Earliest meeting: 1729
Final meeting: Monday 10th May 1875
Although the first time the Sporting Magazine reported racing in the Sussex town of Eastbourne was on Monday 17th December 1839, there are earlier records which suggest racing was taking place well over a 100 years before this date. The ‘County History of Sussex’ recorded that ‘East Bourn’ had a meeting in 1729 at which Plates of £10 and £25 were contested. In 1730 the £10 Plate was won by Hobler, owned by Mr Gilbert, who defeated Mr Bruce’s grey gelding but only after a dispute. A purse of £25 at the same meeting was won by Silver Tail, owned by Sir Walter Parker, which defeated Sweep Chimley (sic) owned by Mr Lidgiter. In 1737 the old Eastbourne meeting was held on Bullock Down for the last time until 1839, when a temporary revival took place. From 1866 the Eastbourne Hunt Flat and Hurdle Races were held until 1875. The final meeting took place on Monday 10th May 1875, after which the Duke of Devonshire refused permission for his land to be used again for racing. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Griddlestone, Mr Wodson |
| Principal Races |
Eastbourne Corporation Sweepstakes, Eastbourne Tradesmen's Plate, Eastbourne Handicap |
Monday 17th December 1839 |
Eastbourne Corporation Sweepstakes
1. Deadweight owned by Mr Griddlestone and ridden by Birch
2. Bessey owned by Mr Edwards and ridden by Cooper
3. Whiskers owned and ridden by Mr Grant
The entertainment continued at the Rose and Crown after racing. |
Saturday 28th April 1866 |
Eastbourne Tradesmen’s Plate over a mile
1. Boleno owned by Mr Wodson
2. Rinaldo owned by Mr Wickham
3. Musketeer owned by Mr C M Bond
The Eastbourne Handicap over 1 ½ miles
1. Boleno owned by Mr Wodson
2. Diana owned by Mr Selborne
3. Oakapple owned by Mr C Waters |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 10th May 1875 |
| Course today |
On Bullock Down just outside the town. |
| 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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