Earliest meeting: Tuesday 11th October 1774
Final meeting: Saturday 30th September 1775
The County Westmeath village of Finnea first staged a five day meeting in 1774 beginning on Tuesday 11th October 1774. On the opening day the 3 mile race for 4 and 5 year olds was won by Mr Hamilton’s Reformation, getting the better of Redrose and Meanwell. The Whim Purse, held on Friday 14th October, was won by Mr Heaney’s 5 year old Miss Wilson. The next year a full six day meeting began on Monday 25th September 1775 when the 3 year old Purse was won by Robert Hamilton’s grey colt Dr Blair, beating colts owned by Thomas Trotter, Charles Lambert and William Gore. The meeting concluded on Saturday 30th September with the ‘Beaten Purse’ which went to Mr Irwin’s mare. There are no further reports of meetings being staged in the village. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Altamont, Captain McDonnell, Mr R Hamilton, Mr Jos. Kirwan |
| Principal Races |
Finnea Weight for Age Handicap, Whim Purse, Weight for Inches Handicap |
Monday 25th September 1775 |
Finnea 2 mile Purse
1. Dr Blair, grey colt owned by Mr R Hamilton
2. Boston, chestnut horse owned by Mr T Trotter
3. Unnamed bay gelding owned by Mr C Lambert |
Tuesday 26th September 1775 |
Finnea Weight for Age Purse
1. Trinket, brown mare owned by Mr J Kirwan
2. Unnamed brown gelding owned by Mr J Burke
3. Emily, grey mare owned by Mr G Hamilton |
Wednesday 27th September 1775 |
Finnea Hunters Purse over 4 miles
1. Unnamed grey gelding owned and ridden by Mr R Erwin
2. Fox, chestnut gelding owned and ridden by Mr T Trotter
3. Favourite, brown mare owned by Mr W Gore
4. Freemason, brown gelding owned by Mr T Nesbit |
Thursday 28th September 1775 |
Finnea 6 year old Purse over 4 miles
1. Noble, chestnut horse owned by Lord Altamont
2. Apprentice, bay gelding owned by Mr C Lambert
3. Armida, grey mare owned by Mr J Burke |
Friday 29th September 1775 |
Finnea Whim Purse
1. Trinket, brown mare owned by Mr J Kirwan
2. Unnamed bay mare owned by Mr W Baron-Tennison
3. Miss Wilson, grey mare owned by Mr F Heney |
Saturday 30th September 1775 |
Finnea Subscription Race for beaten horses over 4 miles
1. Unnamed bay mare owned by Mr Erwin
Beat a field of 6 others |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 30th September 1775. |
| Course today |
On common ground on the outskirts of the village. |
| 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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