Earliest meeting: Thursday 12th March 1885
Final meeting: Tuesday 13th April 1886
The village of Hanslope lies in the Borough of Milton Keynes and on its south-east edge is Hanslope Park which once contained a Manor House built by Basil Brent in 1692, but which is now owned by the Foreign Office. The village had its own racecourse on the Park, beginning with a private meeting on Thursday 12th March 1885 organised by Mr A Burr. The all grass course was less than a mile from Castlethorpe station, although it had no stand, which made viewing of parts of the course difficult. The Priory Steeplechase launched the 6 race card and was won by Wilder, while the feature Open Hunters’ Chase was won by the Captain Foster owned Chancellor. A follow-up meeting was staged the next year on Tuesday 13th April 1886 when the crowd was boosted because the L.N.W. Railway Company put on a number of excursions. The meeting opened with the Hanslope Park Stakes over 3 miles which went to Mr Higgin’s Rowsham. The Steward’s Cup completed the 6 race card when Sugar Candy defeated Blue Beard. Inspite of the obvious success of the meeting no further races were staged. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir Thomas Hesketh, Sir Maurice Fitzgerald, Captain Middleton |
| Principal Races |
Hanslope Park Stakes, Stewards Cup, Castlethorpe Open Steeplechase |
Tuesday 13th April 1886
Castlethorpe Open Hunters Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. Phyllis, 5 year old owned by Mr J Whiting
2. Lord Byron, aged horse owned by Captain Middleton
3. Lament, 4 year old owned by Mr Abercromby |
The only recorded meeting took place on Tuesday 13th April 1886. |
| Course today |
In the Park less than a mile from Castlethorpe station. |
| 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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