Earliest meeting: Thursday 11th November 1880
Final meeting: Thursday 9th November 1882
The South-West county of Dorset borders Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire. Its county town is Dorchester, which was made famous by the novels of Thomas Hardy. The county joined forces with South Wilts to organise race meetings in the latter part of the 19th century, the first of which took place on Thursday 11th November 1880. The course, over flat grassland and easy fences, was in Gillingham, just 5 minutes walk from the station, and the South Western Railway laid on excursion trains for the event. The principal event was the Wolverton Cup, kindly donated by Lord Wolverton, which was won by Mr A Clark’s Rafter on Thursday 10th November 1881. Meetings continued for just one more year until Thursday 9th November 1882. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Wolverton, Earl Radnor, Lord Portman, Lord Pembroke |
| Principal Races |
Wolverton Cup, Blackmoor Vale Steeplechase |
Thursday 10th November 1881
Wolverton Cup over 2 ½ miles
1. Rafter, grey gelding owned by Mr A Clark
2. Vendetta, bay mare owned by Mr A Driend
3. MP, bay gelding owned by Mr R Lemon
Betting: Evens Rafter, 2/1 MP, 3/1 Vendetta |
The final meeting took place on Thursday 9th November 1882. |
| Course today |
In Gillingham, just 5 minutes walk from the station. |
| 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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