- Mar 4 30th Grand National: George Ede victorious aboard Irish 9/1 shot The Lamb; horse wins second GN in 1871
- May 25 Australian Aboriginal Cricket tour of England begins v Surrey Gentlemen
- May 31 Dr James Moore (UK) wins 1st recorded bicycle race, (2k) velocipede race at Parc fde St Cloud, Paris
- Jun 10 2nd Belmont: Bobby Swim aboard General Duke wins in 3:02
- Jul 7 Surrey wicket-keeper Ted Pooley completes a then-1st class cricket record 12 dismissals (8 caught, 4 stumped) in a County match against Sussex at The Oval
- Jul 23 All England Lawn Tennis Club is founded as The All England Croquet Club; 1877 name changed to The All England Croquet & Lawn Tennis Club
- Sep 23 British Open Men's Golf, Prestwick GC: Tom Morris Jr. beats his father, Tom Morris Sr. by 3 strokes; at 17 young Morris remains youngest Open champion
- Nov 11 1st American amateur track & field meet (NYC)
- Dec 5 1st American bicycle college opens (NY)
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