Stockton Racecourse was situated on the banks of the River Tees. The first meeting took place in September 1855 and the last meeting took place in June 1981. The views of the racecourse show the old and the new stands and the finishing post. The stands remain, although they are part of a Leisure Centre that was built on the site of the racecourse. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
In 1947 my neighbour Mr Jack Nicholson when we lived at 15 Grantham Road, Norton owned three horses and two traps which I had permission to exercise and use on occasions. This particular occasion he asked me to take the Governes trap with Dot the Welsh pony down to Stockton Race course to meet him from Stockton races. Dot was a smart dapple grey pony with a new set of brown harness, the trap was immaculate in wood finish with cream wheels. The outfit did indeed look very smart and I always took a great pride in turnout on these special occasions.
I stood outside the racecourse waiting for Jack who incidentally owns Russells the wholesale food provider on Teesside when a man came up and after looking at the outfit said he would like to buy it so I had to explain it was not mine and I was waiting for Mr Nicholson to take him and the horse and trap back to Newstead Farm Junction Road. The man was Frank E Franks of Pantomime fame who owned Coundon Dog track. However Mr Nicholson told him it was not for sale and we went back home to Grantham Road and the farm to clean all the tack and feed the pony.
I am 90 years old now and I still enjoy reading on this site about the old days of the area. I do find it strange than not many if any, from passed Norton Church and up to Durham Road ever contribute their memories to the site. I used to go to school with Harold Walker, Bob Harbron, the Irwin family, the Armitage family (John, Jean, Audrey), Basil Cook, Ronny Horton, Donald Willey, the Newman family who owned the coffee and provisions shop in Dovecote Street (I can still smell the aroma of fresh coffee as you went passed the shop) to name but a few. I would be very pleased to hear from any of my old friends like Maurice Hogg and Margaret (nee Garrett) Halifax Street or near.
J. Norman Kidd
In the sixties if you were watching Head Wrightson playing football you could also watch the horseracing at Stockton racecourse.
I can remember working on a new stand at Stockton racecourse as an apprentice bricklayer back in 1956 aged 16yrs. I presume this would be the new stand mentioned in the comments, or was another stand built after this time?
I used to enjoy a visit to Stockton races, way back in 1966. I remember a 2year old winning its first race at Stockton and the following year the horse won the Irish 1000 guineas, the horse was named Lacquer. My last visit to Stockton races was in 1981 when I watched in the racecourse bar Aldaniti win the Grand National on the T.V.
Stockton racecourse closed in 1981.
When did Stockton Raccourse close?
Stockton Racecourse stood on the site which is now the retail Park just off the A66. There was a large golf couse situated in the middle of the course and was accessed from Mandale Road.
Where is this? Is it now where Stockton Leisure Centre is situated?