Records Show History of Racing in Beverley

The racing season at Beverley is now well under way.

Horse racing has always been a sophisticated affair, and if anything it has become more so with the passage of time. It is a chance for people to dress up in all their finery and enjoy the thrilling atmosphere of the race.

Documents held at the Treasure House, Beverley, show that the spirit of horse racing generally remains the same, and people enjoyed the spectacle on an equally grand scale then as we do now, though it would perhaps have cost more.

A race programme for 13 June 1902 shows that a gentleman could gain admission to the Grandstand for a mere 10 shillings, however in today’s money this would be the equivalent of around £28.50.

Nowadays, admission to the Grandstand is less than half of that price. Ladies’ admission costs were closer to modern prices with four shillings being the fee – around £11.40 in today’s money.

Ladies are no longer charged separate admission fees to gentlemen, although they do enjoy the privilege of a ‘Ladies Day’.

A photograph from the archives also hints at how the racecourse has changed over the past century. The image, from around 1911, shows the old Grandstand enclosure which, though resplendent, is significantly smaller than the one we see today. Also, in the foreground of the picture is a group of schoolboys, who appear to be on some form of outing.