Earliest Meeting: Tuesday 21st October 1845
Final Meeting: Thursday 23rd April 1868
The small Welsh village of Llansilin lies in Montgomeryshire, Powys and is located about 6 miles west of Oswestry. It has a population of approximately 2,300 and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, as well as the tiny hamlets of Moelfre, Rhiwlas and Llangadwaladr. In the middle of the 19th century it held a series of country race meetings, usually to celebrate particularly important events like a marriage of a prominent resident, or the coming of age of a member of the landed gentry.

On Tuesday 21st October 1845, to celebrate his son John's coming of age, David Hamer of Glanyrafon Hall, organised a number of events throughout the day. It culminated in a lavish dinner at Lion Inn, Llansilin which included dinner, ale and dessert, all for the princely sum of 5 shillings. Tickets had been sold, prior to the event, at Lion Inn and at the Boar's Head, Oswestry. The day began with a cavalcade at 8 am of sheep and oxen to Glanyrafon Hall, followed by pony and steeplechase races at Llansilin. In the evening there was a Ball with music provided by a celebrated Brass Band.

In June 1846 John Hamer was again in the news for the happy occasion of his marriage to the lovely Miss Allnatt of Llansilin. It appears most of the village attended the wedding reception. In the afternoon sports took place on the 'old course', presumably a racecourse where previous race meetings had been staged. The races comprised several well-contested Galloway and pony races. Within a year the happy couple were celebrating the birth of their first son, John Parry Hamer, in April 1847.

On Thursday 6th May 1852 there was yet more evidence of informal races taking place in the vicinity of Llansilin to celebrate the marriage of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, a man dedicated to the advancement of horse racing in the county. The event was held around Wynnstay, the residence of Sir Watkin W Wynn, with a variety of sports and pastimes organised, the principal of which was a horse race which enabled the local farmers to show off their good nags. In the evening a special dinner, hosted by Mr and Mrs Smith, took place at Cross Foxes public house.

On Thursday 23rd April 1868 the entire village helped to celebrate the coming of age of John Parry Hamer at Glanyrafon Hall. A procession began at 7 am and a glorious luncheon was served at Lloranisa, courtesy of Mr Whitfield. The procession continued on to Glanyrafon Hall, where it was met by John Parry Hamer, before returning to Llansilin for an afternoon of rural sports which included a number of foot, sack and horse races.
Thursday 23rd April 1868
Llansilin Stakes

1. East Grove owned by Mr Davies and ridden by W Gill

5 ran
Galloway Stakes

1. Jenny owned by Mr Walker and ridden by P Gill

4 ran
Glanyrafon Stakes

1. Polly owned by Mr W Gill and ridden by P Gill
2. Colleen Bawn

4 ran

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