Earliest meeting: April 1752
Final meeting: Tuesday 13th April 1852
The County Cork town of Doneraile, on the River Awbeg, is located 7 miles north of Mallow. Its townsfolk claim that the steeplechase is so named because it was first run in April 1752 between the church steeples of Doneraile and neighbouring Buttevant, a distance of 5.6 miles. Perhaps to mark the centenary of this event a steeplechase meeting did take place in the immediate vicinity of Doneraile on Tuesday 13th April 1852 and attracted a large assembly of people. The 3 ½ mile course was over stiff country, with 18 challenging fences and a water jump, and the feature chase was won by Lord Waterford’s Warner. A supporting Weight for Age Sweepstake saw Mr Hurley’s 4 year old Erin defeat The Maid of Clonmel and Irish Maid. There is no evidence that a similar race to mark the 200th anniversary was held in April 1952. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Waterford, Mr Hurley |
| Principal Races |
Doneraile Stewards Sweepstake, Doneraile Weight for Age Handicap |
Tuesday 13th April 1852
Doneraile Stewards Sweepstake over 3 ½ miles
1. Warner, bay gelding owned by Lord Waterford
2. Shamrock, bay gelding owned by Mr Moloney
3. Joan, grey mare owned by Mr Driscoll
4. Montreal, bay gelding owned by Mr Creagh |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 13th April 1852. |
| Course today |
A 3 ½ mile course containing 18 challenging fences. |
| 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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