[5] Pilgrimage made her racecourse début on 28 September 1877 in the First October Two-year-old Stakes over half a mile at Newmarket.

In the closing stages she extended her lead and won easily by eight lengths from Dalgarno, who had started as the even money favourite.

In the early stages Wild Darrell led the field and Pilgrimage was not amongst the front runners.

As they entered the final quarter of the race Wild Darrell was fading, while Pilgrimage had made some progress through the pack.

At the start of the race Inval went to the front, but he was soon pulled back and Sefton look up the running on the right hand side of the course, followed by Oasis and Bayonet.

Glengarry and Childeric were just behind Sefton and racing down the centre of the course and Inval was leading the group on the stand side.

As they moved into the second half of the race Pilgrimage had made progress through the field into third place, behind Sefton and Insulaire.

Childeric finished in fourth place, a further four lengths back and he was clear of Oasis and the rest of the field.

Unlike in the 2000 Guineas, Pilgrimage was near the front in the early stages, running just behind leading Blue Ridge.

As they entered the second half of the race Pilgrimage took the lead from Blue Ridge and was followed by Clementine and Jannette.

The nearest opponents were Clementine and Eau de Vie, both at 100/8, with the rest of the eight-runner field priced at 50/1.

The filly by Lord Clifen led the field in the early stages, with Cannon positioning Pilgrimage at the rear.