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.