BICKLEIGH 1806 - 1807
Earliest meeting: Tuesday 1st July 1806
Final meeting: Monday 6th July 1807
The Devon village of Bickleigh is in Mid-Devon about 4 miles from Tiverton. It lies in the valley of the River Exe and was also mentioned in the Domesday Book. It is famous for its Castle and in 1806 it held its first race meeting on Bickleigh Down on Tuesday 1st July. The results were recorded in the Racing Calendar and featured a £50 Purse over 4 miles which went to Captain Weir’s Woodcote. A follow-up meeting was staged the next year on Monday 6th July 1807, also on the Downs. Entries were registered with Mr Weir at the Rodborough Inn at Jump, and a Ball and Ordinary was held at the same venue after racing, with cocking following the next day. Racing then lapsed in the village, although it returned some 60 years later under the banner of Bickleigh Down Hunt meeting. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Weir, Sir M Lopez |
| Principal Races |
Bickleigh £50 Purse, Bickleigh 50 Guineas Subscription Plate |
Tuesday 1st July 1806
Bickleigh 50 Guineas Subscription Purse over 3 miles
1. Ironsides, roan horse owned by Captain Weir
2. Tavy, grey gelding owned by Mr Parfet
3. Maristowe, bay gelding owned by Sir M Lopez |
I am grateful to Mark Phillips who has provided a link to a map of Bickleigh/Bickleigh Down racecourse which was certainly operational from 1806.
http://maps.nls.uk/view/102352946 |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 6th July 1807. |
| Course today |
On Bickleigh Down. |
| 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. |
| ORDER FORM |
| Download an order form |
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Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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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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