Earliest meeting: Saturday 26th August 1725
Final meeting: Tuesday 7th October 1890
The county Laois town of Maryborough, established by an act of Parliament in 1557 during the reign of Queen Mary, developed around a fort and settlement known as Port Laoise, later in 1920 being renamed Portlaoise. One of the earliest records of racing near Maryborough was from the Dublin Gazette, Wednesday 18 August 1725 - "These are to give Notice, that there will be a Ten Pound Plate run on the Great Heath near Maryborough on the last Thursday in August next, by any Horse, Mare or Gelding that never run upon the Curragh of Kildare. The Horse is to be shewed (sic), and entered the Day sen'night before the race, at Mr George Cossins at Ballymaddock, where the articles may be seen at large, which tells several other Matches to be run the Day following." Maryborough staged race meeetings at various times throughout the 19th century on the Heath, although many of the meetings between Monday 8th July 1839 and Wednesday 27th July 1870 were billed as Heath Races and took place on an oval mile and three quarters course near Heath House, located just three miles from Maryborough railway station. However, races had taken place prior to these dates; indeed it is believed that chariot races were held on the Heath in ancient times. In 1812, in a bid to ease the fixture congestion that was causing all courses a problem, the Irish Turf Club assigned days or weeks to particular courses, with Maryborough assigned the third week in September. Meetings were often heated affairs leading one local resident to request military reinforcements in July 1857 because a riot was expected. After the period of ‘Heath races’ in 1870 meetings lapsed but were revived on St Stephen’s day 1878 when the event was deemed to be successful despite a clash with Cork Races. At the meeting on Thursday 27th October 1887 the Maryborough Plate saw Lakefield defeat Erin’s Star and Heather Ball, winning a Silver Cup which was filled with Guinness. The final meeting was held on Tuesday 7th October 1890 when the feature Heath Plate, over 6 furlongs, was won by the 4/6 favourite Arbitress, although the card also included the Maryborough Stakes and a pony race. |
Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th August 1866 |
The Ballymanus Stakes over 6 furlongs
1. Red Wine owned by Captain Williams
2. Exile of Erin owned by Mr Clarke
3. Kenilworth owned by Mr St George
The Queen’s County Stakes over 1 ¾ miles
1. Russian Bee owned by Mr Dunne
2. Belzoni owned by Mr Clayton
3. Claret Cup owned by Mr Knox
The Scurry Corinthian Handicap over a mile
1. Elastic owned by Mr Newcomen
2. Joss Stick owned by Mr Hardinge
3. Claret Cup owned by Mr Knox |
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 |
