Earliest meeting: Monday 25th August 1760
Final meeting: Monday 25th March 1845
The County Kildare town of Celbridge, on the River Liffey, first held races in 1760. Results from the meeting held on Monday 25th August were reported in the ‘Historical List of Horse Races & Matches of 1760’ indicating that Mr Forster’s bay colt Promise beat a field of six after two heats, including Mr St Leger’s bay filly. Two years later the meeting had stretched over four days, starting on Tuesday 21st September 1762, when Lord Mount Eagle’s Dove beat Edmond and Bandy to land the 4 year old Stakes. On subsequent days Lady Caroline, Speedwell and Pickpocket won the days feature races. In the middle of the 19th century the races were moved to the Newtown course and in 1844 the Naas Challenge Cup was contested for the first time. The next year, on Monday 25th March 1845, the trophy was won by Mr Mangan’s Switcher, getting the better of Pullaway and Clinker. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Mount Eagle, Colonel Archdale, Captain French, Mr St Leger |
| Principal Races |
Weight for age Handicaps, Celbridge 3YO & 4YO Stakes |
25th August 1760 |
Celbridge 4 year old Stakes
1. Promise, bay colt owned by Mr Forster
2. Unnamed bay filly owned by Mr St Leger
3. Unnamed black colt owned by Mr Lilly |
Tuesday 21st To Friday 24th September 1762 |
Celbridge 4 Year Old Stakes over 2 miles
1. Dove owned by Lord Mount Eagle
2. Edmond owned by Mr O’Hara
3. Bandy owned by Mr Mervin
Celbridge Sweepstakes over 2 ¾ miles
1. Lady Caroline owned by Mr Fortescue
2. Mrs Dogherty owned by Captain French
3. Quaker owned by Mr Connelly
Celbridge 3 Year Old Stakes over 4 miles
1. Speedwell owned by Mr Tennison
2. Leveller owned by Mr St Leger
3. Orthodox owned by Mr Forster
Celbridge Weight for Age Handicap
1. Pickpocket owned by Mr Connelly
2. Miss Snap owned by Colonel Archdale
3. Bajazetta owned by Mr Fortescue
Celbridge Purse
1. Lady Caroline owned by Mr Fortescue
2. Passenger owned by Mr Forster
3. Strongbow owned by Mr Connelly |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 25th March 1845. |
| Course today |
On the Newtown course. |
| 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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