Earliest meeting: Thursday 4th October 1849
Final meeting: Thursday 18th September 1856
The small West Somerset town of Dulverton, on the edge of the Exmoor National Park, has a rich history dating back before the 1086 Domesday Book. In the book it was known as Dolvertune and was, at the time, the home of a royal manor. Later, in 1568, the manor was purchased by the Sydenham family. Close by are the Iron Age hillforts of Oldberry Castle, Brewer’s Castle and Mounsey Castle. Alongside the town of Dulverton are the hamlets of Battleton and Aswick and together the 3 formed a parish which held its own race meetings organised by the Dulverton Hunt committee. The earliest record of a meeting under rules was on Thursday 4th October 1849 when it was staged at Exebridge, one and a half miles from the town. Racing continued annually and on Wednesday 14th September 1853 the Exebridge course thronged with aristocratic four-in-hands, humble one-horse carts and people on Shank’s pony, all seeking the pleasure and thrill of a day at the races. The Dulverton Stakes was won by Polena beating Poly and Reindeer, while the Ladies Plate went to Lady Gray who defeated Lottery and Lady Western. After racing there was an Ordinary served at the Red Lion. On Thursday 13th September 1855 a grand steeplechase was the feature of the card and was won by Mull’d Port owned by Mr George Toms. The final meeting under rules was staged on Thursday 18th September 1856, although point to point meetings continued, and a meeting jointly hosted by Dulverton and Anstey took place on Thursday 6th September 1877. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr J N Marshall, Mr Tolley, Mr George Toms |
| Principal Races |
Dulverton Steeplechase, Dulverton Ladies Plate, Dulverton Hunters Stakes |
Thursday 13th September 1855
Dulverton Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Mull’d Port, chestnut horse owned by Mr George Toms
2. Miss Nightingale, grey mare owned by Mr Brooks
3. Ben Brace, bay horse owned by Mr Sutton |
The only recorded meeting took place on Thursday 18th September 1856. |
| Course today |
At Exebridge 1 ½ miles from Dulverton. |
| 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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