Earliest meeting: Monday 8th July 1839
Final meeting: Wednesday 27th July 1870
The Heath racecourse, an oval course with circumference of 1 ¾ miles, was near Maryborough in County Louth, formerly known as Queens County. The earliest record of racing was on Monday 8th July 1839 in site of the Heath House estate. Races continued annually and at the two day meeting on Tuesday 31st July and Wednesday 1st August 1855 Mr Irwin’s Simon Pure won the Queens County Stakes and completed a double in the Heath Stakes. He also captured the more valuable Scurry Corinthian Stakes with his mare Eugenia. Races continued to be well-supported and a 2 day meeting was staged on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th August 1866 at which the concluding Scurry Corinthian Handicap was won by Elastic from Joss Stick and Claret Cup. Meetings were well supported, receiving sposnsorship from prominent noblemen, including the Earl of Portarlington and Lord Waterford. The final record of a meeting was on Wednesday 27th July 1870. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Earl of Portarlington, Lord Waterford, Captain Williams, Mr E J Irwin |
| Principal Races |
Earl of Portarlington Emo Park Cup, Queens County Stakes, Scurry Corinthian Stakes, Portarlington Stakes, Heath Stakes, Ballymanus Stakes |
Tuesday 31st July & Wednesday 1st August 1855 |
The Queens County Stakes over 1 ¾ miles
1. Simon Pure owned by Mr Irwin
2. Badinage owned by Mr Armstrong
3. Fuze owned by Mr Quin
The Scurry Corinthian Stakes over a mile
1. Eugenia owned by Mr E J Irwin
2. Curragh Lass owned by Mr P Colgan
3. Miss Warren owned by Mr D Wynne
The Portarlington Stakes over 6 furlongs
1. Good Friday owned by Mr E W Nunn
2. Dairymaid owned by Mr M Dunne
The Earl of Portarlington Emo Park Cup over 1 ½ miles
1. Astronomer owned by Mr Disney
2. Raphael owned by Mr Onion
3. Thessaly owned by Mr Irwin
The Heath Stakes over 1 ¼ miles
1. Simon Pure owned by Mr Irwin
2. Trapper owned by Mr Foley
3. Little Martin owned by Mr McDonogh |
Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th August 1866 |
The Ballymanus Stakes over 6 furlongs
1. Red Wine owned by Captain Williams
2. Exile of Erin owned by Mr Clarke
3. Kenilworth owned by Mr St George
The Queen’s County Stakes over 1 ¾ miles
1. Russian Bee owned by Mr Dunne
2. Belzoni owned by Mr Clayton
3. Claret Cup owned by Mr Knox
The Scurry Corinthian Handicap over a mile
1. Elastic owned by Mr Newcomen
2. Joss Stick owned by Mr Hardinge
3. Claret Cup owned by Mr Knox |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 27th July 1870. |
| Course today |
An oval 1 ¾ mile course near to Heath House. |
| 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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