Earliest meeting: Friday 6th April 1867
Final meeting: Tuesday 28th March 1871
The Gloucestershire village of Almondsbury is a large village overlooking the River Severn floodplain. In the mid-1800s the village had its own racecourse extending over 3 miles, situated behind the Swan Hotel, with the first meeting taking place on Friday 6th April 1867. There was a hill overlooking the course which ‘commanded a capital view of the whole course’. The Stewards at the meeting were Lord Fitzhardinge and Sir Charles Cuyer, the principal race being sponsored by Lord Fitzhardinge. After a keenly fought race Mr L Samuel’s Emma saw off the determined challenge of Butcher’s Daughter. Racing continued in the village for the next 4 years before the final meeting was held on Tuesday 28th March 1871. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Patrons |
Lord Fitzhardinge, Sir Charles Cuyer |
| Principal Races |
Lord Fitzhardinge Cup, Scurry Stakes, Bristol Handicap, Almondsbury Stakes |
Tuesday 31st March 1868
Lord Fitzhardinge Cup over 3 miles
1. Emma, owned by Mr L Samuel and ridden by Jackson
2. Butcher’s Daughter, owned by Mr Davies and ridden by E.M.Grace
3. Cockroach, owned by Mr Young and ridden by Whitmore
Betting 6/4 The Robber, 2/1 Emma, 2/1 Cockroach, 3/1 Butcher’s Daughter |
| The final meeting took place on 28th March 1871. |
| Course today |
Former racecourse has now reverted to farmland. |
| 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 |
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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 |
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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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