Earliest meeting: Tuesday 16th April 1833
Final meeting: Thursday 3rd October 1833
The small market town of Marshfield, situated some 8 miles north of Bath in the south of the county of Gloucestershire, held its first steeplechase meeting on Tuesday 16th April 1833. The chosen 4 mile course, with 90 leaps and wide ditches, started at Mr Codrington’s House and finshed at Toghill Turnpike Gate. The race was won by Mr John Bayley’s Taffy in 18 minutes. Later in the year a second meeting was staged on Thursday 3rd October 1833. The meeting coincided with the local fair which visited the town twice a year in March and October. The meeting had a disappointing opening when the Marshfield Stakes resulted in a walk over for Mr Codrington’s Conservative, but the same horse won a more competitive Purse over 1 ¼ miles later in the day. The Yeomanry Cup went to Mr Dowlan’s Hannibal, while the Marshfield Handicap Sweepstakes was a better contest with Barney Bodking, for Mr Scott, getting the better of Cantab owned by Mr Powell. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr C W Codrington, Mr John Bayley (Stewards), Mr Powell, Mr Scott |
| Principal Races |
Marshfield Steeplechase, Marshfield Stakes, Yeomanry Cup, Marshfield Purse |
Thursday 3rd October 1833 |
Marshfield Stakes over 2 miles
1. Conservative, owned by Mr Codrington, walked over
Yeomanry Cup over 2 miles
1. Hannibal owned by Mr Dowlan
Marshfield Purse over 1 ¼ miles
1. Conservative owned by Mr Codrington
2. Cantab owned by Mr Powell
Marshfield Handicap Sweepstakes over 2 miles
1. Barney Bodkin owned by Mr Scott
2. Cantab owned by Mr Powell |
Tuesday 16th April 1833
Marshfield Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Taffy, chestnut gelding owned by Mr John Bayley
2. Rocket, bay gelding owned by Mr E Bradley
3. Blackberry, bay gelding owned by Mr Townsend |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 3rd October 1833. |
| Course today |
A 4 mile steeplechase course with 90 leaps and wide ditches, starting at Mr Codrington’s house and finishing at the Turnpike Gate. |
| 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 |
|