Earliest meeting: Thursday 2nd April 1818
Final meeting: Tuesday 9th April 1822
The South Staffordshire area of Sudbury, Sudbury Park and Church Broughton is famous for the Meynell and South Staffs Hunt, which can be traced back to 1793. The prominent family running the Hunt was the Vernon family, although Lord Vernon died in 1813 and it was then taken over by the Meynell family. It was just 5 years after Lord Vernon died that a race meeting was held in the area. The meeting was billed as Meynell races and took place on Thursday 2nd April 1818 at Derby Racecourse. Meetings continued for each of the next 4 years, and each year the feature race was the Meynell Silver Cup. On Thursday 5th April 1821 the Meynell Hunt Stakes over 2 miles was won by Mr Meynell’s Josephine, while the Silver Cup fell to Mr Baggaley’s Laurel. After racing, 60 gentlemen dined at an Ordinary at the George Hotel. The final meeting took place on Tuesday 9th April 1822 when the Meynell Hunt Stakes went to Comberland for Mr Bigmore, while the Silver Cup was won by Tally-Ho for Mr R Statham, beating Fortune and Walnut. The Hunt continued but was later rebranded as the Hoar Cross Hunt. Over 50 years later the Meynell Hunt Group organised steeplechase meetings starting in 1876. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Meynell, Hon. Captain Curzon, Mr G R Bulbert (Steward) |
| Principal Races |
Meynell Silver Cup, Meynell Hunt Stakes |
Thursday 5th April 1821
Meynell Silver Cup over 2 miles
1. Laurel, bay gelding owned by Mr Baggaley
2. Rustick, brown gelding owned by Mr Thomas Brigge
3. Amelia, black mare owned by Mr J R Swindell |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 9th April 1822. |
| Course today |
At Derby Racecourse. |
| 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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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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