Earliest meeting: February 1881
Final meeting: Thursday 21st February 1884
The first meeting in the Shropshire village of Ash was in February 1881, with racing organised by Sir Watkin Wynn in conjunction with the Cheshire, North Staffs and Shropshire Hunt Groups. Racing continued for the next 3 years at Ash, situated south east of Whitchurch, which even in the mid-1800s only had a population of 200 people. The 3 ½ mile course was located near Ash Wood with the brows of the surrounding hills providing a commanding view of the entire races. The final meeting was staged on Thursday 21st February 1884, opening with the Shropshire Hunt Steeplechase which went to Trentford, owned by Colonel Cotes. The Cheshire Hunt Steeplechase followed and must have been restricted to horses beginning with B, for Barter beat Bachelor and Bandsman. The feature race, the Sir W W Wynn’s Steeplechase, went to the appropriately named Ash Wood.

Thursday 21st February 1884
Sir W W Wynn’s Steeplechase over 3 ½ miles
1. Ash Wood, bay gelding owned by Mr J M Etches
2. Squire, 4 year old owned by Mr R Bateman
3. Countess, 5 year old owned by Mr T Lloyd

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