Earliest meeting: Friday 24th June 1748
Final meeting: Wednesday 5th October 1836
The Cumbrian market town of Egremont in the Borough of Copeland lies 8 kilometres south of Whitehaven on the River Ehen. Today it is much more famous for holding the World Gurning Championships, but back in the mid-1700s it held its own race meetings. The earliest meeting included in John Cheny's Racing Calendar took place on Friday 24th June 1748 when Mr Fenwick's Cripple was successful after 3 Heats, while a meeting took place on Wednesday 24th June 1752 on the St Bees Moor course which included a Subscription Fifty Pounds Purse. However, details of the result of the race were not given in the Racing Calendar of that year. By 1753 another meeting took place on Tuesday 26th June 1753 when the £50 Purse went to Smiling Molly. The next record of a meeting was organised by the mayor, Henry Coupland, on Tuesday 20th May 1777. Meetings were still being staged on St Bees Moor in 1811 when a 2 day meeting took place on Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th July, with entries being made at the King’s Arms. The final report of a two day meeting was on the Black Ling course on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th October 1836. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Murray, Mr Pearson |
| Principal Races |
Egremont Purse |
Friday 24th June 1748
Egremont £50 Prize for horses carrying 10 stone
1. CRIPPLE, chestnut horse owned by Mr Fenwick 2 1 1
2. NOW OR NEVER, bay mare owned by Lacook 1 2 2 |
Tuesday 26th June 1753 |
Tuesday 26th June 1753 Egremont Fifty Pounds Purse
1. Smiling Molly owned by Mr Pearson
2. Favourite owned by Mr Murray |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 5th October 1836. |
| Course today |
In fields on the edge of 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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