Earliest meeting: Thursday 4th March 1858
Final meeting: Friday 15th May 1903
The tiny county Limerick village of Knocklong, originally known as Druim Damhghaire, has a population of less than 300 people. However, in the 19th and very early 20th century it staged its own race meetings, the first of which took place on Thursday 4th March 1858 on an all grass course surrounded by hills which provided a natural viewing spot. Entries were made at the local Hotel, where an Ordinary was served after the three race programme, consisting of the Knocklong Stakes, the Welter Stakes and a Consolation race, had finished. The next year the feature race on Friday 4th March 1859 was the Free Handicap which went to Mr Harty’s Mavourneen, while the closing Sweepstake was won by Mr McCarthy’s Bonnie Charlie who defeated The Rebel and Lola Montez. Meetings ceased for a long period before steeplechases races were launched in the early days of the 20th century. The card on Friday 6th April 1900 contained the Committee Plate, the Galtee Plate and the Maypole Plate. At a meeting of the National Hunt Committee in 1904 concerns were raised about safety issues at race meetings. Knocklong was inspected by the newly appointed Irish Turf Club inspectors and the licence was withdrawn due to the poor condition of the course. Hence the final meeting held at the course was on Friday 15th May 1903. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr W O Ryan, Mr F T Adams, Mr D L Riorden, Mr J H O’Brien (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Knocklong Stakes, Knocklong Free Handicap, Galtee Plate |
Friday 4th March 1859
Knocklong Free Handicap
1. Mavourneen, bay mare owned by Mr Harty
2. The Robber, bay gelding owned by Mr Lloyd
3. The Cushela Lass, bay mare owned by Mr Sheedy |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 15th May 1903. |
| Course today |
An all grass course on the outskirts of the village with the surrounding hills providing a natural viewing point. |
| 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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