Earliest meeting: Monday 10th March 1845
Final meeting: Friday 3rd April 1908
The county Limerick village of Fedamore is located 10 miles east of Limerick city and boasts a population of less than 300 people. However, back in the 19th century its dedicated band of villagers organised a series of race meetings over more than half a century. One of its earliest meetings, organised by the Limerich Garrison, was on a 3 mile course just outside of the village on Monday 10th March 1845. The card opened with a steeplechase for which a field of five were entered, resulting in a win for Mr Pardoe’s The Lounger beating The Knight and Lady of Lyons. The only other race was the Farmer’s Purse which was claimed by the local Reverend Cleary, but the meeting finished in tragedy when the spectator Pat Grady was hit by a horse and died of a fractured skull. On Tuesday 31st January 1882 a three race card, billed as ‘Drag Hunt Steeplechases’ was held over a natural course close to Bruff, while two years later on Thursday 20th November 1884 the management boosted entries and the crowd by offering free stabling and transport costs for all horses. In the early part of the 20th century Fedamore launched the Irish steeplechase season when it held a meeting on Tuesday 10th March 1903. The meeting opened with the Subscribers Handicap Hurdle which went to Mr J McKenna’s Finvara, while the Ballingarde Plate over two and a half miles was won by Mr J J Ham’s Springfield. The feature race, the Fedamore Plate Handicap Steeplechase saw Miss Hobhouse fend off the determined challenge by Vassae Miss to reward owner Mr J R Hartigan with a well deserved success. The final meeting took place on Friday 3rd April 1908.

Tuesday 10th March 1903
Fedamore Plate Handicap Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. Miss Hobhouse, 5 year old owned by Mr J R Hartigan
2. Vassae Miss, aged horse owned by Mr J Whelan
3. Prince Imperial, aged horse owned by Mr B O’Donnell

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

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