Earliest meeting: Monday 3rd August 1885
Final meeting: Monday 14th November 1887
The Cumbrian village of Dalston, on the River Caldew, is in the Carlisle region of the county, about 4 miles from the city centre. Dalston Hall, a baronial hall, was built around 1500 by John Dalston. Despite it being a small village it organised race meetings, initially on Monday 3rd August 1885 under Grand National Rules, and this went so well that there was a surplus of money sufficient to fund a second meeting two years later. The second meeting, under ‘British racing rules’ took place in the Greenhead area of the village on Monday 14th November 1887. The five race card opened with the Caldew Handicap in which Mr J Robb’s Florist beat Lady Oghlitha and Kewbury, while the Ladies Plate went to Prattles for Mr J Scott, defeating Water Lillie and Lady Nelly. The Dalston Hurdle over 1 ½ miles turned out to be a match in which Mr C Kidd’s Kewbury beat Lady Oghlitha, and the feature race, the Licensed Victuallers Handicap was won by Florist. Clearly there were insufficient funds for any further meetings. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr C Jackson, Mr W Trimble, Mr J Harrison (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Caldew Handicap, Dalston Ladies Plate, Dalston Hurdle Plate, Tenant Farmers Hurdle, Licensed Victaullers’ Handicap |
Monday 14th November 1887
Licensed Victaullers’ Handicap over 1 mile
1. Florist, bay colt owned by Mr J Robb
2. Lady Oghlitha, bay mare owned by Mr T E Courtenay
3. What’s Wanted, bay colt owned by Mr T Sever |
The only recorded meeting took place on Monday 14th November 1887. |
| Course today |
In the Greenhead area of the village. |
| 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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