Earliest meeting: Monday 2nd October 1843
Final meeting: Monday 2nd October 1848
The Shropshire village of Astley lies between the two busy roads of A53 and A49, while just half a mile south of Astley is the small hamlet of Upper Astley. The Shrewsbury News and Cambrian Reporter of 16th September 1843 reported on a number of minor Flat Race meetings which took place in Shropshire, one of which was here. Further reports were given in Eddowes’s Journals of 12th July 1843, 3rd July 1844 and 10th July 1844 providing additional evidence of such meetings taking place. The meetings were held in fields behind The Talbot, owned by Mr Williams, and after racing a Dance was staged at the Pelham Portable House. The principal race was the Astley Cup which was contested for the final time on Monday 2nd October 1848 when won by Mr Wycherley’s Repulse.
The article below is from Eddowes’s Journal and General Advertiser for Shropshire, giving details of the meeting held on Monday 2nd October 1843, and is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Online Archive.
The article below is from Eddowes’s Journal and General Advertiser for Shropshire, giving details of a meeting to be held on Monday 2nd October 1848, and is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Online Archive.
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
