Earliest meeting: Thursday 3rd October 1867
Final meeting: Tuesday 29th September 1874
The tiny village of Cranmore lies to the east of Shepton Mallet in Somerset. It enjoys glorious countryside in the Mendip district of the county and has close links with the nearby hamlets of East Cranmore, Dean and Waterlip. There was sufficient interest back in the late 19th century for races to be staged in the area, the first of which took place on land owned by Captain E C Strode on Thursday 3rd October 1867. The opening race, the Whatley Stakes, was won appropriately by Cranmore Lass. Although the meeting clashed with Bridgwater Races the crowd was boosted by an excursion train from the Great Western Railway. Meetings continued for the next 7 years before a final card was held on Tuesday 29th September 1874. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain E C Strode, Captain Chetham, Major Paget |
| Principal Races |
North Somerset Yeomanry Stakes, Cranmore Stakes, Whatley Stakes |
Thursday 3rd October 1867
North Somerset Yeomanry Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Adam, bay horse owned by Mr James Hoddinott
2. Lady Walton, chestnut mare owned by Mr J Pavey
3. Irish Lass, brown mare owned by Mr G Flowers |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 29th September 1874. |
| Course today |
In fields owned by Captain E C Strode. |
| 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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