Earliest meeting: Wednesday 28th August 1822
Final meeting: Monday 27th July 1846
The Cumbrian hamlet of Barrock is situated about 7 miles south of Carlisle close to the village of Southwaite. In the early part of the 19th century Barrock held sporting festivals each August, many of which included horse races and wrestling matches. However, most of the races were minor affairs and not worthy of note, but a meeting did take place on Wednesday August 1822 which was billed as ‘Great Barrock Races’. A particularly well organised meeting was staged on Wednesday 8th August 1838 when the opening Sweepstakes was won by Mr Sewell’s Victoria who beat Lucy and Corby Lass. The Purse was won by Mr Hodgson’s Charley who got the better of Laversdale Boy, while the feature Purse of Gold went to Mr Ashbridge’s Corby Lass. The final meeting to include a noteworthy horse race took place on Monday 27th July 1846, although the day also included dog racing, foot races and wrestling. The three minor horse races were won by Captain Taylor, Captain Spout with Red Lion, and Mr Todd with Gaitsgill Lass. Today much of Southwaite is taken over by a motorway service station, while Barrock Care Home is surrounded by beautiful countryside. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Ashbridge, Captain Taylor, Captain Spout |
| Principal Races |
Barrock Sweepstake, Barrock Purse of Gold |
Wednesday 8th August 1838
Barrock Purse of Gold
1. Corby Lass, aged mare owned by Mr Ashbridge
2. Laversdale Boy, aged horse owned by Mr Little
3. Nanny, aged mare owned by Mr Hall |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 27th July 1846. |
| Course today |
On community parkland in the centre of the hamlet. |
| 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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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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