Earliest meeting: Thursday 11th October 1838
Final meeting: Saturday 20th January 1849
The earliest record of a meeting in the West End on Jackson’s Ground Racecourse in Kensall Green, Middlesex was on Thursday 11th October 1838 when an opening 3 mile Sweepstake was won by Mr James Mason’s Gridiron who defeated The Queen. The course was an unusual figure of 8 starting in the home field with a demanding ditch and containing fences on each section of the course. At the meeting on Thursday 3rd January 1839 the Jackson Cup Sweepstake went to Yellow Dwarf, owned by Mr Elmore and ridden by Jem Mason. However, Comer was first passed the post but disqualified because his owner had not paid his stake from the earlier meeting at St Albans. Meetings continued on a very regular basis, sometimes 3 or 4 times a year, with prizes of Silver kettles, silver tea services and silver trays, until a final meeting on Saturday 20th January 1849. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Marquis of Waterford, Mr Elmore, Mr Fogarty (Both were racing fanatics) |
| Principal Races |
Jackson Cup, West End Sweepstake, Silver Tea Service Stakes |
Thursday 3rd January 1839 |
Jackson Cup 10 Sovereign Sweepstake
1. Yellow Dwarf owned by Mr Elmore and ridden by Jem Mason
2. Comet owned and ridden by Mr Blyth
The first past the post was Comer, who was disqualified because the owner had not paid his stake at a recent race at St Albans.
West End 2 mile Sweepstake
1. Black Sall owned by Mr Grace
2. Rattler owned by Mr Clarke
3. Paddy Whack owned by Mr Fogarty |
Thursday 14th February 1839 |
Silver Tea Service Sweepstakes
1. Yellow Dwarf owned by Mr Elmore and ridden by Jem Mason
2. The Queen owned and ridden by Mr Barker
3. The Greyling owned and ridden by Mr Bruce |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 20th January 1849. |
| Course today |
An unusual figure of eight course complete with fences on each section. |
| 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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