Earliest meeting: Saturday 5th April 1845
Final meeting: Saturday 5th April 1845
The West Lothian village of Uphall, just 22 kilometres from Edinburgh and 48 kilometres from Glasgow, was the setting for the North British race meeting which was held in April 1845. It is an expanding village today, but back in 1845 it was very small, yet there was sufficient interest to support a race meeting on Saturday 5th April 1845, with the military playing a prominent role in its organisation and delivery. The course started in Mr Glenn’s field and began with a low stone wall, followed by hedge, rail, hedge, ditch, a circuit of 3 miles in distance with over 30 fences in total. The opening Sweepstake was won by Mr Scobell’s Mazeppa, who beat Captain Sulivan’s St Pierre, but the main race of the day was a keenly fought Sweepstake over 3 miles which saw Mr Hibbert’s Cricketer overcome the determined challenge of Captain Flash owned by Captain Campbell. There is no evidence of further meetings billed as ‘North British’ taking place in Uphall. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Colonel Macdonald, Major Ricketts, Major Crombie |
| Principal Races |
North British Sweepstake, Uphall Steeplechase |
Saturday 5th April 1845
North British Sweepstake over 3 miles
1. Cricketer, grey gelding owned by Mr Hibbert
2. Captain Flash, bay horse owned by Captain Campbell
3. Bogtrotter, bay gelding owned by Mr Pigott
4. Strathspey, grey gelding owned by Mr Grant |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 5th April 1845. |
| Course today |
A 3 mile course starting in fields owned by Mr Glenn. |
| 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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