by Sue Wingate
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In fact the racecourse has a long standing association with royalty since its patronage also extended to James I and Charles II, who was a most enthusiastic monarch where racing was concerned and it was at his instigation that the King's Plate was transferred from Newmarket to Upon Down. So successful was the occasion that further meetings were organised from the home of the Cresswall family at Bibury Court, which led to the formation of the Bibury Club - still in existence today. In fact it is the oldest racing club in Britain. All members taking out annual membership of the racecourse automatically become members of the Bibury Club. For regular racegoers this is really worthwhile since for £100 they receive member's benefits at 14 days of racing at Salisbury (where a Day Member's Badge cost £13.50) plus reciprocal days at several other southern racecourses including Ascot, Goodwood and Sandown.
Thus threads from the past weave themselves into the present, but racegoers need not imagine that this course is in any way stuck in a time warp. All their needs are well catered for with drinks and snacks being available in the various bars and in the Member's enclosure there is a choice of a Seafood and Champagne Bar next to the paddock or an excellent 3 course lunch in the Member's restaurant. Alternatively a family may prefer to picnic on the Downs and enjoy the racing from the Course Enclosure, where there is a range of supervised entertainment for children at the busier meetings in July and August (children are admitted FREE when accompanied by an adult). Whatever their preference, all racegoers at Salisbury will be offered a mixture of quality racing and a lovely setting in which to experience a friendly and most enjoyable day out.
For further information contact:
Remaining Fixtures for 1998
Friday 31 July (evening)
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There can be few more delightful ways to spend a lovely summer's
afternoon than at the races, possibly sipping a cool glass of champagne
and watching horses walking around the parade ring - especially if the
racecourse in question happens to have a superb location such as
Salisbury racecourse. This is one of England's oldest courses, racing
having taken place at this attractive downland venue since the 16th
Century. Queen Elizabeth I supposedly watched racing at Salisbury three
months before the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
One of the longest running races on the whole racing calendar must be
the City Bowl. It was run for the first time in 1765 and is still
included in Salisbury's fixture list, although it is doubtful that it
will ever again attract runners of such eminence as two of its; earliest
victors... in 1768 it was won by none less than Gimcrack followed by the
equally great Eclipse the next year!
