Image Ref : TOTEH 1550.tif

Totnes Races

The text below the image, from the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, Saturday 13 October 1900, says: ‘This photograph was a snapshot taken during the Maiden Steeplechase (two miles and a half flying course) crossing the river Dart just before finishing. This is the only meeting in the West where horses race through the bed of a tidal stream. The horses are – Mr. H. Bulteel’s Euphorasia, who finished third, and Mr H. G. Hawker’s Sailaway, who from the river went to the front and won by a dozen lengths.’ One of the features of Races Week was the Somerset Steeplechase, run over four miles. It started on the other side of the river near Bourton Hall (Chateau Bellevue), round the quarry, then along the Newton Abbot to Totnes road, down the bank past the ropewalk and over the river Dart with a fast race to finish. On one occasion, the tide was mis-timed, and horses and riders had to swim for it. The last steeplechase was held in 1913. War broke out the next year and they never raced across the river again. The rope walk (about 115m) can be seen clearly on the right. The crossing was known as Seymour Hutch. *** TOTEH 90 054 B14