Earliest meeting: Wednesday 21st April 1852
Final meeting: Wednesday 21st April 1852
The Lancashire village of Burscough is a large village in the west of the county, close to Ormskirk and Skelmersdale. Originally Burscough and Burscough Bridge were two small farming villages before merging to form the larger village. The village held its own races in the mid-1850s, although the only recorded event was on Wednesday 21st April 1852. The 3 mile sweepstake was contested on the edge of the village over fields owned by Mrs Williams and Mr Reynolds and attracted a great number of spectators. The opening race, the Packet House Stakes over 3 miles, was won by Mr G Palmer’s bay mare Mrs Moore, beating Chieftain and Escapade. However, the main sweepstake provided the opportunity for Chieftain to gain his revenge. 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 Mawdsley, Mr Reynolds, Mrs Williams |
| Principal races |
Burscough Bridge Sweepstake, Packet House Stakes |
Wednesday 21st April 1852
Burscough Bridge Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. Chieftain, bay horse owned by Mr Smith
2. Ruby, chestnut mare owned by Mr W Mawdsley
3. Unnamed brown gelding owned by Mr Bretherton
4. Unnamed bay mare owned by Mr Twining |
| Course today |
A 3 mile course over fields owned by Mrs Williams and Mr Reynolds on the edge of Burscough. |
| 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 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|