Newcastle Racecourse backs campaign to save Seaton Delaval Hall

May 13 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Historic links

THE racecourse’s involvement links in with the hall’s horse-related history.

The hall’s magnificent stone stables, built in 1768 by Sir Francis Delaval, have survived intact and the stalls still sport the names of the horses which occupied them in 1822.

The Seaton Delaval Plate race was so important that the New York Times reported the result of the Newcastle event in 1893 when the prize was 1,200 sovereigns and Seaton Delaval Hall owner Lord Hastings was second with Sir Jacob.

Lord Hastings had better luck in 1885 when his horse Melton, won the Derby and the St Leger.

It was named after Melton Constable in Norfolk which was the seat of the Astley family, who inter-married with the Delavals.