Earliest meeting: Wednesday 22nd April 1863
Final meeting: Thursday 25th November 1920
Although West Somerset races were held on an informal basis in the early years of the 19th century they were not thought to be of sufficient importance to be widely reported. However, the inaugural meeting of the West Somerset Steeplechases, under the guidance of chief Stewards Lord Poltimore and Captain Poulett, was held on Wednesday 22nd April 1863 on the Hazelbury Vale course 3 miles from Crewkerne. The 3 mile course consisted of 30 fences, including a water jump and a stone wall, although riders could avoid this and choose a rail of the same height adjacent to it. It was reported that a crowd in excess of 6000 attended and, after racing, a public dinner was held at the George Hotel, Crewkerne. Three years later the course was chosen to host a special race in the National Hunt calendar. The two day meeting took place at nearby Haselbury Plucknett from Tuesday 10th to Wednesday 11th April 1866. The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, now contested at the annual Cheltenham Festival in March, was held at Crewkerne in 1866 when won by Shangarry ridden by Alec Goodman. Two years after the great race Haselbury lost favour with the Stewards who sought a new course in the vicinity of the Somerset town of Crewkerne, on the River Parrett nine miles South West of Yeovil. On Tuesday 24th March 1868 the meeting moved to West Chinnock and remained there for twenty years. A remarkable, Frankie Dettori type of event occurred at the 1878 meeting when, on Tuesday 19th March the amateur jockey Ted Wilson won all six races. His first victory was aboard Lady Shrewsbury in the Harriers’ Cup steeplechase, four more victories followed, and his final ride on Lothiar in the Crewkerne Handicap Chase was also a winning ride. Between 1877 and 1883 he also won four National Hunt Chase Challenge Cups at various courses, but never at Crewkerne. The final Flat race meeting was held on Wednesday 18th May 1870, although National Hunt racing continued at West Chinnock until the 1888 meeting. Racing then ceased in West Chinnock and the next time a race meeting occurred at Crewkerne was on a newly laid out course on Roundham Common in 1906. Meetings continued until the outbreak of War, ceasing between 1914 and 1999. Although racing was scheduled to return in October, the meeting had to be abandoned due to the coal strike and a final two day meeting was held on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th November 1920.
Prince of Wales, Lord Poltimore, Earl of Ilchester, Ted Wilson, Alec Goodman
National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, Haselbury Handicap Hurdle
Wednesday 22nd April 1863
Crewkerne Stakes (40 sovereigns)
(Restricted to horses the property of residents within 10 miles of Crewkerne)
1. Irene owned by Mr W H Richards and ridden by Mr J W Richards
2. Chance owned by Mr Eler and ridden by Mr Staples
3. The General owned by Mr Matthew and ridden by Mr A Bevis
West Somerset Steeplechase (50 sovereigns)
1. Saracens Head owned by Mr Hutchinson and ridden by A Gregory
2. Goldfinder owned by Mr Smith and ridden by Mr E G Hussey
3. The Martyr owned by Mr Cox and ridden by B Land junior
4. Tomboy owned by Mr Hambro and ridden by Mr G Barry
5. Blackhawk owned by Mr Hitchings and ridden by Hitchings junior
6. Blue Bottle owned by Mr Guest and ridden by Mr C Friend
7. The General owned by Mr T Matthews and ridden by Mr Staples
The General fell at the second last whilst in second place and broke his back.
Hunters Stakes (40 sovereigns)
1. Cyclone owned by Mr W H Richards and ridden by Mr J W Richards
2. Brunette owned by Mr Hambro and ridden by Mr Hiscock
3. Bishop owned by Mr Waller and ridden by Mr Grace
4. Best Man owned by Mr E R King and ridden by Mr Smith
5. Creeping Jane owned by Mr W Brown and ridden by Mr G Barry
6. Wrinkle owned by Mr W Symonds and ridden by Mr A Bevis
Selling Stakes (25 sovereigns)
1. Goldfinder owned by Mr W Smith and ridden by Mr E G Hussey
2. Cardinal owned by Captain Firth and ridden by Mr Jarvis
3. Queen of the Vale owned by Mr W Brown and ridden by Mr T Saunders
4. The Nun owned and ridden by Mr J W Richards
5. Butterfly owned by Mr Eler and ridden by Mr Hole
6. Admiral of the Red owned by Mr J E Lewis and ridden by Mr Whitmore
7. Warrior owned by Mr Francis and ridden by Mr Warr
Arguably the most famous meeting held in the vicinity of Crewkerne was in 1866 at the Haselbbury course under the Stewardship of the Duke of Beaufort, the Earl of Westmoreland, the Earl of Coventry, Earl Poulett and the Earl of Cork. It was reported that a crowd of about 60,000 attended the two day meeting on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th April 1866. The Stand, whose roof was of fluted zinc supported by wooden pillars, accommodated 1500 people and was on the summit of a hill at the top of a gradual slope down to the valley of Haselbury, from which the whole course could be seen. Under the chief stand was a commodious weighing room, and at its rear was a large saddling paddock. The number of jumps was increased to 35, with a second water jump also added. The chief race on the first day was the Grand National Hunt Steeplechase, while on the second day the West Somerset Open Handicap Steeplechase was held.
Tuesday 10th April 1866
Grand National Hunt Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Shangarry (6/5 fav) a brown horse owned by Mr E Studd and ridden by Goodman
2. Golden Drop (10/1) chestnut gelding owned by Mr Yate Hunt and ridden by Lawrence
3. Helice (20/1) bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Bidgood
4. Milford (10/1) bay gelding owned by Mr T Moore and ridden by Edwards
5. Forester (10/1) chestnut gelding owned by Mr Grosvenor and ridden by Colonel Knox
6. Sutton (10/1) bay gelding owned by Mr H I Wilkinson and ridden by Wickham
7. Tom Moody (6/1) bay gelding owned by Sir F Johnstone and ridden by R Walker
8. The Drone (100/7) bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr A Peel
9. Coleman (100/7) chestnut gelding owned by Captain W H Cooper and ridden by P Barker
10. Brunswick (20/1) bay horse owned and ridden by Mr J H Wright
11. Black Drake (33/1) black gelding owned by Mr J W Gibson-Watt and ridden by W H White
12. Tally-Ho (25/1) bay gelding owned by Mr W Robinson and ridden by Thomas
13. Wilverley (20/1) brown gelding owned by Captain H B Powell and ridden by Lord C Kerr
14. Aprilis (20/1) brown horse owned by Mr J Owen and ridden by F Wombwell
15. The Planter (25/1) brown gelding owned and ridden by Mr R Harvey
16. Nimrod (33/1) bay gelding owned by Mr Barnes and ridden by Munford
17. Robin (100/8) chestnut gelding owned and ridden by Mr F G Morgan
The second day of the famous 1866 meeting was staged on Wednesday 11th April and featured the West Somerset Open Handicap Steeplechase which proved to be just as important as the previous days Grand National Hunt Steeplechase. A significant entry in the Open race was the 1866 Aintree Grand National winner Salamander, but it was to prove to be a fateful decision to run him.
Wednesday 11th April 1866
West Somerset (£200) Open Handicap Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Old Oswestry, chestnut horse owned by Mr Halford and ridden by B Land
2. Daisy, bay gelding owned by Mr Annesley and ridden by J Pope
3. Bristle, brown horse owned and ridden by Mr A Yates
4. Hornet, brown horse owned by Mr Halford and ridden by Griffiths
5. Pixie, brown horse owned by Mr Magenis and ridden by J Page
6. King of Hearts, bay gelding owned by Mr W Robinson and ridden by Waddington
7. Salamander, brown gelding owned by Mr E Studd and ridden by H Goodman
In a highly competitive race the 1866 Grand National winner Salamander was always up with the pace, sharing the lead with Old Oswestry. After jumping the last the pair raced neck and neck until, 300 yards from the line, Salamander broke down leaving Old Oswestry to win as he pleased. It transpired Salamander had broken his back and he was ordered to be put down immediately. Although it is not certain, given that horse boxes had first been used in 1836, it is likely 30 years later that a horse box was used to remove Salamander from the racecourse back to his stables.
At the end of the 1867 season the West Somerset Steeplechase committee accepted that the Haselbury racecourse was no longer suitable, meaning they had to find an alternative. Suitable ground, owned by the Earl of Ilchester, was located at West Chinnock, 2 ½ miles from Crewkerne, on pasture land with stiff, but fair, fences, 2 water jumps and no wall or double bank. The course was situated in a picturesque undulating valley between the hill on which the village was built, and Balsam Hill on the Chesilborough side. From the eminence on which the grandstand was erected the whole course could be viewed. The racecourse was a 2 ½ mile circuit which was divided by a dozen fences, none of which was very formidable, and two water jumps not as challenging as on the previous Haselbury course. However, there was some criticism of the water jump on the western brook because it did not contain a fence, meaning the horses were able to see the water and were less inclined to jump it. The inaugural 2 day meeting at the new course took place on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th March 1868, the first days card being spectacular, with results given in full below.
Tuesday 24th March 1868
The Martock Cup (20 sovereigns) over 1 mile flat
1. Barumite (6/4) owned by Mr Shore
2. Fugleman (4/5 fav) owned by Mr Brown
3. Emperor (2/1) owned by Captain Talbot
The Sherborne Steeplechase Cup (40 sovereigns) over 2 ½ miles
1. Zephyr (10/1) grey mare owned and ridden by Mr Tabor
2. Leicester (3/1) brown gelding owned by Mr G Hole and ridden by P Merton
3. Peggy (4/1) brown mare owned by Mr Long and ridden by Dowling
4. Elopement (6/4 jt fav) bay gelding owned by Mr Milton
5. Sempstress (4/1) bay gelding owned by Mr Roberts
6. Loving Eyes (6/4 jt fav) bay mare owned by Mr Chapell
7. Fan (10/1) bay gelding owned by Mr Read
Bridport Handicap (25 sovereigns) over 1 ½ miles
1. Vigilant (4/1) owned by Mr Lowden and ridden by Pearson
2. Needle Gun (6/4 fav) owned by Mr Edwyn and ridden by H Sopp
3. Confederate (4/1) owned by Mr Westford and ridden by J Rudd
4. Endsleigh (2/1) owned by Lord Poulett and ridden by Edwards
5. Pinchbook (4/1) owned and ridden by Mr Brico
Dorsetshire Handicap Steeplechase (30 sovereigns) over 2 ½ miles
1. Roue (16/1) owned and ridden by Mr Ellison
2. Mother of Pearl (4/1) owned by Mr H Westford and ridden by J Rudd
3. Lytham (evens fav) owned by Lord Poulett and ridden by Edwards
10 ran
Dorsetshire Hurdle Hunt Cup (40 sovereigns) over 2 ½ miles and 8 flights
1. Frailty (2/1 jt fav) owned by Mr C Friend and ridden by Staple
2. War Eagle (2/1 jt fav) owned by Sir W Call and ridden by Searle
3. Bounty (16/1) owned by Mr English and ridden by P Merton
Haselbury Hurdle Race (25 sovereigns) over 2 ½ miles and 8 hurdles
1. Needle Gun (2/1) owned by Mr Edwyn and ridden by H Sopp
2. Vigilant (2/1) owned by Mr Lowden and ridden by P Merton
3. Nu (6/4 fav) owned by Lord Poulett and ridden by Edwards
4. Young Rainey (6/1) owned by Mr Toogood and ridden by Hitchins
Prince of Wales Gold Cup (100 sovereigns)
1. The Guide (evens fav) owned and ridden by Mr Ellison
2. Elopement owned by Mr Milton and ridden by Captain Hunt
3. Mother of Pearl owned by Mr Morton and ridden by P Morton
The final meeting at the West Chinnock course took place on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th March 1888 under the patronage of the Prince of Wales. In order to provide details of the layout of the course the result of one race, together with a race commentary, is given below.
Tuesday 13th March 1888
Harriers Cup Steeplechase (£21) over 2 miles
1. Stella (2/1 jt fav) brown mare owned and ridden by Mr J Saunders
2. Jack (4/1) brown gelding owned by Mr J Tolman and ridden by Cable
3. Temptation (4/1) chestnut gelding owned by Mr Davis and ridden by Palmer
4. Dandy (4/1) bay gelding owned by Mr J Hawkins and ridden by E Hawkins
5. Pilgrim (2/1 jt fav) owned by Mr Raymond Ross and ridden by Fitzmaurice
The runners got off together at the first time of asking, with Temptation setting the early pave from Jack and Stella, closely followed by Dandy and Pilgrim. This order was maintained for the first mile, but on passing Chinnock village Jack took the lead. At the West Chinnock water jump the joint favourite Pilgrim fell, leaving Stella to take control, leading the field under Balsam Hill and on to the Chiselborough water jump where the remaining 4 runners bunched up. However, immediately after jumping the final water jump Stella strode on again and built a commanding lead, winning unchallenged by 30 lengths, followed by Jack, Temptation and Dandy at the rear.
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
