Earliest meeting: Tuesday 13th March 1860
Final meeting: Tuesday 25th March 1862
 Pembroke, the historic county town of Pembrokeshire, had been organising races since the mid 1800s, with the first recorded meeting taking place on the Orielton Estate, home of the Baronetcy of Orielton, in April 1856. The meeting lasted for 3 further years at this venue until it transferred to Freshwater East in 1860. This seaside town was a lovely setting for races close to the beach, although it is thought that the meeting only remained there until 1862. The 1860 meeting took place on Tuesday 13th March on a course described as unexceptional on land owned by Major Searle of Corston. The meeting began with the Open Steeplechase Handicap over a demanding 4 miles which was won by Mr Wallis’s New Broom who swept all rivals aside, including Mr Powell’s St David and Mr Mirehouse’s Jack. The Garrison Steeplechase followed and was won in clever style by Captain Ashe’s Sybil, while the meeting concluded with the Farmers’ Selling Steeplechase which went to Mr Ponton’s Budget. The final meeting took place on Tuesday 25th March 1862 when the Open Steeplechase was won by Mr Smith’s Gingerbread from Carew and Pegasus. The feature Garrison Steeplechase went to Lieutenant Knipe’s The Doctor, at the expense of Johnny and Charley. Further records show that the next venue chosen was at Pembroke Dock, when a meeting took place on 22nd October 1863.

Baronet of Orielton, Jack Anthony, Mr E Mirehouse, Mr T Meyrick, Colonel Raymond (Stewards)

Pembroke Castle Hurdle, Pembroke Stewards’ Plate, Garrison Plate

Tuesday 25th March 1862
Garrison Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. The Doctor, aged horse owned by Lieut. Knipe
2. Johnny, 5 year old owned by Captain Bailey
3. Charley, aged horse owned by Captain Thompson

Close to the sands at Freshwater East on land owned by Major Searle.

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