Earliest meeting: Wednesday 27th June 1731
Final meeting: Tuesday 17th October 1876
Coventry is in the West Midlands, although historically it has been part of Warwickshire, and is England’s tenth largest city. The first time results of races held in the city were reported was in 1731 when Baily’s Racing Register included the meeting. It was a 3 day meeting extending from Wednesday 27th to Friday 29th June 1731 and the prestigious Prince of Wales Purse was won by Lord Halifax’s Crispin, while the lowly Selling Purse was captured by Peggy-Grieves-Me from Now-or-Never. A century later the Spring Meeting took place on Thursday 29th March 1838 on an elongated oval course of circumference 9 furlongs with a straight run in of 2 ½ furlongs. Sprint races were contested on the last half mile and had a slight uphill finish. The principal race was the Tally-Ho Stakes which went to Goldicote ridden by the famous Captain Becher. On Wednesday 11th March 1846 there was a fair tussle between two prominent owners in the City Handicap over 2 miles. In the end Lord Brookes’ Roebuck got the better of Sir C J Cockerell’s Niobe. The final meeting took place on Tuesday 17th October 1876. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
HRH The Prince of Wales, Lord Halifax, Lord Brookes, Sir J Gerard, Sir C J Cockerell, Captain de Sale |
| Principal Races |
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales Purse, Coventry Silver Cup, Craven Trial Stakes, Coventry City Handicap, Coventry Hurdle, Tally-Ho Stakes |
Wednesday 27th to Friday 29th June 1731 |
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales Purse
1. Crispin owned by Lord Halifax
2. Sloven owned by Mr Neale
3. Prince of Wales owned by Mr Cornwall
Coventry 20 Guineas Selling Purse
1. Peggy-grieves-me owned by Mr Neale
2. Now-or-Never owned by Mr Mackworth |
The Sporting Magazine records the early Spring meeting of the year took place at the Coventry and Warwick racecourse on Thursday 29th March 1838. Details of the 1838 races were:-
Coventry Tally-Ho Stakes
1. Goldicote ridden by Captain Becher
2. Village Lass ridden by William Sadler |
Wednesday 11th March 1846 |
The Craven Trial Stakes over a mile
1. Buttress owned by Mr Hook
2. Pantasa owned by Sir J Gerard
3. Highfield owned by Mr W Scott
The Coventry City Handicap over 2 miles
1. Roebuck owned by Lord Brookes
2. Niobe owned by Sir C J Cockerell
3. Exhort owned by Mr Escott
Coventry Hurdle over 2 miles with 6 hurdles
1. Tom Tough owned by Mr Southby
2. Isabelle owned by Captain de Sale
3. Isaac owned by Mr Collins |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 17th October 1876. |
| Course today |
An oval course with circumference of 9 furlongs and a slightly uphill finish of 2 ½ furlongs. |
| 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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