Earliest meeting: Wednesday 28th September 1831
Final meeting: Tuesday 24th September 1839
The Welsh town of Mold lies on the River Alyn in Flintshire. In the early 1800s it staged its own race meetings half a mile out of town on the Wrexham Road, the first of which took place on Wednesday 28th September 1831. The principal race, the Cavalry Cup over 2 miles, was run in heats and resulted in a win for Mr William Jones’s mare Rosa in both heats, defeating Montalto, Caergwrle Castle, Camel, River Allen and Honest Miller. However, the owners of two placed horses disputed the result because the winner had lost a lot of weight. They decided to hold their own match which Montalto won in the minimum 2 heats defeating sole rival Camel. Meetings continued in September each year, but the meeting on Tuesday 24th September 1839 ended in tragedy. Mr Edwards and Mr Price were galloping on the course during racing when their horses fell and Mr Price’s horse rolled on top of him. The injuries he sustained were so great that he expired the next day. Although there was then a lapse in races, there are two further references to Mold holding annual races. The first was when races had to be cancelled in February 1873 due to a prolonged period of severe weather. The second reference was of a full stage coach making its way to Mold Races on Wednesday 21st September 1887.
Friday 25th September 1838
Mold Hunter’s Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Langar, bay gelding owned by Mr J W Williamson
2. Harriet, chestnut mare owned by Mr R J Mostyn
3. Warwick, chestnut gelding owned by Sir E Mostyn
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
