Earliest meeting: Tuesday 24th January 1865
Final meeting: Tuesday 3rd April 1866
The Kent racecourse at Blackheath and Woolwich first held a 2 day flat meeting on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th January 1865. The course, over a good, springy turf course, was located between Blackheath and Woolwich, and entries were made at the Duke’s Head, with the same venue providing refreshment at the races. Less than a month later a steeplechase meeting was held on Tuesday 7th February when the Hunters’ Stakes went to Laurie Martin, while the Blackheath Plate was won by Chicqnot the Jester. The next year a two day meeting began on Monday 2nd April 1866, opening with the Tradesmen’s Plate over a mile in which Captain Sheedy’s Flare Up defeated Colona, and the same horse completed the double the next day in the Handicap Plate. The final meeting took place on Tuesday 3rd April 1866 when the concluding West Kent Handicap went to Mr R Smith’s Jessamine. However, as well as organising meetings in conjunction with Woolwich, Blackheath also staged meetings with Rowley after 1866. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Sheedy, Captain Sinclair |
| Principal Races |
Blackheath Handicap Plate, Tradesmen's Plate, West Kent Handicap |
Monday 2nd April & Tuesday 3rd April 1866 |
The Blackheath Tradesmen’s Plate over a mile
1. Flare Up owned by Captain Sheedy
2. Colona
The Blackheath Handicap Plate over a mile
1. Flare Up owned by Captain Sheedy
2. Unnamed filly by Cannobie owned by Mr Ballard
3. Principal owned by Mr T Summer
West Kent Handicap over 1 ½ miles
1. Jessamine owned by Mr R Smith
2. Quarantine owned by Mr Ballard
3. Bunch owned by Mr T J Clifford |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 3rd April 1866 |
| Course today |
On good turf ground between Blackheath and Woolwich. |
| 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 |
|