Earliest meeting: Saturday 7th August 1886
Final meeting: Saturday 30th July 1898
The tiny County Mayo village of Hollymount is situated midway between Ballinrobe and Claremorris and today boasts a population of less than 100. However, throughout the 19th century it staged race meetings, although they were predominantly for ponies and half-breds. The meeting on Saturday 7th August 1886 was typical of such a meeting, starting with a pony race, followed by a race for half breds, after which the Farmer’s Race over 2 miles was won by Mr Farragher’s Three Stars beating Ratcatcher and Rosanna. In 1892 the village received a boost with the arrival of the railway on Tuesday 1st November 1892 making the races more accessible to a wider audience, although it was to lose its railway link in 1930. The meeting on Saturday 30th July 1898 was part of a week long celebration of sporting activities in the Western Province and began with the Connaught Plate over 2 miles which went to Mr J Brennan’s Palm Leaf II, while the mile and a half Robeen Plate was won by Mr G Tully’s Mokanna despite Alfio being as short as 2/5 favourite. The feature Handicap Plate saw Miss Baker get the better of Story Teller II and Pleasure Seeker. Whilst races continued after this date, the cards increasingly consisted of events for ponies and half-breds. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Colonel Blake, Mr H Lindsay-Fitzpatrick |
| Principal Races |
Hollymount Handicap Plate, Connaught Plate, Hollymount Ladies Plate |
Saturday 30th July 1898 |
The Hollymount Handicap Plate over 7 furlongs
1. Miss Baker owned by Mr H Lindsay-Fitzpatrick
2. Story Teller II owned by Mr W Coghlan
3. Pleasure-Seeker owned by Mr T Nally
The Hollymount Ladies Plate over a mile
1. Miss Baker owned by Mr H Lindsay-Fitzpatrick
2. Seabeam owned by Mr J E Jordan
3. Gramachree owned by Mr J Brennan |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 30th July 1898. |
| Course today |
In fields on the outskirts 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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