OneGuyFromBarlick

Has anyone ever seen a reference before to Thornton in Craven Races? The history society has been given a copy of a piece of research concerning the theft of a gold watch from a Colne man at Thornton in Craven Races in 1765. It was held over two days in August, St Bartholomew's day, the 24th, and the day following.

Never come across it Wendy but sounds interesting. There is a local expert, a lady but I can't remember her name....

I googled St Bartholomew's Day, and it seems it was common to hold fairs that went on for 2 or three days. Perhaps the races were part of a larger fair.
Reading John Turner's transcript from the Craven Herald, which is linked at the bottom of this topic, I see that Thornton was a market town with a charter for a fair.

Could it possibly have been the point to point, that must have been going donkeys years?

I didn't know there was one Gloria. Craven & Pendle Forest hold one at Heslaker Farm at Carleton, is that the one you mean?

I've just discovered that steeplechasing probably began as races between villages, from steeple to steeple.

Yes it's the one held by Pendle Forest Hunt which I mean. They were originally as you say run from steeple to steeple as in point to point. I think they were then held in various locations until a permanent site was found. Point to Points are held usually in the first part of the year so this would not link with St Bartholomews Day which I think is in August.

Gisburn Races as well. I think this was held near Sawley at one time. The annual races seem to be quite common in many places and no doubt would be one of the highlights of the year for country folk in times gone by.

Gisburn races was Pendle Forest point to point, but always known as Gisburn Races.

Someone called Reginald Heber published a "Historical List of Horse Races" for each year from 1751. That one is available to look at on line, but there are no local races mentioned in it, and the other years, including 1765 are available as downloads but at a cost! A search of A2A has thrown up this item, it looks interesting, but there is no saying that the race meetings were in Thornton in Craven.
According to the Thornton in Craven Village website, the fair they were granted was held on St Thomas's day, which was in December.