Horse racing and Yorkshire have long been bedfellows. Catterick hosted events in the mid-17th century in an unofficial capacity, with the first sanctioned meet taking place in 1783. A permanent track was laid down in 1813, and the course has been a mainstay of the Yorkshire racing scene since. Interest in the venue steadily grew in the early 20th Century, and by the early 1920s it was a staple of the area. This led to the formation of the Catterick Racecourse Company, who still manage the venue to this day. Improvements continue to be made at Catterick, and while the events it hosts lack the prestige of some competing venues, it has made a contribution to racing history. Perhaps the most notable is the emergence of
Collier Hill, a horse that went on to win the
Hong Kong Vase,
Irish St. Leger and
Canadian International Stakes – all after first making his mark with victory at Catterick. ==References==