Earliest meeting: Sunday 14th March 1841
Final meeting: Monday 28th March 1864
The Worcestershire village of Crowle lies just 4 miles east of the city of Worcester and was the chosen venue of races organised by the Worcestershire Hunt in the mid-1800s. Foxhunting began in the county in 1706 on an informal basis, but much later Major Bland was the First Master before he resigned in 1813. Lord Foley took over for just two years before he also resigned. However, the Hunt has had many prominent Masters, including Lord Coventry, the Earl of Dudley and the famous Marquis of Queensbury. The first race meeting to take place in Crowle was on 14th March 1841 when the Worcestershire Hunt Stakes was won by Ten Pound No Object for Mr Pullen, although for the next 4 years the meeting transferred to Pichcroft before returning to Crowle in March 1846. Crowle later became the chosen course when the Worcestershire Hunt Committee decided to branch out into horse racing, with their first meeting taking place in March 1861. The course was over first class hunting country with every leap visible from a natural grandstand. They were deemed successful and further meetings followed for the next 3 years until a final event on Monday 28th March 1864. At the last meeting the Worcestershire Hunt Cup over 3 ½ miles was won by Mr F Butt’s Foxhunter, while the Froxmer Court Stakes went to Mr Gabriel’s Alexandra. At this point in time, in 1865, Sir Harry Vernon became Master and no further races were held at Crowle. The Worcestershire Hunt continued to hold steeplechase meetings, notably on Friday 17th March 1871, although they later became point to point meetings.

Monday 28th March 1864
Crowle Stakes over 3 ½ miles
1. Over the Sea, aged horse owned by Mr Harvey
2. Miss Emma, aged mare owned by Mr T Fletcher
3. Miss Hawthorne, aged mare owned by Mr J Turner
Betting: Evens Over the Sea, 2/1 Miss Emma, 6/1 Miss Hawthorne

The final meeting took place on Monday 28th March 1864.

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