Racecourses in Hamilton

Racing was staged on the current site for the first time on 10th July 1926. Prior to that, racing had been staged in Hamilton as early as 1782 - the first race in the calendar being on 6th August with a purse of 50 guineas. The race was run over 4 mile heats!

The three men who were active in establishing the racecourse in 1926 were Col Robertson-Aikman, Sir Loftus Bates and Lord Hamilton of Dalzell.

Hamilton Park has a history of leading the way. Most notably, it was the first racecourse in Britain to stage evening racing - on 18th July 1947. The following day (Saturday 19th July 1947), the King and the Royal Princesses drove up the course to the welcome of a crowd of 25,000.

During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the course struggled - with lack of funds for necessary investment and high rates bills.

The fact that Hamilton Park is now a prosperous and progressive racecourse is thanks primarily to Bill McHarg. With the smart new grandstand and immaculate grounds we see today, it is hard to believe that the racecourse faced many precarious times through much of its 200 year history right up to the early seventies.

Bill secured the future of Hamilton Park in 1973 when he formed a Trust whose objective was to "continue racing at Hamilton for all time". For 20 years Bill took the racecourse forward in every way. Although money was tight, Bill was determined to improve facilities, not only for racegoer's, but also for those who worked in the industry.