The Racecourse Grounds

The flat area between Green Lane and the River in Durham known as the Racecourse or Racecourse Grounds was once called the Smelt Haugh or Smiddy Haughs. A Haugh being a piece of land that juts out into a river.

It is thought that for many years a Smithy (or perhaps Smiddy) stood there. Here horses of pilgrims and visitors who visited Durham were looked after by the Smithy. The link to the latter day racecourse is likely to have followed on or developed from this association.

Horse racing was held here from about 1733, it later moved to Framwellgate Moor, Brasside Moor and Durham Moor moving back in 1794.

There was a Grandstand erected on the course thought to have been built in the latter 18^thC. The course’s popularity often attracted travelling showmen with their wears and sideshows; crowds as large as 80,000 are said to have attended some of the race meetings.

In 1895 a new racecourse was opened at Shincliffe but races there finished shortly after the turn of the 20^thC.