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Description: | Song descriptive of a local race meeting at Morpeth.One of many 'racing' songs in the Bell collection, this song is perhaps more descriptive of the pleasures of the races than the outcome or success. Describing the refreshments available and the general merriment had by all, these scenes would have been typical at race meetings throughout the region. Newcastle's Town Moor, for example, was lined with side shows, trinket stalls, beer tents and entertainments during race week.Written by Thomas Miller, author of numerous racing songs, 'Morpeth Races' bares great similarity to another of Miller's racing songs, 'Lambton Races'. This practice was not uncommon, a standard version of a song being issued and then adapted by local printers who would simply change place names and other minor details. Songs such as this would have been sung at the races as well as being sold in broadside form.Racing was one of the few leisure pursuits enjoyed by all classes. Men gambled on anything, but a constant favourite was horse racing. Gambling became such a passion with the lower classes that an Act in 1740 attempted to make the sport more exclusive. Its popularity, however, only increased. Racing was one of the first sports to be recorded in Newcastle. Although races were held on other Newcastle moors in the seventeenth century, racing became a regular feature on the Town Moor in the eighteenth century. From 1751 a 'race week' was held, and in 1800 local gentry organised a permanent grandstand on the Town Moor. Racing remained on the Town Moor until 1880, when it was suggested that a private site may be more suitable.This song is part of the John Bell Collection. ; A collection of broadsheets on various subjects, with accompanying press cuttings and manuscript notes in the hand of John Bell. | Publisher: | W. Stephenson Gateshead ; Tyne and Wear | Rights holder: | rights holder : Newcastle University | Subjects: | entertainment and sport Leisure horse racing & gambling & drinking | Temporal: | start=1801;end=1840; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:N0129401 | Go to resource |
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