Earliest meeting: Friday 13th April 1894
Final meeting: April 1899
The hamlet of Carnsalloch on the River Nith is located on the outskirts of Dumfries and once boasted the magnificent Carnsalloch House. However, this was destroyed by a fire in 2015. Although the Dumfries Racecourse held its final meeting on Wednesday 13th October 1847, within a year hunters and hounds were introduced into the area by Joe Graham.  It was five years later that the first race meeting organised by the Hunt Committee took place at Leafield on 8th April 1853, followed by Dalton, Lockerbie, and Collin. After the Hunt Group left Collin they chose Carnsalloch, holding a race meeting there on Friday 13th April 1894 and continuing at the same course until 1899.  The racecourse was at Riggfoot near Carnsalloch and was supported by the Marquis of Queensberry and Sir Robert Jardine. The inaugural meeting was held in April 1895 when Jock Fegusson rode four winners, starting with O’Kuspodos, then Little Joe and Miss Kate before winning for a second time on O’Kuspodos. Two years later, at the meeting on Tuesday 13th April 1897, the opening Lockerbie Hurdle was won by Athelfrith, beating Peterman and Expert. The feature Dumfriesshire Hunt Cup went to The Possible, while the Dumfries Burgh Chase was won by Mr R T Bell’s Little Joe. The final meeting at Riggfoot was held in April 1899. Racing organised by the Hunt Committee continued at a number of venues until its final meeting at Justinlees in 1914.

Marquis of Queensberry, Sir Robert Jardine, Joe Graham, Captain David Johnstone

The Silver Snuff-Box, The Silver Jug, Dumfriesshire Hunt Cup, Border Hunt Chase

Tuesday 13th April 1897
Dumfriesshire Hunt Cup over 3 miles
1. The Possible, aged horse owned by Mr R T Bell
2. Miss Kate, aged mare owned by Mr J Rutherford
3. Guardrail, aged horse owned by Mr John Bell-Irving
Betting: 4/7 Miss kate, 5/1 Once Again, 6/1 The Possible

Whilst there was a single meeting held on Tuesday 1st April 1924, the area still to this day holds successful point to point meetings at Lockerbie.

Over fair hunting ground at Riggfoot on the outskirts of Carnsalloch.

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