In 1636 many subscribers had donated a large sum of money to support annual race meetings.

The first meeting at Bogside, on the private estate of the Earl of Eglinton, was held on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8 June 1808.

The first race was a Sweepstakes over 3 miles, won by Mr Boswell's Delphini, with Lord Montgomerie's Beningbrough, second.

[2] This victory completed a memorable double for his jockey, John Page, and the owner, the Duke of Hamilton, who had won the Grand National a few weeks earlier with Cortolvin.

The race's title was changed to 'Scottish Grand National' in 1880, and the distance extended to 3 miles 7 furlongs.

Two horses won the Scottish Grand National at Bogside three times: Southern Hero (1934, 1936 and 1939, when he was 14 and carrying 12st 3lbs; he finished second in 1937 and 1938) and Queen's Taste (1953, 1954 and 1956).

Among the most notable achievements at the course was jockey Alec Russell riding all six winners in a day at the flat meeting on 19 July 1957: Double Up, Cligarry, Wage Claim, Courtlier, Newton, Roseline.