Earliest meeting: Thursday 15th September 1870
Final meeting: Thursday 17th September 1874
The Welsh town of Llantrisant, in the Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, was within the old county of Glamorganshire. The name of the town is literally translated as ‘parish of 3 saints’, namely Dyfodwg, Gwynno and Illtyd. Today the town is the home of the Royal Mint, but in the mid to late 1800s the town held its own race meetings. Races were first held on Thursday 15th September 1870 on Hendy Flats about a mile from the town. Although the races were predominantly for Ponies and Galloways, the odd thoroughbred race crept in. Races were popular and well supported, with train excursions from the Rhondda Valley and Merthyr by the Taff Railway Company. The meetings were overseen by the Portreeve of Llantrisant Mr L K Bruce and continued for the next 4 years. The final meeting took place on Thursday 17th September 1874 when the Castella Cup and Open Sweepstake were both won by Deuce of Diamonds, while the Llantrisant Plate saw Little Bess beat Russet Rose and Rosa. Although races did continue to be held in conjunction with the annual Fair, they were of an insignificant nature. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr L K Bruce (Portreeve), Mr J S Gibbon (Steward) |
| Principal Races |
Llantrisant Plate, Castella Cup, Llantrisant Sweepstakes |
Thursday 17th September 1874
Llantrisant Plate over 1 mile
1. Deuce of Diamonds
2. Surplice
3. Bell Tinker |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 17th September 1874. |
| Course today |
On Hendy Flats about a mile from town. |
| 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 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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. |
| ORDER FORM |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|