The History of Cottenham Racecourse
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The Times 16th December 1868 (Dennis Adams) The Cambridge races have always taken place in the town of Cambridge, and have never been in any way connected with the Cambridgeshire Open Steeple- chases, which are held at Cottenham. Dennis Adams, Chairman Cambridgeshire Open Steeple-chase Committee.
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Cambridge April 16th 1870 The Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra came to Cottenham races on Tuesday March 15th 1870. Also Chequer Lane, Cottenham was renamed Denmark Road in their honour, as the Princess was of Denmark and they took that road to get to the racecourse.
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The Trinity Foot Beagles (James Foot), 1884 James Foot described Cottenham in 1844 as being "no cocktail affair or make believe, it was as good a course of hunter fences as you could find anywhere in England and they must either be jumped or let alone". |
extract from the following Horse and Hound piece
(Anne Alcock) In 1899 the organisers had to pay 12 dozen bottles of whisky to Mr Cash, owner of 3/4 of the course. Two dozen policemen were also hired for the Cambridge University United Hunts point to point, at a cost of 12s. a dozen. One of Cottenham's eminent riders in 1899 was Baron Rothschild, who won several races. |
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Cambridge Evening News, November 1924. (a report by Dan Jackson, 1947) The first meeting of the Cambridge National Hunt was held at Cottenham on a bright dry November day. The old University course has been recently reconstructed and includes a new grandstand. The opening day proved a great success with 3 of the 7 winners being ridden by their owners.
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pre 1914 (from the private correspondence
between Mr AG Marshall and Mr H Gingell) Mr D Marshall was actively concerned with the running of the University Steeple Chases held at Cottenham. After the war, Mr Marshall was anxious to develop the course for National Steeple Chase meetings but was unsuccessful. The main problem was the failure to obtain the allocation of a Bank Holiday meeting.
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 Horse and Hounds February 6th, 1981 (Anne Alcock) The future of Cottenham has been assured, thanks to the Gingell's wish that it should be kept as a point to point course in perpetuity; in spite of the fact that its prime agricultural land. Betty Gingell competed once, coming 2nd on a skewbald mare named sally. Her husband Hugh had better luck, winning several races. Once, on Cox's Orange, winning the 1st and last race in the same day. Their son Michael, who continued in the family tradition, also won several races at Cottenham. Betty and Hugh's 12 year old grandson, Matthew, and his 10 year old brother, Alexander, both appear to be natural successors to this Gingell tradition.
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 The Racing Post, from the obituary of Betty Gingell, (Michael Williams) Betty's association with the former National Hunt Course, where point to point racing has been taking place for over 100 years, was legendary. Betty and Hugh, her husband, bought the course from James Runciman, a Cambridge veterinary surgeon, in the spring of 1962. Betty and Hugh Gingell kept the course in prime condition whilst also making considerable improvements. For the last 10 years their son Michael has been the Clerk of the Course.
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 The Guardian, Monday January 7th, 2002. (Greg Wood) Cottenham, yesterday was cold, damp and the fog found its way through even the most freshly waxed jacket. The mood of the day however, was joyous. This was a return to normality after the funeral pyres of Foot and Mouth. Pointing is jump racing as it used to be. Two winners, travelling from Scotland, received prize money of £250 - hardly enough to cover the cost of the diesel. This was racing for fun, not for money.  |
 The Grandstand -courtsey of Richard Heeps. www.richardheeps.co.uk  Photograph courtesy of Neale Blackburn. www.chasdog.com |
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