Earliest meeting: Thursday 31st March 1842
Final meeting: Monday 16th March 1846
The Ballymooney Hunt group enjoyed their sport over a large area of the country despite being based in Ballymooney. Ballymooney Castle, built in 1622 near Oakley Park in County Offaly, was owned by Daniel O’Carroll. The Hunt Group diversified from hunting in the middle of the 19th century by organising race meetings, the first of which took place on Thursday 31st March 1842. For the meeting on Monday 24th April 1843 the course, complete with stand house, judge’s chair, 20 jumps and 8 fences, was in fields owned by Henry Odlum in the village of Kilkieran. The meeting opened with the Ballymooney Hunt Steeplechase over 2 miles which was won by The Kydd owned by John Green. The closing Sweepstakes was won by Jack Bragg who defeated Chaunter and Killikee. The final meeting under the banner of Ballymooney Hunt Steeplechases was staged on Monday 16th March 1846 when the feature Cup race was won by Cruickshank. The Ballymooney Steeplechase Cup lived on after the meeting ended by transferring to Tullamore races. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Warburton, Henry & Richard Odlum, Vicars Fisher |
| Principal Races |
Ballymooney Steeplechase, Geashill Stakes, Ballymooney Cup |
Monday 16th March 1846
Ballymooney Cup over 2 miles
1. Cruickshank, bay gelding owned by Mr Moorhead
2. Welcome, black horse owned by Mr J Greene
3. Johhny, chestnut gelding owned by Mr H Greene |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 16th March 1846. |
| Course today |
Initially on a demanding course with 20 jumps, 8 of which were fences, at Kilkieran. |
| 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 |
|