Earliest meeting: Tuesday 11th July 1758
Final meeting: Wednesday 13th September 1843
Bodmin Racecourse in Cornwall was situated on the outskirts of Bodmin to the north east of the town where a farm, still called Racecourse Farm, exists today. Indeed, the racecourse stand has now been converted into a stylish house. Racing started as early as the fifteenth century and lasted on and off until 1843. There is evidence of 3 prolonged periods of racing, 1758-1787, 1807-1823 and 1836 to a final meeting on Wednesday 13th September 1843. The history books inform us that the Cornish Cavaliers, led by Sir Bevil Grenvile, mustered on Bodmin Racecourse on 17th August 1642 to fight the Royalist army. Much later in history there was a German raid in the Second World War in the neighbourhood of Helland and Bodmin Racecourse. The ‘Historical List of Horse Races & Matches of 1758’ recorded a 2 day meeting taking place at Bodmin in July 1758, when on Tuesday 11th July the feature race was won by Rib, while on the following day the principal race went to Wart. Although there were intermittent spells of racing, they were always well-received, and a large crowd gathered at the final meeting on Wednesday 13th September 1843 to see Mr Scobell’s Cayenne land the opening Cornwall and Bodmin Stakes, beating Mind-your-pockets and Mona, and the later Borough Members Plate over 2 miles.

General Gilbert, Sir W Molesworth, Sir F Buffet, Sir Samuel Spry

11th July 1758

Bodmin Devon & Cornwall Bred horse Race
1. Rib, bay horse owned by Mr Basset
2. Rainbow, chestnut horse owned by Mr Brook

12th July 1758

Bodmin Open Aged Race
1. Wart, black gelding owned by Mr Treise
2. Whimsey, grey mare owned by Mr Williams

Tuesday 18th to Thursday 20th June 1782

Bodmin Silver Bowl over 4 miles
1. Lunn owned by Mr Parker
2. Hazard owned by Sir F Buffet
3. Eliza owned by Colonel Buffet
The winner carried Green with a Black cap

Bodmin Members Plate over 4 miles
1. Prophet owned by Mr Parker
2. Whitworth owned by Sir W Molesworth
The winner carried Green with a Black cap

Grateful to Robin Charnock for providing details of the September 1836 meeting.

The first year of the Cornwall and Bodmin Stakes was a disappointing year given that Land's End, owned by C Trelawney, was allowed to walk over.

However, The Tradesmen's Cup, over 2 miles, was a much more competitive affair. The result was:-
1. BEGGAR BOY 5 years old 12st Owned by Mr Honey
2. TREBARTHA 4 years old 10st 7lb Owned by Mr Brendon
3. KEAN 4 years old 10st 7lb Owned by Mr Clemence

Also at the Friday meeting the records show that 5 further races took place, a Purse, a Silver Tankard and The Free Handicap with the following result:-FREE HANDICAP
1. WESTREY 4 years old 8st 1lb Owned by Mr Reed
2. LAND'S END 6 years old 10st 12lb Owned by Mr C Trelawney
3. TERMAGANT 4 years old 9st 5lb Owned by Mr Horsley

THE YEOMANRY CUP
1. MOONSHINE 5 years old 9st 8lb Owned by Mr Couch
2. SIR HULDEBRAND 4 years old 9st 0lb Owned by Mr Climo
3. LODOISKA 4 years old 9st 0lb Owned by Mr Taunton

Wednesday 12th to Thursday 13th September 1843

The Cornwall and Bodmin Free Handicap over 2 miles
1. Cayenne owned by Mr Scobel
2. Mona
3. Mind-your-Pockets

The Borough Members Plate over 2 miles
1. Northenden owned by General Gilbert
2. Cayenne owned by Mr Scobel
3. Viginti

Wednesday 13th September 1843
Bodmin Silver Cup
1. Saracena, aged mare owned by Sir Samuel Spry
2. Definition, aged horse owned by Mr Downe
3. Mind-your-pockets, aged horse owned by Mr Saunders

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