Racing cert: The 400-year history of Perth racecourse

1745 was a tumultuous year for Scotland. But it is somehow reassuring to learn that Bonnie Prince Charlie took time off from rampaging south with his Jacobite army to go horse racing in Perth.

The would-be Stuart king mingled with the Perth crowd in September of that year, his presence noted at the annual horse races on the North Inch, then as now an extensive area of recreational parkland.

A few days later, he marched south and took Edinburgh by storm and charm before winning the Battle of Prestonpans in a time not much longer than it takes to run the Grand National.

History does not record whether the dashing young Prince entered Perth races as a rider or won anything – he could not have been fleeced by the bookies as they had not been invented – but it demonstrated the good taste of Charles Edward that he went racing in Perth at all. For racing in the Fair City has always had a special cachet of its own, a unique atmosphere that draws people back year after year to a sporting venue which prides itself on a tradition of frolics and hospitality alongside some serious racing – trainers from Ireland such as Gordon Elliott, and the far south of England such as Nigel Twiston-Davies, Grand National winners both, love to come to Perth in the summer.

It is important to understand that Perth is a National Hunt-only course. Outside of a Dick Francis or John Francome novel, the jumping game has few of the louche associations which can bedevil the Flat, and National Hunt people distil their own love of a party with an honest enjoyment of what can be a dangerous sport.

Next year Perth, Britain’s most northerly racecourse, will celebrate 400 years of races, and all connected with the track in the grounds of Scone Palace can look back on a long and proud history, as well as some monumental parties.

Racing in Perth officially dates from 1613, when it was first recorded that gentlemen raced their horses competitively on that large area of greenery known as the South Inch, one of two such inches or islands – though they are not actually islands – beside the Tay which were granted to the city by Prince’s Charlie’s ancestor, King Robert II.

From the start, the template for racing in Perth was set: aristocratic connections, but a fine democratic approach to the racing and the entertainment surrounding it. The first trophy was put up by a laird of the Graham clan, and at first, racing was held just once a year in September when all the gentry were eager to attend, while the common folk went along to gawp and share the fun.

Oliver Cromwell rather spoiled the North Inch with his infamous citadel, while the Covenanters detested racing. For some years in the 17th century, Perth races didn’t happen. When King Charles II came to the throne, however, everything changed as he made horse racing an organised and socially acceptable sport, as well as ordering the destruction of Cromwell’s horrible Perth citadel.

Highland chiefs and lowland lairds seem to have mixed very happily at Perth, especially after the Hunt Ball was inaugurated in 1784. This was the social event of the year for the aristocracy and lesser forms of gentry, while the public happily caroused at the Inches – a good time was had by all, as reports show year after year.

The man who will be responsible for organising the 400th anniversary celebrations is current general manager Sam Morshead, once a fearless jumps jockey whose first administrative job in 1988 was at Perth. He’s been there ever since, and has become fascinated with the history of racing in the city.

“Racing in Perth has a very interesting and colourful history and we wish to keep that history growing for many decades to come,” says Morshead, whose own contribution to the past two decades of successful expansion should undoubtedly be marked next year.

He particularly loves the fact that Perth races found a permanent home at Scone Palace. He adds: “The meeting was entertainment for the lairds and gentry but also the horse folk from the Borders and elsewhere.

“From 1905 and 1906 I found various reports which showed the reason why racing moved from the Inches.

“It was stated that at various times in the 19th century, the honesty of the competitors was questioned, and many a large wager was won which prompted questions from the ‘well drink-taken’ spectator.

“In 1906 the then Lord Mansfield was concerned that the drunken behaviour of the crowds would create the possibility that the authorities would cancel the racing because it really wasn’t a nice place to be, to be honest.

“So he decided he would lay out a course on his grounds in front of Scone Palace, and after a fallow 1907, the following year saw the Perth races at its present track.

“We are racing on just about the same course that was used in 1908, and certainly the main grandstand that we have today was the one built for that 1908 opening.”

The Mansfield family remain benevolent owners of the course, which is superintended by a committee “who make sure I do my job”, says Morshead. Lord Stormont, heir to the earldom, admits: “The course is a source of great pleasure to my family; we all enjoy watching the races but are not [horse] owners or, indeed, heavy betters.

“It is an excellent way of seeing friends and making new ones – a good day out. As important is the fact that the racecourse emphasises the link between Scone Estate and the wider world of the public who are welcomed on race days.

“The development of the course is a work-in-progress of Sam Morshead. He has presided over a host of modernisation projects including the state-of-the-art Nelson Stand without disturbing the quiet picturesque setting of the course in Scone Palace park.”

That setting is vital to Perth’s attraction. It has fair claim to be the most beautiful National Hunt racecourse in Britain, preserved by the fact that the course is not suitable for winter racing.

Morshead and his team of six have built up the number of racing days from seven in the 1980s to 14 now – “we’d like more, especially a weekend fixture,” he says – helped by the decision of the racing authorities to make National Hunt a year-round sport. There can be fewer better days out than cheering your winner home on a sun-bedecked Perth racecourse, and Morshead’s strategy of “theming” the racedays means that everyone is catered for – Ladies Day is massively popular, as is Armed Forces Day, and this year the course is introducing its first “Gentlemen’s evening” on 16 May.

“We want the men to dress up and show off their style,” says Morshead. “But, of course, the ladies will be welcome that night, too.” Try keeping them away…

Perth’s success in recent years has been down to shrewd marketing and a genuine love of a good time by all who attend – the karaoke sessions run by Morshead himself are legendary.

From the start, Morshead built bridges with businesses and organisations in Perthshire and beyond, and the support of sponsors such as Crabbie’s and Aberdeen Asset Managers has been vital over the years.

Key to the course’s revived fortunes was the link established with the local council, where the then Provost Mike O’Malley became a big supporter and was the prime mover behind the return of the City of Perth Gold Cup in 1999. It’s been run ever since and is the highlight of the season, taking place this year on 10 June.

The council and all the citizenry are basking in the glory of the recent restoration of the title of “city” to Perth, given by the Queen as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations after a doughty campaign led by Provost John Hulbert, who demits office and leaves local government at the forthcoming elections.

Provost Hulbert reels off the statistics that prove how important the races are to the city: “It’s been voted best smaller racecourse in the north seven times in the past ten years, it’s been ranked sixth most popular racecourse of 60 in the UK, its average attendance of 5,000 is the best of any Scottish racecourse and total attendance figures last year were up by 12 per cent to 70,000, while the special day for the Prince of Wales’s charities last year attended by the Prince raised over £250,000.”

The provost adds: “We’re very proud of our racecourse and its history and it’s a big attraction for Perth. We made a conscious decision to boost Perth’s tourist economy with events such as the Canoe Descent of the Tay and the Festival of Arts and everything in between, and our racing days are a huge element of that strategy.”

Morshead isn’t saying yet what he and his team are planning for the quatercentenary, but expect Perth to put on a show. Cue another royal visit, perhaps from someone of exalted rank who is known to enjoy her racing?