Earliest meeting: Monday 3rd October 1808
Final meeting: Tuesday 19th March 1918
The county Cork town of Fermoy, on the River Blackwater, boasts a Cistercian abbey founded circa 13th century. It first staged races of note in 1808 when a five day meeting, spread over six days, began on Monday 3rd October 1808. The card opened with a race restricted to three and four year olds which was won by Mr Creed’s Noblessa, while the next day a weight for age handicap over 3 miles saw Mr Edwards’ Miss Bowes defeat Thrasher and Princess Royal. Thursday was reserved for hunting, but Mr Creed won the feature race on each of the final two days, firstly with Noblessa and then with Princess Royal. Meetings continued on a regular basis for almost a century and were noted for the variety they offered. In 1839 the Queen’s Arms Hotel provided an Ordinary each day, supper in the evening and a Ball on the final day. At the three day meeting from Wednesday 23rd to Friday 25th October 1844 the Marquis of Waterford appointed a top class group of stewards to ensure the races were advertised widely and ran smoothly. The next year Lord Listowel provided an excellent band composed of young men from Ballyhooly to entertain the crowd between races, while on Wednesday 21st November 1860 the Great Southern and Western Railway boosted attendance by laying on cheap excursions from a wide range of towns and cities. The steeplechase racecourse was ideally sited immediately adjoining the railway station and the feature race on the card, the Garrison Stakes over a mile and a half was won by Mr Power’s Gentle Judy at the expense of Victory and Blind Hookey. Races continued for over 50 years until the final meeting took place on Tuesday 19th March 1918.
Wednesday 5th October 1808
Fermoy 4 mile Purse
1. Thrasher, bay horse owned by Mr J D Scully
2. Wicklow, brown colt owned by Mr Edwards
3. Venture, bay gelding owned by Mr Blennerhassett
Fermoy Stewards Stakes
1. Waitstill owned by Mr Fitzpatrick
2. Dora owned by Mr Hunter
3. Sir William owned by Mr McDonogh
Fermoy Hunters Sweepstake over a mile and a half
1. Barefoot owned by Mr Knox
2. Napoleon owned by Mr Fitzpatrick
3. Hercules owned by Mr Somers
Munster Debenture Stakes
1. Valentine owned by Mr Barry
2. Alhambra owned by Mr Dennis
Thursday 25th October 1900
Fermoy Club Plate Handicap over 1 ¼ miles
1. Sweet Singer owned by Mr T Desmond
2. Red Hugh owned by Mr J J Quaint
3. Five Scents owned by Mr J Reese
The October meeting, racecard shown above, took place at Fermoy racecourse on Thursday 2nd October 1913 when the feature race, the 3-mile Fermoy Club Steeplechase, was won by Clover Hill. Full results are shown below.
Thursday 2nd October 1913
Tally-Ho Flat Plate for 25 sovereigns over 2 miles
1. DOUBLE DITCH (2/1 jt fav) owned by Mr T Hartigan and ridden by M G Hartigan
2. UNCLE CHARLIE (2/1 jt fav) owned by Mr J Hartigan and ridden by Mr H Nuttall
3. MILLERS PRIDE (6/1) owned by Mr J Nugent and ridden by Mr C Nugent
Town Handicap Steeplechase for 30 sovereigns over 2 miles
1. VARSITY (7/4 fav) owned by Mr C A Berran and ridden by F Houlshan
2. FOREVER (2/1) owned by Mr F G Sikes and ridden by Mr G Harty
3. HONOURS (7/1) owned by Mr J J Manning and ridden by J McCormack
Garrison Flat Plate of 30 sovereigns over a mile and a half
1. THE RED BOY (5/2 jt fav) owned by Mr A Irwin and ridden by F Pike
2. BIDDY ROCHE (10/1) owned by Mr R E Harrison and ridden by L Brabazon
3. SIMON'S ROSE (5/2 jt fav) owned by Mr T G O'Brien and ridden by H Nuttall
Fermoy Club Steeplechase for 35 sovereigns over 3 miles
1. CLOVER HILL (10/1) owned by Mr L Burke and ridden by H Harty
2. MAO RHU (4/6 fav) owned by Mr D McCalmont and ridden by J Kelly
3. RATMEIS (10/1) owned by Mrs C W Magee and ridden by Mr T Murphy
Stewards Steeplechase for 35 sovereigns over 2 miles
1. LINCOLN GREEN (2/1) owned by Mr J G Hartigan and ridden by G Harty
2. DR COOK (10/1) owned by Mr P J Godfrey and ridden by H Harty
3. TRINITY (4/1) owned by Mr M Ryan and ridden by J Fagan
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
