Earliest meeting: Monday 26th October 1846
Final meeting: Monday 25th October 1858
The Staffordshire town of Cannock is located in the south of the county on the edge of Cannock Chase. It was recorded in the Domesday Book when known as Chenet, which later evolved into Chnoc, Cnot, Canot and Canoc. It first held races on common ground on Monday 26th October 1846 when results were reported in the Sporting Magazine. The Cannock Ladies Plate, over 3 miles, was won by Mr Meeson’s The Dart, while the Selling Stakes went to Mr Barton’s Reliance. The meeting took place again in 1847 before a lapse of 11 years. That 1847 meeting staged races on the first day, while the second day was called ‘amusement of the million’, consisting of wheelbarrow races, hurdles races and goose jingling. After racing an Ordinary was served at the Crown Hotel hosted by Mr Davenport. The final meeting took place on Monday 25th October 1858, opening with the Cannock Stakes which was won by The Buss for Mr Jones; the Anglesey Stakes went to Scyllas for Mr Cliff, and the All-Age Selling Stakes to Mr Page’s Sobieski.
Monday 26th October 1846
The Cannock Ladies Plate over 3 miles
1. The Dart owned by Mr Meeson
2. Idolator owned by Mr Raworth
3. Lady Claremont owned by Mr Smith
The Cannock Selling Stakes over 2 miles
1. Reliance owned by Mr Barton
2. Unnamed filly by Talleyrand owned by Mr E L Charlton
3. The Bird owned by Mr W T Riley
The Cannock Hurdle Stakes over 2 miles and 4 leaps
1. T’Auld Squire owned by Mr Tempest
2. Jerry owned by Mr J S Moseley
3. Forest Boy owned by Mr Higgin
The front cover/ principal races from this rare racecard are provided courtesy of the Robert Shaw collection.
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
