Earliest meeting: Monday 9th April 1849
Final meeting: Wednesday 3rd August 1853
The tiny village of Hopwood, close to Alvechurch, is in the county of Worcestershire on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Although the main focus of the village was its Inn, back in the mid-1800s the village held its own race meetings, the first of which took place on Easter Monday 1849. A second meeting on Wednesday 3rd August 1853 was held on a course on the edge of the village, just half a mile from Barnt Green Station. Large numbers attended the meeting and witnessed the Hopwood Hurdle won by Mr J Page’s Hazard. The principal race, the Hopwood Stakes over 1 ½ miles, was won by Chance. After racing, an excellent dinner was given by Mr T Merry. There are no records of any further meetings under rules taking place in the village.

Wednesday 3rd August 1853
The Hopwood Stakes over 1 ½  miles
1. Chance, aged horse owned by Mr Cartridge
2. Worcestershire Lass, 4 year old owned by Mr Rickards
3. Hazard, aged horse owned by Mr J Page
4. Sambourne Lass, 4 year old owned by Mr Hollington

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

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