Elgin Bicycle Club was formed around 1876 and cycle racing in Elgin started in 1878 on the Market Green (IV30 1AT) next to the High Street. The ancient Elgin Highland Games were re-instated on 20th July 1878 and a two miles bicycle race was included in that meeting on the Green, which was watched by 2,000 people.
The first bicycle race at Institution Park was at the Elgin Volunteer Brass Band Competition and Sports on 30th August 1885 where there was a five miles race with three competitors, William Anderson**, a blacksmith from Fochabers, was an easy winner. At the following year's Brass Band competition on 7th August 1886, W Anderson was again the winner of the bicycle race, this time over two miles.
At 1887 Oddfellows event on 13th August 1887, there were over 500 spectators and the Elgin Courant commented "of all the events of the day, the bicycle races were the most popular and interesting." There were two bicycle races, over two and five miles and both of them resulted in victory for Anderson, who won a gold medal for each. There was also foot racing and Highland dancing. The Morayshire Cycling Club was formed on 26th March 1887 at the Old Courthouse in Elgin.
The Oddfellows meetings continued through 1890 and the number of bicycle races increased to three, with pneumatics having their own race. The sports became more popular, in 1891 the ground was full of the leading people in the town and there were around two thousand people around the ring. The Oddfellows sports seemed to stop in 1893.
The town council took over the running of Institution Park in 1893, sports and bicycle racing moved out of the centre of the town to Milnefield Park, but Elgin Cycling Club raced mainly on the roads and in time trials.
Elgin Institution is now an old people's home. The school became East End Primary School. The hospital is now Dr Gray's Hospital.
* Andrew Anderson was born in Elgin around 1746, he was brought up by his mother, they lived in great poverty as she relied on charity. He was educated at the local grammar school but ran away to London where he found employment as a tailor's clerk. He eventually went to work at the East India Company where he amassed a fortune and returned to Elgin in 1811. Anderson set up a trust in 1815 giving most of his wealth to set up the Elgin Institution. He died in 1824.
** William Anderson was the captain of Fochabers Bicycle Club. The club had 20-30 members and they held annual races in Fochabers around 1890.