Horse-racing? In Reading? We’ve all heard about Newbury and Ascot, but few people know that at various periods between 1705 and 1906 there were six racecourses in Greater Reading.

Local sports journalist Nigel Sutcliffe has researched their histories and written this fascinating account; as well as a wealth of detail about horses, riders and owners, it describes the activities of racegoers of all classes, from the balls and assemblies attended by the gentry and aristocrats to the crime and corruption inevitably associated with racing in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Nigel Sutcliffe was educated at Reading School, followed by three years in the RAF and a career in banking. On early retirement, he took up his hobby of sports journalism on a full-time basis for local newspapers. His main interests are horse racing and rugby football.