Earliest meeting: Tuesday 5th June 1753
Final meeting: Monday 16th June 1856
The Bedfordshire market town and civil parish of Dunstable once had a racecourse on Dunstable Downs which had at least two distinct periods of racing. The first record of racing taking place in the town was in 1753 when a two day meeting was held on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th June. The meeting was dominated by the Earl of March who captured the prize on Tuesday with Wanton and on Wednesday with Blossom. A two day meeting was held the next year on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th June, but the meeting disappointed the crowd when Jason walked over on the final day. The second period of racing began in April 1853 when it was reported that Lord Trentham’s black gelding beat Captain Vernon’s bay gelding over 4 miles, each carrying 9 stone for a prize of £50. Meetings continued for 3 more years until a final card was staged on Monday 16th June 1856. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Duke of Hamilton, Earl of March, Sir Charles Sedley, Captain Vernon |
| Principal Races |
Dunstable Cup, Dunstable Sweepstake |
5th June 1753 |
Dunstable £50 Weight for Age
1. Wanton, bay horse owned by the Earl of March
2. Regulus, bay horse owned by Mr Curzon
3. Plow-boy, bay horse owned by Mr Buckland |
6th June 1753 |
Dunstable £50 Purse
1. Blossom, grey horse owned by the Earl of March
2. Skeleton, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Cooper |
| Tuesday 25th - Wednesday 26th June 1754 |
Tuesday 25th June 1754 Dunstable Fifty Pounds Give and Take
1. Figure owned by the Duke of Hamilton
2. Lady Augusta owned by Sir Charles Sedley
3. Fire owned by Captain Vernon
4. Smiling Ball owned by Mr Stokes
5. Lady Thigh owned by Mr Brooks
Wednesday 26th June 1754 Dunstable Fifty Pounds Weight for Age
1. Jason owned by Mr Curzons walked over |
5th June 1853 |
5th June 1853 Fifty Pound Stakes over 4 miles
1. Wanton owned by the Earl of March
2. Regulus owned by Mr Curzon
3. Plow-Boy owned by Mr Buckland
4. True Blue owned by Mr Adams
Dunstable £50 Match over 4 miles
1. Blossom owned by the Earl of March
2. Skeleton owned by Mr Cooper |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 16th June 1856. |
| Course today |
On Dunstable Downs. |
| 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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