I have a few facts that I found on the internet. The first recorded race meeting in the village may have taken place on 9th March 1875 and was organised by the 19th and 20th Hussars Regiment. This is not a definite date and races could have taken place earlier. The course went round the back of Hethersett Station. Racing stopped for a time but then recommenced in 1904 under the auspices of the Norwich Hunt. These meetings continued until the outbreak of World War One.
The course was over 120 acres and was sold in 1927 to a Mr R. J. Read and a Hethersett Race Committee was set up to run the events. Their first meeting was on Thursday 8th March, 1928. The races attracted large fields and were well supported by local people. The final meeting before the Second World War intervened took place on Thursday 4th May, 1939. After the war the course was used by Norwich Staghounds for point to point races between 1953 and 1963 and meetings finally ceased in 1970.
On race days special trains ran from Norwich and Fakenham and the London to Norwich train also stopped at Hethersett Station. It is likely that part of the A11 Dual carriageway is on land that would have been part of the racecourse. In the early days of racing it is likely that there was a wooden grandstand.
There is a lot more about Hethersett races on the website
http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Hethersett%20Racecourse%20(Tony%20Wright).html
I also came across another painting depicting Hethersett Races. The one at the top of the page is by Edward Seago and is entitled "Horse Racing in Hethersett." Tomorrow I will talk about the racehorse named Hethersett and what happened to him when he was favourite to win the Derby.
For some reason the two song lyrics below came to mind as I wrote this. Both songs have the same title "In My Life." The one on the left was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney but mainly John Lennon. The second comes from Le Miserables. They seem quite apt at this time,
There are places I'll remember All my life, though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some have gone, and some remain All these places had their moments With lovers and friends, I still can recall Some are dead, and some are living In my life, I've loved them all But of all these friends and lovers There is no one compares with you And these memories lose their meaning When I think of love as something new Though I know I'll never lose affection For people and things that went before I know I'll often stop and think about them In my life, I'll love you more Though I know I'll never lose affection For people and things that went before I know I'll often stop and think about them In my life I'll love you more In my life I'll love you more | In my life There are so many questions and answers That somehow seem wrong In my life There are times when I catch in the silence The sigh of a far away song And it sings Of a world that I long to see Out of reach Just a whisper away Waiting for me! Does he know I'm alive? Do I know if he's real? Does he see what I saw? Does he feel what I feel? In my life I'm no longer alone Now the love in my life is so near Find me now Find me here |