Earliest meeting: Wednesday 4th August 1841
Final meeting: Saturday 7th June 1856
The Town and port of Harwich is situated on the estuaries of the River Stour and River Orwell in Essex. It has close links with Ipswich, Colchester and Clacton and once had its own racecourse which was operational for a 15 year period in the mid-1800s. The course held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday 4th August 1841 when the Trades’ Cup was won by Mr Peace with his 5 year old The Lord Mayor. The Willoughby Stakes went to Mr Thompson’s Taglioni, while the Hunters Stakes saw Mr Barker’s Sam Weller defeat Mischief and Duenna. Two years later, on Wednesday 2nd August 1843 the Tradesmen’s Gold Cup was contested over 2 ¼ miles, with Champagne giving Mr Hornby reason to celebrate. Later in the day the Willoughby Stakes was won by Xanthus. The final 2 day meeting was a steeplechase event on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th June 1856 on a specially designed course on the outskirts of the town. The feature Steeplechase was won by Mr Graham’s Annanwater. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir C Monck, Mr Gerard, Mr Hornby |
| Principal Races |
Tradesmen’s Gold Cup, Willoughby Stakes |
Wednesday 4th August 1841
Harwich Trades’ Cup
1. The Lord Mayor, 5 year old owned by Mr Peace
2. Lady Paramount, 3 year old owned by Mr Murray
3. Emperor, 3 year old owned by Mr Clifford |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 7th June 1856. |
| Course today |
The specially designed steeplechase course was in fields on the edge of the town. |
| 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. |
| ORDER FORM |
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| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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