Earliest meeting: Wednesday 20th September 1826
Final meeting: Thursday 27th August 1829
The East Devon market town of Honiton, 17 miles north east of Exeter, was the setting for a series of race meetings in the early 19th century. The inaugural meeting took place on Wednesday 20th September 1826 on the racecourse on the edge of the town at St Cyrus Hill. The principal race was the Honiton Stakes, with a contest for a Saddle and Bridle also keenly contested. Prior to racing Ordinaries were served by Mr Blake at the Golden Lion, and the crowd was entertained by glee singers during the day. A Ball was held in the evening at the Dolphin Assembly rooms. The meeting was deemed to be so successful that further meetings followed for the next 3 years. The final meeting was held on Thursday 27th August 1829. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Hardwicke, Captain Carthew |
| Principal Races |
Honiton Stakes, Honiton Saddle & Bridle, Stewards Stakes |
Thursday 28th August 1828
The Honiton Stakes
1. Kean, 5 year old bay horse owned by Mr Taunton
2. Jericho, 6 year old bay gelding owned by Captain Hardwicke
3. Eglantine, aged bay mare owned by Captain Carthew |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 27th August 1829. |
| Course today |
At St Cyrus Hill 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. |
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