Earliest meeting: Wednesday 11th March 1846
Final meeting: Wednesday 5th April 1854
Mentmore is a Buckinghamshire village in the Aylesbury Vale about 3 miles east of Wingrave and the same distance south of Wing. The village was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book when already known as Mentmore from ‘Menta’s Moor’. In the 16th century the Manor House was built by the Wigg family who remained Lords of the Manor until the 18th century, and in the 19th century it was the seat of Baron Mayer de Rothschild. The inaugural steeplechase meeting took place on Wednesday 11th March 1846 over a 3 mile course, commencing at Upper Wingbury near Mr Paine’s farm, and progressing to a turning point before returning to the winning flag at the Ledburn Lane crossing. The main Sweepstake was won by Mr Milton’s The Tory beating Mr Baker’s President. On Wednesday 5th April 1854 a race meeting was staged on a 3 mile course of fair hunting ground on land owned by Baron Rothschild but ‘leased to farmers of the right sort of mettle’. The race Committee comprised Baron Rothschild, Hon. R Grimston and Mr William Roofey, landlord of the Stag Inn. The opening Mentmore Plate saw Mr Bennet’s Polly beat Mr Fell’s Rosabel. The concluding race on the card, the Mentmore Purse, was won by Baylock, owned by Mr Langham, who defeated Horatio. There is no evidence of further meetings taking place in the village. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Baron de Rothschild, Hon. R Grimston, Mr William Roofey |
| Principal Races |
Mentmore Sweepstake, Mentmore Purse, Mentmore Plate |
Wednesday 5th April 1854
Mentmore Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. Sontag, brown mare owned by Baron Rothschild
2. Baronet, aged horse owned by Mr Oliver
3. Tom Gurney, aged horse owned by Mr Price
Betting: Evens Tom Gurney, 2/1 Sontag, 6/1 Baronet, 6/1 The Flyer |
The only recorded meeting took place on Wednesday 5th April 1854. |
| Course today |
A 3 mile course on the de Rothschild Estate. |
| 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 |
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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. |
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