Bois Roussel, Sir Gallahad III and Bull Dog. |
| 1916 | The peerless La Fleche, a record priced yearling (5,500gns) and broodmare (12,600gns) dies at Sledmere Stud, having arrived there in 1896. She was only defeated once in twelve starts (in the Derby where she came second to Sir Hugo, whom she later beat in the St.Leger) and her victories included the 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St.Leger. She was dam of John O'Gaunt who was second in the Derby and sire of the outstanding Swnyford. |
| 1924 | Straitlace, bred at the Sledmere Stud, wins the Oaks. |
| 1924 | The Aga Khan's Mumtaz Mahal, bred by the Sledmere Stud and known as the 'Flying Filly' wins 7 races and is 3rd.in the 1000 Gns. She was later to become the founder of Aga Khan's most successful distaff line, her notable descendants include; Petite Etoile, Mahmoud, Nasrullah, Shergar, Abernant, Habibti and Oh So Sharp |
| 1932 | Dobson Peacock becomes the first Middleham trainer to train over 100 winners at Manor House Stables (now occupied by Patrick Haslam). |
| 1933 | Chatelaine, bred by the Sledmere Stud, wins the Oaks |
| 1935 | Dobson Peacock hands over Manor House Stables, Middleham to his son Matt Peacock. Between 1936 and 1939 Matt was to win more races than any other trainer in the country. |
| 1935 | At the same time Matt's brother - Harry (then incumbent at Spigot Lodge) is recruited by Lord Zetland to train at his newly built Hurgill Lodge stables at Richmond, later occupied by Bill Watts and then by Anne Swinbank. |
| 1938 | Scottish Union, bred by the Sledmere Stud, wins the St.Leger |
| 1939 | Copgrove Stud, nr.Harrogate, is founded by Major Lionel Holliday, who was to become one of the leading British breeders of the post war years. |
| 1942 | Watling Street, reared at the Thornton Stud, nr.Thirsk wins the Derby. |
| 1944 | Dante, bred at Manor House Stud and trained by Matt Peacock at Manor House Stables (both in Middleham) is rated Champion two year old, having won the Middle Park and Coventry Stakes. |
| 1945 | Dante trained at Middleham by Matt Peacock and bred at his Manor House Stud becomes the last Yorkshire trained Derby winner, having been a neck second in the 2000 Guineas. The Derby was to prove to be his last race, as he was almost blind by the time of the St.Leger. |
| 1945 | Sayajirao, bred in Middleham at the Manor House Stud sets a European Yearling Auction record of 28,000gns, which was unbeaten until 1966. He was well worth the money as he came third in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, before winning the Irish Derby and the St.Leger. |
| 1945 | Capt. Neville Crump, later to win three Grand Nationals, five Scottish Grand Nationals and two Welsh Nationals moves to Warwick House, Middleham which is now part of Mark Johnston's Kingsley House operation (they are on opposite sides of the road). |
| 1947 | Como, trained at Middleham by Gerald Armstrong, wins the Nunthorpe Stakes, the following year he won the Ayr Gold Cup |
| 1947 | That legendary trainer of handicappers, Sam Hall, moves to Brecongill Stables Middleham now occupied by his niece Sally Hall. Before his death in 1977 (he moved to Spigot Lodge stables in 1968) he had trained the winners of Ayr Gold Cup, Magnet Cup, Ebor Handicap (3 times), the Yorkshire Cup, November Handicap (5 times), Prince of Wales's S, Cesarewitch Handicap, Lincoln Handicap (twice), Wokingham Handicap (twice) and the Royal Hunt Cup, as well as a memorable victory for Kings Lane in the now group one Dewhurst Stakes. |
| 1947 | Como, trained by Frederick Armstrong at Tupgill Park, Middleham, wins the Nunthorpe Stakes. |
| 1947 | Marcus Wickham-Boynton inherits Burton Agnes Stud, Nr.Driffield from his father. This nursery and the nearby Sledmere Stud were to dominate the leading yearling sales for the next twenty years. |
| 1948 | Sheila's Cottage, trained at Middleham by Capt.Neville Crump wins the Grand National. |
| 1948 | Palm Vista, trained at Malton by Pat Beasley wins the July Cup |
| 1949 | Musidora, trained at Malton by Captain Charles Elsey wins both the 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks. |
| 1949 | Ridge Wood, bred by the Sledmere Stud, wins the St.Leger |
| 1949 | Alycidon, reared at the Thornton Stud, nr.Thirsk wins the Ascot Gold Cup, Doncaster Cup and Goodwood Cup. He was later to become a leading sire. |
| 1950 | Freebooter, trained nr Ripon by Bobbie Renton wins the Grand National |
| 1951 | Dick Peacock takes over at Manor House Stables, Middleham from his father Matt. |
| 1952 | Teal, trained at Middleham by Capt.Neville Crump wins the Grand National. |
| 1952 | Capt.Neville Crump of Middleham becomes Champion National Hunt Trainer. |
| 1952 | Frieze, trained at Malton by Captain Charles Elsey wins the Epsom Oaks. |
| 1953 | Nearula, trained at Malton by Captain Charles Elsey wins the 2000 Guineas and the Champion Stakes |
| 1953 | Royal Challenger, trained at Malton by Pat Beasley, wins the Middle Park S. |
| 1956 | Honeylight, trained at Malton by Captain Charles Elsey wins the 1000 Guineas. |
| 1956 | Captain Charles Elsey, based in Malton, is Champion Trainer on the flat. In addition he topped the numerical list 8 times. |
| 1956 | William Hall, who trained nr Tadcaster is Champion National Hunt trainer. |
| 1957 | Quorum, trained at Middleham by Wilfred Lyde wins the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. |
| 1957 | Even Star, bred nr.Driffield at the Burton Agnes Stud wins the Irish 1000 Guineas |
| 1957 | Much Obliged, trained at Middleham by Capt.Neville Crump wins the Whitbread Gold Cup |
| 1957 | Capt.Neville Crump of Middleham is named Champion National Hunt Trainer for the second time. |
| 1957 | Due to a break down in relations between Tattersalls and Doncaster Corporation, bloodstock sales cease at the historic Glasgow Paddocks. |
| 1958 | Lindsay trained at Middleham by Dick Peacock and bred at his Manor House Stud wins the Cheveley Park Stakes and is named champion Two Year Old Filly. |
| 1958 | Tudor Melody trained at Middleham by Dick Peacock is named champion Two Year Old |
| 1958 | Billum, trained at Malton by Captain Charles Elsey wins the Dewhurst S |
| 1959 | The Vaux Gold Tankard, run at Redcar is, for a time, the richest handicap in Europe. |
| 1959 | Cantelo, trained in Malton by Captain Charles Elsey, wins the St.Leger. |
| 1959 | Right Boy, trained at Malton by Pat Rohan wins the July Cup |
| 1960 | Merryman II, trained at Middleham by Capt.Neville Crump wins the Grand National. |
| 1960 | Tin Whistle, trained at Malton by Pat Rohan wins the July Cup |
| 1960 | Sam Hall, the Middleham trainer, finishes runner-up in the trainers table to former Yorkshire trainer Noel Murless, who had previously occupied Hall's stables at Brecongill, during the war years. |
| 1960 | St.Paddy reared at the Cliff Stud and Thornton Stud, both nr.Thirsk wins the Derby. |
| 1961 | The legendary Yorkshire 'character' Mick Easterby, gets a license and starts to train nr.Malton |
| 1962 | Doncaster Bloodstock Sales (Ken Oliver and Willie Stephenson, later joined by Harrby Beeby) is formed to hold bloodstock sales in Doncaster, on a different site to the previous sales, see 1957. |
| 1962 | Henry The Seventh, trained in Malton by Captain Charles Elsey, wins the Eclipse S. |
| 1963 | Kings Lane, trained at Middleham by Sam Hall wins the Dewhurst Stakes |
| 1965 | Court Harwell, bred by the Sledmere Stud, is champion Sire, mainly thanks to his son Meadow Court. |
| 1965 | Derring-Do, bred nr.Driffield at the Burton Agnes Stud wins the Queen Elizabeth II S, he was later a leading sire with the likes of High Top, Dominion and Derrylin. He was also broodmare sire of that remarkable producer Stilvi. |
| 1967 | Saucy Kit, trained nr.Malton by Peter Easterby wins the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. |
| 1967 | Pia, trained at Malton by Bill Elsey wins the Epsom Oaks G1 |
| 1969 | Lucyrowe, bred nr.Driffield at the Burton Agnes Stud wins the Coronation Stakes G1, she also won the Nassau G2, and Sun Chariot G2 Stakes. |
| 1971 | Waterloo, trained at Richmond by Bill Watts wins the Cheveley Park S G1, with the Manor House Stud bred Marisela back in second |
| 1972 | Waterloo, trained at Richmond by Bill Watts wins the 1000 Guineas G1, with the Manor House Stud bred Marisela again filling the runner-up slot. |
| 1973 | Peleid trained at Malton by Bill Elsey and bred at Swinton Grange Stud wins the St.Leger G1 |
| 1973 | Mysterious, reared at the Cliff Stud, Helmsley wins the 1000 Gns G1 and Oaks G1 |
| 1976 | Night Nurse, trained nr.Malton by Peter Easterby is voted National Hunt Horse of the Year, having won the Champion Hurdle, Scottish Champion Hurdle and Welsh Champion Hurdle and five other races. |
| 1976 | Lochnager trained nr.Malton by Mick Easterby wins the July Cup G1 |
| 1977 | Night Nurse, trained nr.Malton by Peter Easterby is voted National Hunt Horse of the Year for the second year, having won the Champion Hurdle and Welsh Champion Hurdle as well as three other races. Also obtains the then highest ever Timeform Rating for a hurdler (182). |
| 1977 | Mrs.McArdy, trained nr.Malton by
Mick Easterby, and bred at Westow Hall Stud,
wins the 1000 Guineas.
|
| 1978 | Shirley Heights, raised at the Garrowby Stud, nr.York wins the Derby G1, and Irish Derby G1 |
| 1979 | Alverton, trained nr.Malton by Peter Easterby, wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup. |
| 1979 | Malton trainer Peter Easterby is Champion National Hunt trainer for the first time. |
| 1979 | Connaught Bridge, bred nr.Driffield at the Burton Agnes Stud wins the Yorkshire Oaks G1 and the Nassau S G2. |
Recent ~ 20th Century ~ 19th Century ~ Early History
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Copyright 2002 Stephen George-Powell