Earliest meeting: Saturday 18th August 1849
Final meeting: Friday 27th August 1886
The Somerset town of Axbridge, on the River Axe, is in the Sedgemoor district of the county. It enjoys the beautiful scenery of the Mendip Hills and once held its own races in the 19th century. There was a period of racing in the town prior to 1850, but it was referred to as Mendip Races. A meeting held on Saturday 18th August 1849 was sponsored by Lord Clifden who presented the Mendip Cup to Red Robin’s owner Mr T Smith. On Friday 6th September 1850 the Borough Stakes was won by Mr Byrne’s Veteran who beat Bella Donna and Danetta, while the Cheddar Hunt Stakes went to Mr Fowler’s Constitution. On Friday 31st September 1870 a meeting took place on the Callow course on a plateau of the Mendip Hills with a magnificent view of the Cheddar Valley and Glastonbury. The feature race at the meeting was the Somerset Stakes over 1 ½ miles which was won by Miniature. Further meetings were held in 1871 and on Friday 16th August 1872, after which racing then lapsed. However, racing returned on Wednesday 12th August 1885 with the Revival Stakes forming part of the card, before a final meeting was staged on the new Forty Acres course on Friday 27th August 1886. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Jack, Mr Stephens |
| Principal Races |
Somerset Stakes, Axbridge Hurdle Stakes, Callow Stakes |
Friday 27th August 1886
Axbridge Hurdle Stakes over 2 miles and 8 flights
1. Fidget, 3 year old owned by Mr Jack
2. Skylark, aged horse owned by Mr Stephen
3. Briar Bank, aged horse owned by Mr Gregory |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 27th August 1886. |
| Course today |
Callow course and Forty Acres course. |
| 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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