Earliest meeting: July 1815
Final meeting: Monday 20th July 1868
The Worcestershire town of Bewdley, on the River Severn, is in the Wyre Forest. It is located some 12 kilometres from Kidderminster and today boasts a population of approximately 10,000. However, back in the mid to late 1800s it was much smaller but still drummed up sufficient interest to hold its own races. The first meeting took place as early as July 1815, although there was then a considerable gap of over 50 years before the next recognised meeting was held on Monday 15th July 1867. The Severn Bank Hurdle, over 3 miles and 8 hurdles, was won by Mr J Turner’s Oldminster beating Delight, while the Bewdley Cup over 2 miles went to Mr Webster’s Lady Eryx. This meeting was more successful and was repeated the following year on the old training ground by the side of the Severn, overhung by the rocks of Winterdyne. The meeting was part of the Annual Odd Fellows Fete and included a regatta and country Fete. However, the card staged on Monday 20th July 1868 proved to be the last in the town. The meeting started with the Bewdley Cup which was won by Mr Walker’s Defiance beating Beobridge and Jemmy Junior, while the Severn Bank Hurdle went to Mr E Fulke’s New Oswestry. Races did continue alongside the Annual Fete, although the races were of an inferior quality and increasingly involved pony racing and galloways. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir T E Winnington, Mr W H Ryland (Mayor), Mr W C Hemming (Steward) |
| Principal Races |
Bewdley Cup, Severn Bank Hurdle |
Monday 15th July 1867
Bewdley Cup over 2 miles
1. Lady Eryx, aged mare owned by Mr Webster
2. Achievement, aged horse owned by Mr James
3. Over The Sea, aged horse owned by Mr Tustin |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 21st July 1868. |
| Course today |
On the old training ground near the Severn adjoining Winterdyne. |
| 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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