Horse racing in Scotland
Horseracing in Scotland is a popular
Horseracing first flourished in the country during the reign of King James VI and I when members of the Royal Court developed a passion for the sport, before they began to establish a centre for horse racing in Newmarket.[2] From that time onwards, in contrast to England, wealthy owners have been rare in Scotland, and the main development of the sport took place south of the border. The contributions of Scots owners such as the fourth Duke of Queensberry were made in England.[3]
In the modern era, horse racing in Scotland comes under a British, as opposed to a specifically Scottish aegis. Scottish race meetings tend to have a strong local feeling, local runners and local patronage.[3]
History
Racing horses for sport in Scotland dates back at least 900 years. The Lanark Silver Bell, reputedly first contested in the reign of William the Lion of Scotland in the 12th or early 13th century[4] is among the first horse races recorded anywhere. In fact, until 1977, when Lanark Racecourse closed, it was the oldest continually run horse racing event in the world. After a break of 30 years it was revived at Hamilton in 2008.[citation needed]
Among other early records of racing are those in the Lord Treasurer's Accounts, the records of King James IV's personal expenditure. There are only four references to horse racing, all in 1503-4, including a payment made in 1504 to a jockey, ‘the boy that ran the King’s horse’ at Leith. Relative to James' other sporting interests such as falconry and golf this is very few.[5]
A well-known annual race, with a bell for a prize, was instituted at
In 1800, annual race meetings were held at five places in Scotland, and by 1816, the year the main races in Edinburgh moved from Leith to Musselburgh, nine places.[7] In 1839, there were still nine.[8]
Racecourses
The five racecourses in Scotland are:
- Ayr Racecourse in Ayrshire - (mixed)
- Hamilton Park in South Lanarkshire - (flat)
- Kelso Racecourse in the Scottish Borders - (national hunt)
- Musselburgh Racecourse (formerly officially known as Edinburgh Racecourse[9]) in East Lothian - (mixed; was flat only until 1987)
- Perth Racecourse in Perth and Kinross - (national hunt)
In living memory, there were also Lanark Racecourse (closed 1977; flat only) and Bogside Racecourse (closed 1965; mixed, and the traditional home of the Scottish Grand National).
References
- ^ "Home". Scottish Racing. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
- ^ "History". British Horse Racing. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
- ^ a b Burnett 1998, p. 55.
- ^ Mortimer, Onslow & Willett 1978, p. 337.
- ^ a b c Burnett 1998, p. 56.
- ^ a b Grant 1880, p. 268.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 189.
- ^ Whyte 1840, p. 190.
- ^ NB - this usage is slightly inaccurate since Musselburgh has never been in the City of Edinburgh boundaries
External links
Bibliography
- Burnett, John (1998). "The Sites and Landscapes of Horse Racing in Scotland Before 1860" (PDF). The Sports Historian. 18 (1). The British Society of Sports History: 55–75. . Retrieved 27 April 2014.
- Grant, James (1880). Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh: Its History, its People and its Places. Vol. VI. London, Paris and New York: Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Racing. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- Whyte, James Christie (1840). History of the British Turf, from the earliest period to the present day, Volume I. OL 6544990M.