COVERDALE RACECOURSE

Aintree racecourse;Ascot;Ayr;Bangor;Bath;Beverley;Brighton;Carlisle;Cartmel;Catterick;Cheltenham Festival;Chepstow;Chester;Doncaster St Leger;Epsom Derby;Exeter racecourse;Fakenham;Folkestone;Fontwell Park;Glorious Goodwood;Hamilton Park;Haydock Park;Hereford Racecourse;Hexham;Huntingdon;Kelso;Kempton Park;Leicester;Lingfield;Ludlow;Market Rasen;Musselburgh;Newbury Racecourse;Newcastle;Newmarket;Newton Abbot;Nottingham;Perth;Plumpton;Pontefract Racecourse;Redcar;Ripon;Salisbury;Sandown Park;Sedgefield;Southwell;Stratford;Taunton;Thirsk;Towcester;Uttoxeter;Warwick;Wetherby;Wincanton;Windsor;Wolverhampton;Worcester;Yarmouth;York Ebor

Earliest meeting: Thursday 31st January 1867
Final meeting: Wednesday 6th January 1869
Coverdale lies in a beautiful area of the North Yorkshire Dales stretching from Wensleydale to Park Rash Pass. It takes its name from the River Cover and today the only access to the Dale is via a single track road. In the 19th century Coverdale Steeplechases were held close to the training establishments of Topgill and Ashgill. The one mile round course with 9 leaps was situated on the edge of town and every part of the course was visible to spectators. The opening meeting was held on Thursday 31st January 1867 and started with the Hunt Steeplechase which was won by Mr J Osborne’s Bellerby. Races under rules continued for 2 more years until the final recorded meeting under rules was on Wednesday 6th January 1869.
This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.
Local Patrons Mr Hodgkins
Principal Races Hunt Steeplechase, Coverham Open Steeplechase

Thursday 31st January 1867
Coverham Open Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. The Witch, chestnut mare owned by Mr Hodgkins
2. Topsy, chestnut mare owned by Mr J Harrison
3. Raxer, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Dawson

The only recorded meeting took place on Wednesday 6th January 1869.
Course today A one mile round course with 9 leaps on the edge of 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

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.
ORDER FORM
Download an order form
  Quantity Cost
Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage    
Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage    
Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage    
Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage    
Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage    
Postage & Packaging    
Total    
Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com