Cheshire’s famous ‘Race Day’ is back and takes place at Tabley on Sunday 15th May 2011.
Organised by the North West Point to Point Club, this great Cheshire day out has every chance of restoring its illustrious place in the county’s sporting calendar. The event has been sponsored by Alderley Edge based property investment and development company, Bluemantle.
In 1819, the courier reported: “The races were very numerously and fashionably attended…from the respectable manner in which the meeting is supported it is expected to become the most fashionable in the kingdom.”
It was obviously the place to be and race goers included many of the country’s leading figures of the time including The Earl Stamford, The Earl of Wilton, Lord Grey, Sir John Leicester, Sit Thomas Stanley, Sir Harry Mainwaring – many of whom had horses entered in races.
One historic link to those times is the popular hostelry, The Kilton in Mere, which is named after the racehorse owned by Mr Thomas Langford-Brooke of Mere Hall. Kilton excelled at Knutsford Races and in 1796 won the prestigious Kntusford Gold Cup, beating Delamere owned by another well known Cheshire habitant, Mr Tatton. This same Gold Cup has recently been identified as the trophy given to Aintree’s John Smith’s Melling Chase.
Knutsford Races is a great day out for all the family with six races, traditional trade stands, children’s entertainment, licensed bar, bookmakers and much more. For the second year running, Knutsford Races is also proud to be supporting Alder Hey’s Children’s Hospital.