Earliest meeting: Monday 10th April 1882
Final meeting: Monday 16th April 1900
The earliest record of a meeting at the Cumbrian village of Burgh-By-Sands was on Monday 10th April 1882 over a 3 mile course in fields on the edge of the village, with entries made at the Victoria Hotel in Carlisle. The meeting was predominantly for Hunters and at that inaugural meeting the principal races were The Solway Plate, The Cumberland Hunt Plate and the 3 mile Border Plate. A special race was held on Monday 7th April 1884 when the chase was won by Old Joe, owned by Mr Douglas. Remarkably, from such a humble beginning, Old Joe went on to win the 1886 Grand National at 25/1 beating Too Good. The final meeting took place on Monday 16th April 1900 when the concluding race, the Burgh Plate, was won by Mr Armstrong’s Emma, although point to point meetings did continue after this date. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Earl of Lonsdale, Right Hon James Lowther (Stewards), Mr Douglas, Mr Armstrong |
| Principal Races |
Solway Plate, Cumberland Hunt Plate, Carlisle Tradesmen’s Cup |
Monday 7thApril 1884 |
Carlisle Tradesmen’s Cup
1. Old Joe owned by Mr Douglas and ridden by Captain Wentworth Hope Johnstone
This was Old Joe’s first race and just 2 years later he won the 1886 Aintree Grand National at 25/1, beating Too Good into second. |
Monday 16th April 1900 |
Burgh Plate
1. Emma owned by Mr Armstrong |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 16th April 1900 |
| Course today |
Over a 3 mile course in fields on the edge of Burgh. |
| 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 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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