Earliest meeting: Wednesday 15th July 1857
Final meeting: Friday 1st September 1916
The county Galway village of Dunmore, north east of Tuam, once had its own castle built by the de-Birmingham family in the early 13th century. Over six centuries later the village held its own race meetings, beginning on Wednesday 15th July 1857, although prior to this date minor races had been staged, including in March 1848 when a fracas between two gentlemen was so heated that the police were called and the incident was widely reported in newspapers. The meeting in July 1857 was held on the Clonmore racecourse, with newspapers commenting ‘it has been some considerable time since the people of this part of the country have witnessed races that afforded more genuine amusement or given more pleasing satisfaction’. The day opened with a Hunter’s Plate which was keenly fought before Mr J A Glynn’s Ned Pepper beat Nanny and Colonel. Throughout the day a talented German band of musicians was hired to enliven the crowd who were sent home happy after the favourite, Maid of the Mill, landed the feature Dunmore Plate. Meetings continued in the 1860s and 1870s when cards included a Farmers race after which an auctioneer sold the horses. Although meetings were intermittent, racing did continue into the early 20th century until the final meeting under rules took place on Friday 1st September 1916, after which the Dunmore Race Committee promoted ‘gallop races’ at Draper’s Hall, starting in June 1920. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Martin McDonnell, Mr James J Kealy, Mr Stephen J McDonagh (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Dunmore Plate, Dunmore Hunter’s Plate |
Wednesday 15th July 1857
Dunmore Plate
1. Maid of the Mill, 4 year old owned by Mr Davis
2. Nanny, aged mare owned by Mr J P Ruttledge
3. Gipsy, 5 year old owned by Mr W Kirwan |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 1st September 1916. |
| Course today |
On the Clonmore course in close proximity to 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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