Earliest meeting: Tuesday 17th April 1838
Final meeting: Wednesday 3rd April 1839
The Cheshire village of Carden is comprised of Higher and Lower Carden, both being close to Cardan Park. At one stage a racecourse was formed on the Park and first held races on Tuesday 17th April 1838. Today the Carden Park Hotel is set in 1000 acres of glorious Cheshire countryside, but at the meeting in 1838 the Carden Sweepstake was won by Billy-the-Beau owned by Mr Tuthill. The feature race was sponsored by Mr Leche, the then Master of the Cheshire Hounds, who donated a Gold Cup which went to Abbeyfield. The next year the meeting was staged on Wednesday 3rd April 1839 on a course under Carden Cliff. The course was a well chosen line of country with good fences, stiff hedges, 3 brooks and a wide drain to finish. The opening Sweepstakes was won by Mr J F Knaresbro’s Leander, while the principal Carden Steeplechase went to Sir Arthur, owned by Mr J H S Barry, who beat Derrynane and Lushingham. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain France, Mr Leche (Master of the Cheshire Hounds) |
| Principal Races |
Carden Cup, Carden Sweepstakes |
Tuesday 17th April 1838 |
Carden Cup donated by Mr Leche, Master of Cheshire Hounds
1. Abbeyfield owned by Mr Ford
2. Dictator owned by Captain France
3. Rat-Tail owned by Mr Sparling
Carden Sweepstakes
1. Billy-The-Beau owned by Mr Tuthill
2. La Fayette owned by Mr Watson
3. Maid-of-the-Mill owned by Mr Cockerill |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 3rd April 1839. |
| Course today |
The grounds are now part of Carden Park Golf course, which also has a number of historic holiday cottages. |
| 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 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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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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