Earliest meeting: Monday 8th December 1845
Final meeting: Monday 8th December 1845
The Norfolk town of Redenhall with Harleston has been a market town since 1369, and although the village of Redenhall was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book, the nearby village of Harleston only got a brief mention. Each of the villages had a railway station on the Waveney Valley Line, although Redenhall closed as early as 1866, but Harleston remained open until 1953. Harleston once held its own race meeting in the middle of the 19th century on Monday 8th December 1845. A considerable crowd attended and were satisfied with their days sport despite only 3 runners contesting each of the races. The course was over land owned by gentlemen in the immediate vicinity of the village, and the opening Sweepstake was won by Mr Oswald’s Merryman, defeating Kate Kearney and Mertinet. The feature Sweepstake, over 3 miles for a side stake of 100 Guineas, was won by Mr Leader’s Little John. There is no doubt that the meeting was a success, with large donations collected for a similar meeting the next year, but there is no evidence that it took place. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Leader, Mr Able, Mr Oswald |
| Principal Races |
Harleston 100 Guineas Sweepstake |
Monday 8th December 1845
Harleston 100 Guineas Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. Little John, bay gelding owned by Mr Leader
2. Martinet, bay gelding owned by Mr Able
3. The Slusher, black gelding owned by Mr Burlingham |
The only recorded meeting took place on 8th December 1845. |
| Course today |
Over ground within the immediate vicinity 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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