Earliest meeting: Thursday 11th April 1839
Final meeting: Monday 20th April 1840
Hallaton is a small town in the Hundred of Gartree, Leicestershire, about 7 miles north west of Market Harborough. Although at the turn of the Millennium it had a population of less than 500, at one stage in its history it had its own railway station and ran its own race meetings. The railway station opened in 1879, long after the races ceased. In former times a piece of land was bequeathed to the rector on condition that he provided two large pies, a quantity of ale and two dozen loaves annually for the poor of the parish. A racecourse was developed on the land and surrounding fields, starting at Mr Laughton’s field 1 ½ miles from the town, heading towards Horninghold and doubling back towards Hallaton. The first meeting to be staged in the town was on Thursday 11th April 1839 when the Sweepstake was won by Chester Mail owned by Mr Owsley, who beat Marquis and Jack Robinson. The next year, on Easter Monday 20th April 1840 a steeplechase was run on the course, billed as the Hallaton Grand Sweepstake, for which 6 went to post. It resulted in a win for Mr Owsley’s Protestant, which seems appropriate given the link with the rector. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Owsley, Mr Horspool, Mr Warsop |
| Principal Races |
Hallaton Grand Sweepstake |
Monday 20th April 1840
Hallaton Grand Sweepstake
1. Protestant, bay horse owned by Mr Owsley
2. Teddy the Tyler, bay gelding owned by Mr Warsop
3. Challenger, bay gelding owned by Mr Chapman
Also Capulet, bay horse owned by Mr Owsley
Also Bearblock, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Horspool
Also Marquis, bay horse owned by Mr Vow |
The only recorded meeting took place on Monday 20th April 1840. |
| Course today |
Starting 1 ½ miles from town in Mr Laughton’s field and heading in the direction of Horninghold. |
| 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 |
|