Earliest meeting: Tuesday 5th June 1838
Final meeting: Tuesday 25th May 1858
The Essex market town of Epping in Epping Forest, less than 5 miles south of Harlow, first held races on Tuesday 5th June 1838 on Epping Plain Stewarded by Robert Harvey and George Tweed. It was to be 2 years before results from the Epping meeting on Tuesday 9th June 1840 were included in Baily's Racing Register. The feature Epping Sweepstakes over a mile that day was won by Sir Felix who saw off the challenge of both Talebearer and Ada. The atmosphere was similar to the Derby Day atmosphere, and after racing an Ordinary was served at the George Inn. Races continued annually for 5 years, with the highlight each year being the Lord of the Manor Cup, captured in 1843 by Mr Dixon’s The Star. Meetings then ceased for 10 years before resuming in 1854, continuing for a further 4 years before the final event was staged on Tuesday 25th May 1858. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
West Essex Yeomanry Cavalry, Mr Nightingale, Mr Gaine, Mr Dixon, Mr Abel |
| Principal Races |
Lord of the Manor Cup, Epping Selling Purse |
Tuesday 9th June 1840 |
Epping Sweepstakes over a mile and a distance
1. Sir Felix owned by Mr Smith
2. Talebearer owned by Mr Root
3. Ada owned by Mr Nightingale |
Thursday 8th June 1843 |
Epping Selling Purse
1. Little Vivian owned by Mr Gaine
2. Luck’s-All
The Lord of the Manor Cup
1. The Star owned by Mr Dixon
2. Jerry owned by Mr Abel
3. Laurestina owned by Mr Tweed
The Beaten Horses Stakes
1. Jerry owned by Mr Abel
2. Luck’s-All |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 25th May 1858. |
| Course today |
On Epping Plain. |
| 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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