Earliest meeting: Tuesday 26th April 1887
Final meeting: Thursday 26th April 1888
The Berkshire Park of Easthampstead is in the Bracknell area of the county and contains a mansion which was built in Victorian times, but much earlier in history, in the Middle Ages, it was part of Windsor Forest. Towards the end of the 19th century a series of race meetings under rules were held in the Park, organised by Officers of Staff Colleges, including the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. The 2 and 2/3rd mile course started at the north east of the Park and continued by Lady Alice’s farm and finished near Home Farm. An extensive enclosure was constructed, providing excellent views of the entire course. The first meeting was on Tuesday 26th April 1887, with the Downshire Plate the feature event which was won by Captain Burn-Murdoch’s Lal Khan. In 1888 there were a series of events organised throughout the summer in the Park, including a Grand Bazaar, a Theatrical entertainment, a Horticultural Show and a final race meeting on Thursday 26th April 1888. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Marchioness of Downshire, Captain Kitson |
| Principal Races |
Downshire Plate, Veteran’s Cup |
Tuesday 26th April 1887
Downshire Plate
1. Lal Khan owned by Captain Burn-Murdoch
2. The Nipper owned by Captain Kitson
3. Ethel owned by Captain Henniker |
The only recorded meeting took place on Thursday 26th April 1888. |
| Course today |
A 2 2/3rd mile course on Easthampstead Park. |
| 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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