Earliest meeting: Wednesday 28th July 1790
Final meeting: Tuesday 27th March 1883
The Herefordshire market town of Leominster, close to the River Lugg, is located 12 miles north of Hereford. Racing was first staged in the town on Ernam Street, Broadway on Wednesday 28th July 1790 when a 3 race card included a Galloway race and a pony race. However, the feature race was for Hunters and consisted of three 4 mile heats. Eventually, after 12 miles of running, the race was won by Mr Honslow’s Gimcrack. The first time results were reported in the Sporting Magazine was from a 2 day meeting on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd August 1838 on the racecourse on Eaton Meadows. After racing there was a firework display organised by Mr Baker, and Ordinaries were served at the Royal Oak Inn and Waterloo Hotel. Races continued intermittently for the next 45 years until the final meeting took place on Tuesday 27th March 1883. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Hotham, Charles Greenaway MP, Mr Griffiths, Mr Stevens, Mr Fuller |
| Principal Races |
Lord Hotham Plate, Ludford Stakes, Leominster Hunters Stakes, Ladies Plate, Herefordshire Sweepstakes |
Wednesday 8th August 1832 |
Ludford Stakes over 2 miles
10 sovereigns each with 30 added
1. Malwa by Master Henry, owned by Mr Matthews
2. Miller’s Maid owned by Mr C Price
3. Unnamed colt by Virgilius owned by Mr Bodenham
4. Parthenon owned by Mr Smith |
Wednesday 21st & Thursday 22nd August 1833 |
Leominster Plate over 2 miles
1. Nell Gwynne owned by Mr Fuller
2. Hector owned by Mr Wadlow
3. Unnamed filly by Bobadil owned by Mr Thornes
The Ludford Stakes over 2 miles
1. Lady Harrington owned by Mr Fuller
2. Hector owned by Mr Wadlow
3. Unnamed filly by Bobadil owned by Mr Thornes
The Leominster Hunters Stakes over 2 miles
1. Acco owned by Mr George
2. Doubtful owned by Mr Moss
3. Creeping Jane owned by Mr Hall |
Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23rd August 1838 |
Leominster Ladies Plate over 2 miles
1. Lugwardine owned by Mr Griffiths
2. Mary owned by Mr B Davies
3. Leominster Lass owned by Mr Sherratt
Lord Hotham Plate over 2 miles
1. Gimcrack owned by Mr Stevens
2. Latona owned by Mr Farmer |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 27th March 1883. |
| Course today |
On Eaton Meadows. |
| 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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