Earliest meeting: Monday 26th March 1855
Final meeting: Monday 26th March 1855
Aston Hall, to the north of Birmingham and east of Hadsworth, enjoyed the benefits of an enormous estate and Park. On Monday 26th March 1855 the Birmingham Steeplechases were staged on the park having in previous years taken place at Knowle. The chosen 1 ½ mile course was adjacent to Victoria road and consisted of three natural fences as well as two hurdles and two posts and rails. The opening Handicap Chase over 3 miles was won by Mr R James’s Bullfincher who justified odds of 2/1 on favourite. The principal race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase, attracted a field of six and was won by Star of England despite being the 10/1 outsider of the party. The large crowd, in excess of 16000, became so agitated by the time of the final race that the jockeys refused to leave the weighing room and had to be replaced by other jockeys. The final race was won by Mr H Bell’s Reveller, but open hostilities were so great at this point that few were watching the racing and fights broke out all over the course. A raging mob ripped the course to shreds and it is not surprising that there were no meetings held at the course in the future. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr R James, Mr Charles Walker |
| Principal Races |
Birmingham Grand Annual Steeplechase, Birmingham and Warwickshire Hunt Chase |
Monday 26th March 1855
Birmingham Grand Annual Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Star of England, aged horse ridden by George Stevens
2. Diana, aged mare ridden by Daniel Meaney
3. Spring, aged horse ridden by William Archer
Betting: 6/4 Spring, 3/1 Diana, 4/1 Broadway, 10/1 Star of England |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 26th March 1855. |
| Course today |
On a 1 ½ mile course adjacent to Victoria road. |
| 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 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|