ALLENSTOWN (IRE) RACECOURSE

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Earliest meeting: Tuesday 18th July 1876
Final meeting: Wednesday 8th July 1885
The County Meath townland of Allenstown lies close to the small market town of Athboy and once held its own series of race meetings in the latter part of the 19th century. One of the first meetings took place on Tuesday 18th July 1876, staging the Balrath Handicap. Crowds were boosted because it was served by the Midland Great Western Railway, although the meeting on Thursday 22nd June 1882 was known as the Allenstown & Athboy Races. In 1883 the meeting was administered by the Harrier Hunt Committee and introduced the 2 ½ mile Allenstown Hunt Cup. At the meeting on Friday 6th June 1884 the Balrath Plate was won rather fortunately by Heather Belle, as Safe Home had the race in safe keeping before falling. The later Athboy Plate was won cleverly by Valet. The final record of a meeting was on Wednesday 8th July 1885.
This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.
Local Patrons Mr Tiernan, Mr P J Dunne
Principal Races Allenstown Hunt Cup, Balrath Handicap, Harrier Hunt Plate, Lone Plate 

Friday 6th June 1884
Athboy Plate
1. Valet
2. Reynard
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 8th July 1885.
Course today In fields between Athboy and Allenstown.
If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com

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

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses
Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.
ORDER FORM
Download an order form
  Quantity Cost
Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage    
Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage    
Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage    
Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage    
Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage    
Postage & Packaging    
Total    
Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com