Earliest meeting: Monday 23rd September 1799
Final Flat meeting: Friday 28th October 1864
Final National Hunt Meeting: Saturday 4th May 1940
The Shropshire village of Llanymynech straddles the border with Powys in Wales and lies less than 10 miles north of the Welsh town of Welshpool. The name means 'Church of the Monks' and the village lies on the banks of the River Vyrnwy. The village was the site of one of the first mining areas in Wales, with both copper and bronze smelted here. Whilst it is known that racing took place in 1799, records indicate the meeting was held on ‘the old course’ implying earlier race meetings must have taken place in the village. Indeed, a handbill from 1796 indicated that a 3-day meeting was due to be held on the old-course from Monday 12th to Wednesday 14th September 1796, even listing the races on each day. On Monday 12th September a Silver Cup valued at £50 was to be contested, while on Tuesday 13th September there was due to be a £50 Subscription race for ponies. On the final day, Wednesday 14th September there was meant to be a race for a saddle. Records have not survived to confirm that the meeting actually took place, or whether the meeting was repeated in each of the next two years. However, in light of the haphazard way in which the meeting was organised in 1799, there is every likelihood that the 1796 meeting did not take place. The earliest record of a two-day meeting actually being held was on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th September 1799 when the Silver Cup on day one went to Creeping Jenny, and on day two a second Silver Cup was won by Diana owned by Mr Dovaston. Originally this meeting had been scheduled for Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th July 1799, later moved to Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th August, but finally took place in mid-September. A second two day meeting was held in 1809, after which racing lapsed. However, a revival meeting was held on Friday 23rd October 1863 on fields owned by Mr Wall in nearby Treprennal. The meeting was instigated by Mr Melling who owned the Lion Hotel and had an original poster on his Inn wall from the 18th century races in the village. Over 6000 people attended the revival meeting and witnessed Dick Turpin win the Llanymynech Stakes for Mr Foulkes. Later in the day the Hurdle Stakes was won by Florida and the 3 mile steeplechase by Emily Harries. A second, and final Flat race meeting, was held on Friday 28th November 1864. In the late 19th century the village combined with Bangor to hold a meeting in April 1896 and throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century the village joined forces with Oswestry to stage National Hunt racing under the stewardship of the Tanatside Hunt Group. The first steeplechase meeting took place on Tuesday 13th April 1886 on a mile and a half course at Pentref Farm consisting of 5 fences, one being the water jump. Further steeplechase meetings took place on the same Farm course the next year and again in 1888, after which the farm owner withdrew his support. It was feared that racing would lapse, although a new course was located, ideally positioned just half a mile from Llanymynech Station at Llwyn-y-groes, holding its inaugural meeting on 17th April 1890. The meeting remained well supported for the next 10 years until a final card was staged in 1902. After the First World War had ended there was renewed enthusiasm for racing and the Tanatside Hunt Group were instrumental in ensuring racing returned to the Llwyn-y-groes course on Saturday 29th April 1922. The meetings were popular, with the Oswestry Challenge Cup the principal event. This feature race was captured by Dudley, owned by Lord Londesborough in 1925 at the prohibitive odds of 1/10. The next year there was yet another change of course when Lower House Farm became the venue. Such was its popularity that the venue not only hosted the well-attended spring meeting but also arranged a second meeting in October. Racing continued on an annual basis until the final card was staged on Saturday 4th May 1940, supported by a crowd of 5146. The racecourse was voluntarily liquidated in September 1943.

Llanymynech Silver Cup, Llanymynech Steeplechase

Monday 23rd September 1799
Llanymynech Silver Cup, valued at £50
1. Creeping Jenny, brown mare owned by Mr Lee 1 1
2. Diana, bay mare owned by Mr Dovaston junior 2 2
3. Venus, brown mare owned by Mr Baugh 3 3

£50 Cup for ponies

1. Nanny, grey mare owned by Mr Summerfield 1 1
2. Tartar, brown pony owned by Mr Jones 3 2
3. Sixpence, bay pony owned by Mr Lloyd 2 3
4. Kings Head, black pony owned by Mr David Jones 4 wdr

Tuesday 24th September 1799
£50 Cup race

1. Diana, bay mare owned by Mr Dovaston junior 1 1
2. Creeping Jenny, brown mare owned by Mr Lee 2 2

I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the 1836 map shown below.

After racing had lapsed for well over half a century, it returned to Llanymynech on Friday 23rd October 1863 courtesy of Mr Melling, proprietor of the Lion Hotel. A series of steeplechases and flat races was staged in fields in nearby Trepenal (Treprennal) owned by Mr Wall, with a crowd of between 2,000 and 6,000 in attendance to witness some spectacular racing. Unfortunately, there were a number of accidents, particularly to jockey William Jones who was badly injured, and his mount As You Like It, who was killed instantly while coming down a slight descent to the bridge over the water jump.
Friday 23rd October 1863
Llanymynech Stakes over 1 1/2 miles

1. Dick Turpin (3/1 fav) bay horse owned by Mr Foulkes and ridden by Summerfield
2. Fancy, bay horse owned by Mr Foulkes
3. Sawdust, bay mare owned by Mr Davies
4. Bertha (10/1) bay mare owned by Mr C R Monk
5. DNF As You Like It (5/1) bay mare owned by Mr Mulliner

Llanymynech Steeplechase over 3 miles

1. Emily Harries (evens fav) bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Collins
2. Single Peeper (2/1) bay horse owned by Mr F Wilkinson
3. Victoria (8/1) bay mare owned by Mr Thomas
4. Orange Girl (8/1) bay mare owned by Mr Henley
5. Dragon (8/1) owned by Mr Davies
6. Copall (8/1) chestnut horse owned by Mr Pryce
7. Old Oswestry (8/1) chestnut horse owned by Mr Foulkes

Llanymynech Pony Race over 6 furlongs

1. The Dove (1/2 fav) bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Jackson
2. Mountain Maid bay mare owned by Mr Richards
3. Counsellor grey horse owned by Mr Roberts
4. Rebecca chestnut mare owned by Mr Beddowes
5. Miss Onions brown mare owned by Mr Mellings
6. Tom Thumb roan horse owned by Mr Davies
7. Kinnersley chestnut horse owned by Mr Powell
8. Welsh Robin owned by Mr William Jones

Llanymynech Hurdle over 1 1/4 miles and 6 flights

1. Florida (evens fav) aged horse owned and ridden by Mr D Collins
2. Single Peeper (6/1) bay horse owned by Mr F Wilkinson
3. Miss Lucy bay mare owned by Mr William Jones
4. Dick Turpin bay gelding owned by Mr Foulkes
5. Doubt bay mare owned by Mr Wall

Consolation Stakes

1. Fancy bay mare owned by Mr Foulkes and ridden by Pattle
2. Sawdust bay mare owned by Mr Davies
3. Doubt bay mare owned by Mr Davies

The follow-up meeting to the revival meeting held in 1863 took place on the same course at Treprennal as the previous year on Friday 28th October 1864, receiving a boost when the Cambrian Railway Company agreed to provide a service. Unfortunately, a slow drizzle persisted throughout the day to spoil the sport and dampen the crowd's enthusiasm. However, despite these setbacks, a 5-race card was completed successfully.
Friday 28th October 1864
Llanymynech Open Stakes over 1 1/2 miles

1. Dick Turpin bay gelding owned by Mr Foulkes and ridden by R Sly
2. Brighton chestnut gelding owned by Mr G Thorne and ridden by Owen
3. Dingle Lass bay filly owned by Mr C Mytton and ridden by Knight
4. Tom Payne bay gelding owned by Mr Wilkinson
5. Shinewood brown gelding owned by Mr Pardoe
6. The Youngster bay gelding owned by Mr Roberts
7. The Pony owned by Mr D Collins

Llanymynech Open Steeplechase over 3 1/2 miles

1. Old Oswestry chestnut horse owned by Mr Walker and ridden by Wilcox
2. Express (evens fav) aged horse owned and ridden by Mr D Collins
3. Shinewood brown gelding owned by Mr Pardoe
4. Fanny Fern brown mare owned by Mr Malliner

Llanymynech Farmers Race over 1 1/2 miles

1. Miss Osborne brown mare owned and ridden by Mr Jackson
2. Sawdust brown mare owned by Mr Davies and ridden by Bromley
3. Nell Gwynn brown mare owned by Mr Rogers and ridden by Knight
4. Limestone brown mare owned by Mr Williams
5. Polly brown mare owned by Mr Morris
6. Doubt bay gelding owned by Mr Wall
7. Fanny brown mare owned by Mr Watkins

Open Hurdle Race over 1 1/4 miles and 6 flights

1. Dick Turpin bay gelding owned by Mr Foulkes and ridden by R Sly
2. Tom Payne bay gelding owned by Mr Wilkinson
3. Nil Desperandum owned by Mr D Collins
4. The Boatman chestnut horse owned by Mr Wilkinson
5. Kitty bay mare owned by Mr R Cleeton
6. Limestone bay mare owned by Mr Williams

Pony Race over 4 furlongs

1. Dove owned by Mr Johnson and ridden by J Evans
2. Turk owned by Mr Bishton
3. Kitty owned by Mr William Jones

Between 1886 and 1889, under the auspices of the Tanat Side Hunt, Llanymynech races were held on land owned by the Asterley family at Pentref Farm. The mile and a half all grass course comprised 4 fences and a challenging water jump. The meeting on Tuesday 13th April 1886 featured the Tanat Side Hunt Cup over 3 miles which was won by Mr J Downes' Woodside (5/1) ridden by C Kynaston.
Tuesday 13th April 1886
Selling Maiden Hunters Steeplechase over 3 miles

1. Nora (4/1) owned by Dr Manning and ridden by C Kynaston
2. Fidget (4/1) owned by Mr H Jackson and ridden by W Bickerton
3. Milltown (evens fav) owned by Mr W Peate and ridden by W Hoystead

Open Hunters Steeplechase over 3 miles

1. Nightingale (5/4 fav) owned by Mr C Johnson and ridden by Whitton
2. Sunset (5/1) owned by Mr S Peate and ridden by F Hassell
3. Bonny Helen (5/1) owned by Mr A C Hope and ridden by E Hassell

Tanat Side Hunt Cup over 3 miles

1. Woodside (5/1) owned by Mr J Downes and ridden by C Kynaston
2. Nap (3/1) owned by Mr R Whittingham and ridden by H C Stewart
3. Sultan (4/6 fav) owned by Mr T Jackson and ridden by F Hassell

Llanymynech Stakes over 3 miles

1. Ironmaster (evens fav) owned and ridden by Captain Hayhurst
2. Bonny Helen (4/1) owned by Mr A C Hope and ridden by C Hassell
3. Honesty (6/1) owned by Mr H Foulkes and ridden by Hickman

Open Hunters Hurdle Race over 2 miles and 8 flights

1. Warrener (6/4 jt fav) owned by Mr J Edwards and ridden by T Hassell
2. St Oswald (2/1) owned by Mr P Lloyd and ridden by T P Parry
3. Lady Bird (6/4 jt fav) owned by Mr France and ridden by Captain Hayhurst

I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the 1836 map shown below.

Three years later the final meeting on the Pentref Farm racecourse, owned by Mrs Asterley, was on Friday 12th April 1889, although there was doubt about the meeting until the last minute. Heavy rain throughout the week meant the course was under water; indeed, the whole of the Vyrnwy Valley was flooded, but a drying wind in the two days before the meeting allowed racing to go ahead. A significant feature of the meeting was the small fields, which ultimately influenced decisions about whether to change venue the next year.
Friday 12th April 1889
Maiden Hunters Hurdle Race over 2 miles and 8 flights

1. Guardsman II (5/2) owned by Mr R Bromley and ridden by Captain Hayhurst
2. Queen Mary (6/1) owned by Mr L B Whittingham and ridden by E Owen
3. Baroness (6/1) owned by Mr W C Baldwin and ridden by R Rogers

Open Hunters Steeplechase over 3 miles

1. Marie Galante (1/3 fav) owned by Captain Hayhurst and ridden by W E Stephens
2. Bonny Boy (2/1) owned by Mr J S Whalley and ridden by William Evans

Tanat Side Hunt Cup Steeplechase over 3 miles

1. Pen-neu-Gynffon (1/3 fav) owned by Mr L B Whittingham and ridden by J Fortune
2. Cross Keys (2/1) owned by Mr L J Baugh and ridden by Stewart

Llanymynech Tradesmens Plate Chase over 3 miles

1. King Death (6/1) owned by Mr M C Draper and ridden by E Breeze
2. Vivandiere (evens fav) owned by Mr A Darby and ridden by F Hassell
3. Woodside (2/1) owned and ridden by Captain Hayhurst

Selling Hunters Hurdle Race over 2 miles and 8 flights

1. Warrior (1/2 fav) owned by Mr J Fisher and ridden by Captain Hayhurst
2. Pen-neu-Gynffon (10/1) owned by Mr L B Whittingham and ridden by C Kynaston
3. Baroness (10/1) owned by Mr W C Baldwin and ridden by R Rogers

The final recorded Flat meeting took place on Friday 28th October 1864, whilst steeplechases meetings finished on Saturday 4th May 1940.

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