Earliest meeting: Thursday 27th April 1865
Final meeting: Thursday 27th April 1865
The Welsh town of Aberdare is in the Cynon Valley at the confluence of the River Dare and the River Cynon. Situated 3 miles south west of Merthyr Tydfil and only 20 miles from the Welsh capital Cardiff, in the mid-1800s it held its own race meeting. However, the only recorded meeting took place on Thursday 27th April 1865 on farmland on the outskirts of the town. The five race programme consisted of two Steeplechases, a Hurdle race, a Flat race and a Pony Race. The key organiser of the meeting, the Honorary Secretary Mr W.Dyke, was rewarded with favourable weather and a large concourse of spectators. Therefore it is surprising that the Stewards, Captain Fredricks, John Maund and Gwilym Williams did not organise any future meetings. The principal race, the Aberdare Open Steeplechase, was contested over a gruelling 4 miles when won by the mare Princess of Wales owned by Mr Riddell.
The article below, giving details of the race meeting on Thursday 27th April 1865 is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Online Archive.
Thursday 27th April 1865
The Aberdare Open Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Princess of Wales, aged horse owned and ridden by Mr Riddell
2. Gayland, 4 year old owned by Mr Gomer Williams and ridden by T.Davies
3. Medora, aged horse owned by Mr F Rowland and ridden by Reeves
Betting: 2/1 On Gayland, 3/1 Princess of Wales, 3/1 Medora
Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-
London Illustrated News
Racing Illustrated 1895-1899
The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated
Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
The Sporting Magazine
A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727
