Earliest meeting: Thursday 24th June 1630
Final meeting: Thursday 24th June 1630
The Cumberland village of Blencarn is located 4 miles from the larger village of Langwathby, close to the current A686 road. Races in the area were traditionally held on Midsummers Day, and records show that a meeting was held in fields on the edge of Blencarn on Thursday 24th June 1630 when the principal race was for the Midsummer Plate. After a keenly fought contest the Duke of Buckingham’s Conqueror defeated the Earl of Morrarye’s Fox. The plate for £20 was founded by Richard Sandford and was designed to be an annual contest, although there is no evidence to suggest it was held annually. Indded, no further reference is made of Blencarn races after Thursday 24th June 1630, although Langwathby did hold their own races for a more prolonged period. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Morraryes |
| Principal Races |
Midsummer Plate |
Thursday 24th June 1630 |
Blencarn Midsummer Plate
1. Conqueror owned by the Duke of Buckingham
2. Fox owned by the Earl of Morraryes |
The plate and £20 was founded by Richard Sandford and was designed to be an annual contest. However, no further reference is made of Blencarn races after Thursday 24th June 1630. |
| Course today |
Today Blencarn is a charming Cumbrian hamlet by the side of Blencarn Lake, and is the home of the British Blue Cattle Society. It is unknown in which field the racecourse was situated. |
| 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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