RACING at Beverley dates back 313 years. Evidence that racing took place on the Westwood comes from 1690 when a public meeting took place at Beverley's Tiger Inn, where a subscription list was opened to build a grandstand.

Other major dates in Beverley’s history are:

1752: The Jockey Club was founded.

1767: The present course, at Hurn Pasture, opened.

1773: The very first Racing Calendar gives details of races taking place at Beverley.

1813: Squire Watt, of Bishop Burton, has his first St. Leger success with Altisidora.

1836: Freemen obtain an Act of Parliament permitting them to administer the Beverley pastures.

1849 & 1853: Beverley-trained Peter Simple wins the Grand National.

1851: Squire Watt’s Nancy beat the mighty Voltigeur at York.

1874: William Watt, Squire Watt’s son, dies, leaving £3,000 to the racecourse trustees.

1885: The first running of the Watt Memorial race.

1935: More of the course is enclosed, leading to an increase in public paying areas.

1946: Colonel Sydney Renton appointed company secretary of Beverley Racecourse Co. Ltd. A record crowd of 27,943 attend a meeting on May 29.

1966: Hilary Needler, one of the first female sponsors of racing, sponsors the Hilary Needler Two-Year-Old Trophy.

1983: Rapid Lad runs at Beverley for the first time, winning four races. He went on to win 13 races at the course.

1990: The course celebrates 300 years of racing.

1991: The opening of the new grandstand extension, part of an £800,000 facelift.

1996: £50,000 worth of improvements to the hospitality areas are carried out and Frankie Dettori rides Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Struggler in the Listed East Riding Stakes.

1997: The first Sunday meeting is held.

1998: New weighing room complex opened.

1999: Winners of the Hilary Needler and Brian Yeardley sponsored races, Flanders and Rosselli respectively, go on to score big race doubles at Royal Ascot.

2001: The Hilary Needler Two-Year-Old Trophy is granted listed status by the British Horseracing Board.