Earliest meeting: Thursday 12th June 1851
Final meeting: Thursday 16th June 1859
Today Chislehurst is a suburban district of South East London just 17 kilometres south east of Charing Cross, but in the middle of the 19th century it was in Kent and once had its own racecourse. The town celebrated Whitsuntide with a week of festivities and Fairs, but Thursday was always reserved for the races, although more often than not these were pony races. On Thursday 12th June 1851 a meeting was staged, consisting of a two race card. The programme opened with a Pony race which was won by Mr Howard. The later Hack Race proudly claimed it was ‘open to all Engand’ and was won by Mr Howard’s Little Wonder. Races continued annually, although they were minor events. However, in 1859 the final race programme was extended to a 2 day programme on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th June 1859. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Howard, Mr Moss, Mr Jones, Mr Evans |
| Principal Races |
Chislehurst Hack Stakes |
Thursday 12th June 1851
Chislehurst Hack Stakes
1. Little Wonder, aged horse owned by Mr Howard
2. Miles’s Boy, aged horse owned by Mr Moss
3. Genuine, aged horse owned by Mr Evans
4. Polly, bay mare owned by Mr Jones |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 16th June 1859. |
| Course today |
On common land in the centre of the town. |
| 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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