Earliest meeting: Wednesday 29th August 1838
Final meeting: Wednesday 11th July 1860
The earliest record of racing at Bridgend was in 1838 on Ogmore Downs where the soil was very sandy. The course, unusually shaped in the form of the number 6, catered for races up to 2 miles, but also had a 6 furlong sprint section. After the inaugural two day meeting, beginning on Wednesday 29th August 1838, an Ordinary was served at The Wyndham Arms. Racing then ceased for over 20 years before being revived for just 2 years in 1859. On Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th June 1859 the Down was studded with shows, theatre des Arts, roulette tables and refreshment booths, whilst a grandstand towered above them all. Appropriately enough the day opened with the Revival Stakes Handicap over a mile and a half which was won by Mr Parr’s Dove, defeating Table Bay and Sweetbriar. The Glamorganshire Stakes Handicap went to Mr A Hopkins’s Grillade, while the Handicap Hurdle saw Topsy beat Boadicea and Haphazard. An Ordinary for 50 gentlemen was served at the Wyndham Arms at the end of the first day, while the second day began with a Selling Stakes which went to Mr Potter’s Table Bay. The Commercial Visitors Plate, over a mile and a half, was won by Mr Melverley’s Toddy. The final 2 day meeting took place on Wednesday 11th July 1860 when Mr E Foulkes’ Buss won the Consolation Stakes, bringing to an end Bridgend races. It provided some compensation for Buss, having been defeated earlier in the afternoon by Timandra in the Glamorganshire Handicap Stakes over 2 miles. |
Tuesday 10th July 1860
Glamorganshire Handicap Stakes over 2 miles
1. Timandra, brown filly owned by Mr T Stevens
2. Buss, chestnut mare owned by Mr E Foulkes
3. Lady Bird, chestnut filly owned by Mr Thomas |
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 |
