About Higham Races
Higham has operated as the Essex & Suffolk Hunt racecourse since 1957.
The first meeting included Dick Barclay, a leading amateur jockey at that time, who was also Chairman of Higham races for the first 20+ years. The other jockeys riding regularly at that time included Nat Sherwood, father of Oliver and Simon of Desert Orchid fame, as well as David Wales, Mike Bloom, Hunter Rowe and George Barber, all legends of the past. In more recent years the course has played a part in securing both David Turner and Gina Andrews as national amateur Champions on multiple occasions.
Higham Racecourse has always belonged to the Gurney family; Brigadier Hay Gurney was also Secretary of the Essex & Suffolk Hunt. His son Carol rode successfully in point-to-points and military races and has now passed the land on to his son, Christo and daughter, Sara Eley. Since 2010 Gi d’Angibau (nee Chown) has been Chairperson with Bridget Chamberlain being Higham Course secretary. In 2019 Bill Gilchrist took over as Clerk of the Course from Richard and Auriole Wilson who have provided such monumental support over many years as Chairman and Clerk of the Course.
Higham runs two meetings a season; the Waveney Harriers Meet in February and the Essex & Suffolk Meet on Good Friday.
The first meeting included Dick Barclay, a leading amateur jockey at that time, who was also Chairman of Higham races for the first 20+ years. The other jockeys riding regularly at that time included Nat Sherwood, father of Oliver and Simon of Desert Orchid fame, as well as David Wales, Mike Bloom, Hunter Rowe and George Barber, all legends of the past. In more recent years the course has played a part in securing both David Turner and Gina Andrews as national amateur Champions on multiple occasions.
Higham Racecourse has always belonged to the Gurney family; Brigadier Hay Gurney was also Secretary of the Essex & Suffolk Hunt. His son Carol rode successfully in point-to-points and military races and has now passed the land on to his son, Christo and daughter, Sara Eley. Since 2010 Gi d’Angibau (nee Chown) has been Chairperson with Bridget Chamberlain being Higham Course secretary. In 2019 Bill Gilchrist took over as Clerk of the Course from Richard and Auriole Wilson who have provided such monumental support over many years as Chairman and Clerk of the Course.
Higham runs two meetings a season; the Waveney Harriers Meet in February and the Essex & Suffolk Meet on Good Friday.
The Course
Higham racecourse is situated just to the west of the A12 between Colchester and Ipswich using the B1068 turn-off towards Stoke-by-Nayland, post code CO7 6LD.
Higham is a flat oval shaped course which suits front runners and with the well drained soil suits runners that like “top of the ground”.
The gravelly soils means the ground drains well, enabling Higham to run early in the season when other venues are waterlogged. The ground is rarely softer than Good.
In the event of drier weather the course also benefits from access to an irrigation facility to enable Good going later in the season.
Higham is a flat oval shaped course which suits front runners and with the well drained soil suits runners that like “top of the ground”.
The gravelly soils means the ground drains well, enabling Higham to run early in the season when other venues are waterlogged. The ground is rarely softer than Good.
In the event of drier weather the course also benefits from access to an irrigation facility to enable Good going later in the season.
