Earliest meeting: Monday 9th August 1841
Final meeting: Thursday 20th September 1900
The South Devon coastal town of Dawlish today boasts a population in excess of 12000, but in the early 18th Century it was just a small fishing port. It later developed into a popular seaside resort and first held races on Monday 9th August 1841 when they were billed as Mount Pleasant Races. The next year a two day meeting was held on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd September 1842 on the Seckmaton Estate, near Wick, just a mile from Dawlish. The opening Ladies Purse saw Gay Lass beat Lady Ellen and Black Jack, and the same horse won the Tally Ho Stakes on the second day. Meetings continued to be held annually, although some cards mixed thoroughbred racing with pony racing and Galloways. On Thursday 20th September 1894 the steeplechase meeting was held in fields owned by Mr J Bowerman and Mr J Cole when the Dawlish Plate saw Squireen defeat Jenny Llad and Kaiser, while the Open Steeplechase was won by Parr for Mr Lamacraft. The final meeting under rules was staged on Thursday 20th September 1900 and despite only 33 horses entered for the entire meeting, a competitive card ensued. After the War had ended a revival meeting took place on Thursday 30th September 1920, although the card included pony racing. |
This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Walter Bulteel |
| Principal Races |
Dawlish Open Handicap Steeplechase, Stewards Steeplechase, South Devon Hurdle |
Thursday 20th September 1894
Dawlish Open Steeplechase over 2 ½ miles
1. Parr, aged horse owned by Mr Lamacraft
2. Tavistock Lass, aged mare owned by Mr Hannaford
3. Old Fashioned, aged horse owned by Mr Killand |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 20th September 1900. |
| Course today |
Initially on the Seckmaton Estate, and then steeplechase meetings in fields owned by Messrs Cole and Bowerman. |
| 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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