A new book examining the history of horseracing in Jersey and Guernsey is set to be published later this month, bringing together nearly two centuries of sporting heritage from the Channel Islands.
Jersey Jockeys & Guernsey Gallopers: A History of Channel Islands Horseracing by Graham Sharpe and John Henwood, published on 31 March 2026, explores the long history of racing at the islands’ two racecourses, Les Landes in Jersey and L’Ancresse in Guernsey.
The book traces the development of organised racing in the Channel Islands, which reportedly began in 1832. Despite nearly 200 years of racing history, the two tracks have until now not had a book dedicated to their story.
Graham Sharpe and John Henwood examine how racing on the islands developed over the years, the role it has played in local sporting life, and the challenges the sport faces today. The book also looks at the future of racing in the islands, including the uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of racing at L’Ancresse in Guernsey.
Graham Sharpe, a journalist who spent almost fifty years working in communications for bookmaker William Hill, has attended race meetings in the Channel Islands for more than four decades and has written several books on sport and betting. John Henwood, who was born in Jersey, has written about horseracing for many years and is the racing writer for the Jersey Evening Post.
