Earliest meeting: Tuesday 9th July 1799
Final meeting: Wednesday 7th April 1858
The Warwickshire town of Nuneaton gets its name from a 12th century Benedictine nunnery around which the town grew. It was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, although at that time it could not be classed as anything more than a hamlet. Near to Nuneaton is the market village of Bramcote which has held a market since 1233. In the very late 18th and early 19th century Nuneaton held its own race meetings which were based at Bramcote. The Coventry Mercury reported that a 3 day race meeting took place from Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th July 1799 and afterwards there was a main of cocks fought between the gentlemen of Northamptonshire and Warwickshire. Much later a steeplechase meeting was staged on Thursday 10th March 1853 when the 3 mile Sweepstake was won by The Iron Duke from Hardware Boy, and a match followed in which Mr J Eastlin’s Kitty got the better of sole rival Doctor. Racing continued for each of the next five years until a final meeting on Wednesday 7th April 1858.

Thursday 10th March 1853
Nuneaton Selling Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. The Iron Duke, aged horse owned by Mr W Tyler
2. The Nigger, bay gelding owned by Mr R Wood
3. Lucy Neal, brown mare owned by Mr R Robinson

The final meeting took place on Wednesday 7th April 1858.

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

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