Earliest meeting: Thursday 27th July 1843
Final meeting: Thursday 27th July 1882
The Dumfries and Galloway town of Langholm lies on the River Esk and was the birthplace of Thomas Telford. In 1864 a branch of the Carlisle to Hawick railway line called at Langholm, providing a much needed boost to this textile town. The town had held a form of racing for a number of years as part of their annual July Fair. As early as Thursday 27th July 1843 there was a programme of wrestling and racing in the town. The races were held on Langholm Common at Castle Holm; Mr Joe Graham winning both the Subscription Plate and the Tradesmen’s Plate. An ancient tradition at the races was the ‘Riding of the Commons’ which involved many townsfolk on horseback. At the races on Wednesday 30th July 1873 a very well attended meeting had as its highlight the Town Subscription Plate which was won by Mr Armstrong’s Little Emily, who went on to claim a further race later in the day. Races continued in this format for a number of years until a final meeting was staged on Thursday 27th July 1882. Even after this date, and well in to the 20th century, point to point races were staged on the Duke of Buccleuch’s Park. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Duke of Buccleuch, Mr Joe Graham |
| Principal Races |
Eskdale Handicap, Westerhal Handicap, Langholm Subscription |
Wednesday 30th July 1873
Town Subscription Plate over 1 ¾ miles
1. Little Emily, bay mare owned by Mr Armstrong
2. Le Marechal, bay gelding owned by Mr Graham
3. Bonne Chance, aged horse owned by Mr Rutherford |
The final meeting of this second reincarnation took place on Thursday 27th July 1882. |
| Course today |
On Langholm Common at Castle Holm. |
| 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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