MANCHESTER

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Manchester 1948.JPG (21797 bytes)Manchester2.JPG (13774 bytes)

 

FIRST MEETING

April 1902.

 

SITUATED

Castle Irwell between Manchester and Salford.

 

DISTANCES

A flat circular course of about 14 furlongs round. The 5 and 6 furlong sprint courses were on a straight course.

PRINCIPAL RACE

The Manchester Cup, November Handicap and Lancashire Oaks (now run at Haydock Park ).

 

WORLD WAR I

Closed but reopened for a meeting on New Years Day 1919

 

WORLD WAR II

Held its only classic race during the war, when the St Leger was run here in 1941, but the course was then subsequently used by the Ministry of Supply.

 

FACT

Stream of Light won the Lancashire Oaks in 1952.

 

QUESTION

What was significant about Stream of Lights victory in the Lancashire Oaks?

 

CURRENT SITUATION

Possible to see some evidence of a previous racecourse, especially as the stands still remain.

 

LAST MEETING

9th November 1963

Geoff writes the following personal memories of a course he quite clearly, dearly loved and misses very much:-

“I started going to Manchester Races in 1961; on my first visit Doug Smith rode a five-timer. I went to every meeting from that day to the last day's racing in November 1963. That day the famous Prince Monolulu was chanting 'I've gotta hoss'. Maybe it was one of  Lester Piggott’s who needed five winners to overhaul Scobie Breasley for the jockey's championship. Unfortunately he only managed three winners, the last one being Fury Royal in the day's final race. The racecourse matched any course in the country in my opinion, and I’ve seen a few; not dissimilar to Haydock Park only Haydock is left handed and Manchester was right handed, I see they are thinking of building a new course, they should never have closed the old one as it was one of the best tracks in the country. Sadly missed by me and many hundreds of others”

Date    1948         Credits    80         

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