Bedford Racecourse Explained

Bedford Racecourse
Location:Bedford, England
Owner:Defunct
Notableraces:First ever steeplechase

Bedford Racecourse was a former horse racing venue in Bedford, England.

In 1811, it held the first steeplechase over manufactured fences in front of a crowd of 40,000 spectators. A horse called Fugitive won, beating a horse called Cecilia over a three-mile course in which four 4ft 6in fences were each jumped twice.

It was hosting two annual meetings by 1840.

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