The Blaydon Races were a horse race meeting first held on an island in the River Tyne about 1 mile west of Blaydon, later transferring to Stella Haugh where the races were held until 1914.
The races were to give their name to a song of the same name written by George Ridley and recorded as having been sung at Balmbra's Music Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne on 5 June 1862. The song was to become, and remains, a Geordie Anthem recognised by everyone on Tyneside and sung to this day by supporters of Newcastle United FC.
