Earliest meeting: Thursday 16th March 1865
Final meeting: Friday 22nd March 1867
The Norfolk parish of New Buckenham falls within the district of Breckland. The village, located between Diss and Attleborough, held its own series of race meetings in the middle of the 19th century. Races had taken place in Buckenham in 1840 and 1841 before racing lapsed. However, Steeplechase racing was launched on Thursday 16th March 1865 on a course of flat farmland owned by Mr J Gall, with tame fences and a kind brook presenting no particular difficulties. The Opening Norfolk and Suffolk Stakes, over 3 miles, was won by Spectator owned by Mr Pretty. After racing an Ordinary for 50 gentlemen was served in Mr Gall’s barn. In 1866 a second meeting was held on Thursday 15th March when the Norfolk and Suffolk was won by Mr Gendey’s Heliopolis. By 1867 a grandstand had been added to the course, which was just as well because the meeting took place in a snowstorm. Mr Seabrook’s Ace of Spades won the feature Norfolk and Suffolk, whilst the concluding race was won by Mr R Gittus’ Eclipse. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Hastings, Captain Warnes |
| Principal Races |
Norfolk and Suffolk Stakes |
Friday 22nd March 1867
Norfolk & Suffolk Stakes over 3 miles
1. Ace of Spades, aged horse owned by Mr Seabrook
2. The Baron, aged horse owned by Mr Pretty
3. Lottery, aged horse owned by Mr Gowing |
The final meeting took place on Friday 22nd March 1867. |
| Course today |
On flat farmland owned by Mr J Gall consisting of tame fences and a kind brook. |
| 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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