Earliest meeting: Wednesday 11th September 1822
Final meeting: Tuesday 18th March 1851
Ashbourne enjoys a unique position in the Derbyshire Dales, on the southern edge of the Peak District; it is known both as the ‘Gateway to Dovedale’ and the ‘Gateway to the Peak District’. Surrounded by glorious open countryside, it is the obvious place for hunting, the Ashbourne Hunt having a long history. The town was granted a market charter in 1257 and it is in the market place that the huntsmen still congregate for their traditional Boxing Day meet each year, although it is now a human being who scents the trail. Back in 1822 the Ashbourne Hunt Group diversified from hunting and organised a race meeting on Wednesday 11th September 1822. The meeting took place over 3 miles of fair hunting ground on the outskirts of the town and offered a 2 race card. The concluding Sweepstake was won by Mr Josslyn’s Ladybird, but the feature Hunt Stakes went to Tallyho. It was a further 29 years before results from the final meeting at Ashbourne were reported. That meeting took place on Tuesday 18th March 1851. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Glossop |
| Principal Races |
Ashbourne Hunt Stakes, Ashbourne Sweepstake |
Wednesday 11th September 1822
The Palace Handicap over 2 miles
1. Tallyho, aged horse owned by Mr Howorth
2. Corinthian, aged horse owned by Captain Glossop
3. Jupiter, aged horse owned by Mr L Forth |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 18th March 1851 |
| Course today |
Over 3 miles of fair hunting ground on the outskirts of the town. |
| 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. |
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