Earliest meeting: Friday 4th October 1844
Final meeting: Saturday 26th September 1846
Gorton is an area of Greater Manchester which contains Gorton Hall. The Gorton Hall Estate, including Gorton Hall and Gorton Hall Lodge, was owned by Richard Gorton in the early 1800s, but by 1870 ownership had passed to John Bibby. The Sporting Magazine recorded a 2 day race meeting taking place at Gorton Hall on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October 1844 when the opening Gorton Sweepstake was won by Staley owned by Mr Heap. Racing had been planned for the previous year, but the course was not ready in time due to a log spell of dry weather. Races continued for each of the next two years, the highlight each year being the Gorton Gold Cup, and culminated in a 3 day meeting concluding on Saturday 26th September 1846. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir J Gerard, Mr Lamplugh, Mr Flintoff |
| Principal Races |
Gorton Gold Cup, Manchester Cup, Gorton Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Longsight Stakes, Claret Stakes |
Friday 4th & Saturday 5th October 1844 |
Gorton Sweepstakes over a mile
1. Staley owned by Mr Heap
2. The Elbe owned by Mr Flintoff
3. Lady Flora owned by Mr Lamb
The Manchester Cup over 2 ¼ miles
1. Roderick owned by Mr Ongley
2. Pickwick owned by Mr Halford
The Claret Stakes over 2 miles
1. Unnamed gelding by Shrigley owned by Mr Thompson
2. Teresa owned by Mr J Singleton
3. Coheiress owned by Mr Wildman |
Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th September 1846 |
The Gorton Stakes over 1 ¾ miles
1. Stranger owned by Mr Whaley
2. Maid of Auckland owned by Mr Wood
3. Factory Girl owned by Mr Redhead
The Longsight Stakes over 2 miles
1. Lady Flora owned by Mr Lamb
2. Boltonian owned by Mr Lamplugh
3. Father Mathew owned by Mr Skelton
The Champagne Stakes over 6 furlongs
1. Lady Shrewsbury owned by Mr Owen
2. Grand Seignior owned by Mr Russell
The Gorton Gold Cup over a mile
1. Pantasa owned by Sir J Gerard
2. Ratcliffe owned by Mr T Walter
3. Obscurity owned by Mr Dawson |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 26th September 1846. |
| Course today |
On the Gorton Hall estate. |
| 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 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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. |
| ORDER FORM |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|