Earliest meeting: Monday 7th March 1836
Final meeting: Tuesday 9th March 1841
The Warwickshire village of Dunchurch lies to the south west of Rugby and can trace its history back to the Domesday Book when known as Doncerce. In the middle of the 19th century it held a series of race meetings, the earliest being staged on Monday 7th March 1836 at a course on the edge of the village. At that inaugural meeting the legendary racing character Captain Becher had a good day, riding both Vivian and Lady Teazle to win the two main races. At the meeting on Tuesday 11th February 1840 the 4 mile steeplechase was won by Mr Kilmore’s Lottery at the prohibitive odds of 4/6 favourite, just a year after landing the first Grand National, and just 3 weeks before unsuccessfully defending his title in the 1840 Grand National. Races continued for just one more year until the final meeting on Tuesday 9th March 1841. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir E Mostyn, Captain Lamb, Captain Becher |
| Principal Races |
Dunchurch 4 mile Steeplechase |
Monday 7th March 1836 |
Dunchurch 25 Sovereigns Stakes
1. Vivian owned by Captain Lamb and ridden by Captain Becher
2. Jerry owned by Mr Anderson
3. Warwick owned by Sir E. Mostyn
Dunchurch 10 Sovereigns Sweepstake
1. Lady Teazle owned by Captain Lamb and ridden by Captain Becher
2. Baronet owned by Mr Blick and ridden by Mr Patrick
3. Laura owned by Mr Angerstein and ridden by Mr Newcombe |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 9th March 1841. |
| Course today |
A 4 mile steeplechase course on the edge 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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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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