York Historic Environment Record

York held the first fully reported race meeting in 1709 possibly on this site. The victory of Wart (owned by Thomas Metcalfe of Northallerton) in the Gold Cup being the first recorded entry in the Racing Calendar. In 1731, racing in York transferred to it's current home, the Knavesmire, from this site at at Rawcliffe Ings. "In 1708 the corporation, noting that it would be 'of advantage and profit to the city' and that Sir William Robinson had offered his land on Clifton and Rawcliffe Ings as a course, promised to subscribe £15 a year towards a plate. Racing began the following year and was given corporation and city support throughout the century. " From: 'The eighteenth century: Social life', A History of the County of York: the City of York (1961), pp. 245-250. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=36353 Date accessed: 16 November 2009.