Earliest meeting: Monday 14th August 1751
Final meeting: Thursday 19th April 1917
The County Tipperary town of Cashel is in the southern part of the county and today boasts a population of less than 3000 inhabitants. However, in the middle of the 18th century there was an appetite in the town for racing which was first staged in 1751. The ‘Historical List of Horse-Matches Run in 1751’ recorded that a five day meeting was held in October 1751, opening on Monday 14th October with a £20 Plate which was won by Mr Kissin’s Fox. The next day the more valuable £30 Plate went to William Brownlow’s Black Shuttle. Sir Edward O’Brien was a strong supporter of the course and captured the feature race on Thursday 17th October with his bay horse Ranger. In 1777, to further promote their races, Cashel promised there would be assemblies every night for the Ladies and Gentlemen during the meeting, with no more than a guinea charged for a bed during the week. Races continued on a very regular basis, with the course attracting some prominent sponsors. On Monday 4th August 1794 Viscount Landaff sponsored the principal Plate which was won by Colonel Hyde’s Lady Ann. The Irish Racing Calendar, which up to 1797 had diligently published results from most large meetings, failed to include Cashel results in its publication, and in 1798 no Calendar was issued. In the early 1840s the track received a boost when the Dublin to Cashel railway opened, making the course more accessible to a wider group of punters. Racing lapsed for a brief period in the 19th century, but returned in 1853. The course continued to progress and attract vast crowds, although profits were not always used for the benefit of the course. Necessary improvements were not carried out and when an Irish Racecourse inspection committee was formed in the early 20th century, Cashel was one of the courses requiring improvement. The final meeting took place on Thursday 19th April 1917.
Monday 14th October 1751
Cashel £20 Plate
1. Fox, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Kissin
Tuesday 15th October 1751
Cashel £30 Plate
1. Black Shuttle, black mare owned by William Brownlow
Wednesday 16th October 1751
Cashel £20 Hunters Plate
1. Fox-Hunter, bay gelding owned by Robert Brown
Thursday 17th October 1751
Cashel £30 Plate
1. Ranger, bay horse owned by Sir Edward O’Brien
Friday 18th October 1751
Cashel £20 Plate
1. Moll Hack About, grey mare owned by Maurice Keating
In 1794 The Irish Racing Calendar was published by its proprietor P. Sharkey. It contained an Account of the Plates, Matches and Sweepstakes run for in Ireland from the April Meeting 1794. An extract of this is shown below.
Monday 4th to Saturday 9th August 1794
Viscount Landaff’s Plate over 2 miles
1. Lady Ann owned by Colonel Hyde
2. Moggy Lauder owned by Mr Parker
3. Vagary owned by Mr Brown
Cashel Hunters Plate over 4 miles
1. Taffy owned by Mr Graydon
2. Spott owned by Mr Butler
3. Coldfinder owned by Mr Harris
Cashel £50 Purse over 3 miles
1. Admiral owned by Mr Butler
2. Honest Ned owned by Mr Bell
3. Sweet William owned by Mr Devonshire
Cashel Open Purse over 4 miles
1. Kitty owned by Mr Dennis
2. Taffy owned by Mr Graydon
3. Lady Mary owned by Colonel Lumm
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
