Earliest meeting: Monday 23rd October 1843
Final meeting: Tuesday 21st July 1874
The adjoining Tameside towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge and Dukinfield were historically in Lancashire and have had a close association with the cotton industry since 1776. The Sporting Magazine of 1843 recorded that the first 2 day meeting to be held at the Ashton and Stalybridge Racecourse was on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th October 1843. Preparations for the inaugural meeting did not go according to plan when on Saturday 21st October, two days before the meeting took place, joiners erecting the grandstand abandoned their work in an incomplete state. That evening a large crowd climbed into the grandstand and it collapsed, breaking one person’s back and the legs of many other people, but despite this setback the meeting went ahead. Entries for the meeting were made at the Queen’s Arms Inn, Ashton and the feature race, sponsored by the local Innkeepers, was won by Mr Frost’s Black Duchess. Racing continued annually until a final meeting took place on Tuesday 21st July 1874. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Hollinshead, Mr Lamb, Mr Banks |
| Principal Races |
Ashton Borough Stakes, Railway Plate, Innkeeper's Purse, Tradesmen's Purse |
Monday 23rd to Tuesday 24th October 1843 |
The Innkeepers Purse over 3 miles
1. Black Duchess owned by Mr Frost
2. Margaret owned by Mr Hollinshead
3. Vigo
The Tradesmen’s Purse over 2 miles
1. Sunflower owned by Mr Fowler
2. Lucella
3. Physic
The Racing Purse over 3 miles
1. Margaret owned by Mr Hollinshead
2. Black Duchess owned by Mr Frost |
Monday 20th & Tuesday 21st July 1846 |
The Ashton Borough Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Lady Flora owned by Mr Lamb
2. Alicia owned by Mr Bowler
3. Clear the Kitchen owned by Mr Duckworth
The Railway Plate over 1 ½ miles
1. Grand Seignior owned by Mr Bankes
2. Feronia owned by Mr Brown
3. Father Mathew owned by Mr Skelton
The Innkeepers Purse over 1 ½ miles
1. Grand Seignior owned by Mr Bankes
2. Factory Girl owned by Mr Readhead
3. Maid of Auckland owned by Mr Wood |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 21st July 1874 |
| Course today |
In fields between Ashton and Stalybridge with a grandstand erected for the occasion. |
| 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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