Earliest meeting: Wednesday 2nd October 1754
Final meeting: Wednesday 6th November 1776
The County Antrim village of Broughshane lies in the borough of Ballymena some 3 miles north east of Ballymena and less than 14 miles north of Antrim. The village is beautifully cared for and its picturesque pub, The Thatch Inn, has a thatched roof and was originally the home of a planter. This seems appropriate given that Broughshane is known as the ‘garden’ village. In the middle of the 18th century the village held its own races with results included in the ‘Historical List of Horse races and matches’. The two day meeting began on Wednesday 2nd October 1754 with a £25 Weight for Age Purse which was won by Tickle Me Tight. The next day the feature £30 Purse was won by Mr Dale’s Hackney. The only other record of racing in the village was a three day meeting from Monday 4th to Wednesday 6th November 1776 when the £50 race on day one went to Mr F Savage’s Humphrey-Clinker, the Plate on day two to the same owner’s Lady Balcarras, while the concluding Plate was won by Steady for Captain McCrea. Although there is no evidence of further meetings, there are clues minor meetings continued. Firstly a meeting of Orangemen took place on Broughshane Racecourse in 1837; secondly the road leading into the village is called Raceview Road, with Raceview Mill on the edge of the village. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Rankin, Captain McCrea |
| Principal Races |
Broughshane Weight for Age £25 Purse |
2nd October 1754 |
Broughshane Weight for Age £25 Purse
1. Tickle me Tight, bay horse owned by Mr Savage
2. Unnamed mare owned by Mr Taaffe
3. Unnamed horse owned by Mr Jones |
3rd October 1754 |
Broughshane £30 Purse
1. Hackney, bay gelding owned by Mr Dale
2. Unnamed mare owned by Captain Rankin
3. Unnamed bay horse owned by Mr Jones |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 6th November 1776. |
| Course today |
In fields on the edge of the village close to Raceview Mill. |
| 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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