Earliest meeting: Monday 27th April 1826
Final meeting: Monday 27th April 1826
The Edinburgh suburb of Blackhall is located in the north west of the capital, but back in the early 19th century it was a village in its own right. It enjoyed glorious open countryside, hosting a race meeting on Monday 27th April 1826 which was reported in The Sporting Magazine. It proved to be a benefit meeting for Lord Kennedy who won all three races on the card. The meeting opened with a 100 Sovereign Match over a demanding 6 miles in which Lord Kennedy’s The Major got the better of General McKenzie’s Deception. The feature race, the Blackhall Stakes over 4 miles, was won by Grecian Queen in the same ownership, while the concluding race was sponsored by Mr Farquharson who offered a Silver Cup and, despite his earlier exertions, The Major captured the prize. There is no evidence of further meetings taking place in Blackhall.

Lord Kennedy, General McKenzie, Mr Farquharson

Monday 27th April 1826

Blackhall 100 Sovereign Match over 6 miles
1. The Major owned by Lord Kennedy
2. Deception owned by General McKenzie

Blackhall Stakes over 4 miles
1. Grecian Queen owned by Lord Kennedy
2. Skiff owned by Mr Downe
3. Ada owned by Mr Farquharson

Farquharson Silver Cup donated by Mr Farquharson
1. The Major owned by Lord Kennedy

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