Earliest meeting: Friday 5th November 1847
Final meeting: Friday 5th November 1847
The Oxfordshire village of Bletchingdon is situated 3 kilometres north of Kidlington, close to Banbury, Bicester and Bletchingdon Park, the latter designed by James Lewis and built in 1782 for the Earl of Anglesey. Being surrounded by hunting towns, the village was able to host its own race meeting on Friday 5th November 1847, although the only race on the card was a match between Mr Carter’s The Robber and Mr Walker’s Daddy Longlegs. The course selected was over 3 miles of good, stiff country predominantly on Mr Walker’s farm and park. At the first fence Daddy Longlegs fell, losing all chance and leaving The Robber to win as he pleased. There are no further records of racing taking place in the village. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Patrons |
Mr Walker, Mr Carter |
| Principal races |
Bletchingdon Match |
Friday 5th November 1847
Bletchingdon Match over 3 miles
1. The Robber, aged horse owned by Mr Carter
2. Daddy Longlegs, aged horse owned by Mr Walker |
| The only record of a meeting in the village took place on 5th November 1847. |
| Course today |
A 3 mile course on Mr Walker’s farm and park. |
| 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 |
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| 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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