Belford Moor first staged races in October 1832, having previously been catered for down the road at Beadnell. It's said the site was originally a Viking encampment, and there is evidence of earthworks everywhere in these parts of early earthworks - more specifically here near Belfordmoor Farm.

The course was a stretched out, narrow oval shape with a very small stand on the western side. It could probably have fit around a dozen people in it or so, such was the austere nature of this course.

There is a fantastic description of the course in the Illustrated Berwick Journal of 29/09/1860:

"Everything at Belford Races is conducted in an easy, old-fashioned style. The races answer the one great purpose of a holiday, and to a holiday the town, or the people of the town, old and young, do for this day devote themselves. Indeed the streets of the town, and the road to the course—a hilly ascent of a mile and a bit—presented the appearance rather of preparation for, or proceeding to, some gala or pie-nic, than the dusty, noisy, bustling, jostling route to a race-course. Not a card seller not even a beggar—by the way, the mendicly, is one of the commonest features of the road to the course proper at "all meetings under Newmarket rules;" but Belford has not yet reached a position sufficiently high in the sporting world to be frequented by the sad specimens of human ills, who, some way or other, contrive to attend all the principal race meetings in the kingdom; consequently the road to the course was as unlike a road to a course as can well be imagined.

The majority of the pedestrians were young women who seemed to us to number the lords by about three to one. It was evident, however, that there was something either on the course or on the road, for one "early bird" was a-ready on his return to town as others left, having evidently got too much weight to carry, and had so "struck himself out" of the day's racing, and was making his way homewards, though an even pony that he could not "stay the distance" might have been a fair investment. The Moor was at length reached where the races were to come off, and here is the place "where people most do congregate."

From the brow of a hill on the east side of the course, an extensive view of a wild and highly romantic character is obtained. Holy Island was plainly visible as the bright beams of the sun gleamed on its sandy shores, and glittered on the blue ocean beyond it, and on the streak of blue that separates it from the mainland. Farther to the south Bambro' Castle is a conspicuous object on the coast, and beyond it are the Fern Islands, memorable for their association with the name and deeds of the heroic Grace Darling. But we cannot dwell on the natural and picturesque, amidst all the artificial and burlesque now going on around ; for here in the same hill side, as we are for the moment describing, are rows of gingerbread stalls, a row of booths, and perhaps a row in some of them, and some half thousand lads and lasses to see the races, and enjoy the fun generally. Alongside the course are a goodly number of carriages, not of all kinds but bona fide carriages occupied by ladies, a gentleman or two and a hamper. Of course there are shows, or, to be strictly correct, there was only one; but then it was a show. It had paintings in front of "The Massacre at Cawood," "The Death of Nelson," "The portraits of Heenan and Sayers," and of "Her Gracious Majesty the Queen, the Prince Consort, and the rest of the royal family," and such music as, thank the towers is not often heard. The man himself is the chief musician, and he plays the Pandean pipes, the big drum, the little drum, and the symbols all at once, the woman with dirty hands and brass rings on her fingers tinkles a big bell, and bawls "Just going to commence," through an old rusty speaking trumpet, while a performing donkey (suggestive emblem) gravely stands upon the stage. A pair of while Ethiopian serenaders, in crimson inexpressibles, are "Off to Charlestown" with tambourine, bones, and banjo. A few knaves in and there are doing the members of the Greens out of their coppers, by delusive sets of nine-pins, as fast as they can, until one of the Blue society puts his veto on the illegal process, and then turns his back, and up go the pins, and then comes the Greens again."

It is also said Jane Austen visited Belford Racecourse, though little other information can be found on this. It is also worthy of note meetings were intermittent, and they were not held annually. This can be stated for the 1840s when it had been discontinued for several years but was revived in 1848, though there was a more sustained period in the 1860s. Meetings ended in 1868, though there was one final attempt to rejuvenate the event in September 1871. This is the last known event to be held here.

Earthworks, specifically the south west corner of the course, can still be seen on aerial imagery. There is no trace of any structures, and the path likely used down to the course was the main lane to Chatton.