Market Rasen Horse Races
The first mention I have found to date of racing at Market Rasen is in the Stamford Mercury in 1804. In the book “Market Rasen Races” by Jean Lucas, we learn that the origins were from a few years earlier. In the book we read that in 1800, the White Hart Friendly Society was created, which was responsible for the creation of both racing at Market Rasen and Feast Week (mentioned in another section).
There have been 5 locations around Market Rasen where horse racing has occurred:
1. Off the Tealby road at the bottom of Hambleton Hill
2. Mill Road
3. Willingham Road (opposite the current racecourse)
4. Caistor Road (between Low Lane and Skinners Lane)
5. Willingham Road (current site)
Rumours of the current site were first made made public in the Market Rasen Mail in July 1923 when it was said that Mr Cartwright (who was to become one of the founders of the new race company formed in 1924) had purchased lands from Jack Topliss between Legsby Road and Willingham Road.
Sure enough by April 1924 the new course was ready with the first meeting held on Easter Monday - April 21st.
The grandstand as seen above was built in 1960, but was demolished and replaced in 2014.
As well as continuing to host race meetings, the race course now hosts weddings, conferences and music concerts.
Market Rasen & Louth Rugby Club
The origins of Rugby in the town began in 1948 when the game was introduced to De Aston School in 1948. In Feb 1950 at a meeting chaired by V. J. Lucas it was decided to form a town club which was initially based at the Racecourse at the Legsby Road Sports Club. However, the club struggled to get enough regular players as did the Louth Club and following a series of meetings, in March 1952 the Market Rasen and Louth RUFC was formed. The new clubhouse we know today was opened in September 1981 on Willingham Road, as seen above in the clip from the Market Rasen Mail. For a more detailed history go to http://www.rasenrugby.com/History.aspx