Earliest meeting: Wednesday 15th March 1848
Final meeting: Wednesday 15th March 1848
The tiny West Wales village of Castlemartin in Pembrokeshire is situated some 8 kilometres south-west of Pembroke and just 7 kilometres south-east of Angle. The village has a long history centered round the church of St Martin which boasts a stone pillar dating back to the 7th century. It also has its own motte and bailey castle from the Norman period. Back in the mid-1800s the village held its own races on Wednesday 15th March 1848 when a 3 mile steeplechase was contested by 5 runners. The course began in the neighbourhood of Hodgeston and wound its way 3 miles towards Castlemartin. The winner was Mr R L Phillips’s Squire Ugly, seeing off the challenge of Peliss and Cock Robin. Later in the day the Scurry Stakes, for which 8 started, was won by The Bachelor. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr R L Phillips, Mr Lort Phillips, Mr J David |
| Principal Races |
Castlemartin Steeplechase, Scurry Stakes |
Wednesday 15th March 1848
Castlemartin Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. Squire Ugly, aged horse owned by Mr R L Phillips
2. Peliss, aged horse owned by Mr J David
3. Cock Robin, aged horse owned by Mr Lort Phillips
4. Cabinboy, aged horse owned by Mr Powell
5. Will Watch, aged horse owned by Mr Lloyd |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 15th March 1848. |
| Course today |
A 3 mile course starting in the neighbourhood of Hodgeston. |
| 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. |
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