Earliest meeting: Wednesday 25th August 1737
Final meeting: Monday 7th April 1845
Olney is a market town on the Great Ouse in Buckinghamshire, although it lies close to the borders of both Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. Racing took place in the town as early as 1734 on Olney Heath, and there was certainly a meeting on Wednesday 25th August 1737 when the Olney 8 Guineas Purse was contested. Skipping forwards a century, on Tuesday 20th March 1838 the Olney £30 Purse over 4 miles was won by Mr Robinson’s Enchantress who was ridden by Manning and had to negotiate 24 fences before claiming victory. For the meeting on Tuesday 19th December 1843 the course started half a mile from the town and went towards the village of Weston Underwood before turning to finish in Olney. The main sweepstake that day was won by Grafton. On Monday 31st March 1845 Olney combined with the Oakley Hunt to stage a steeplechase meeting on a 4 mile course which began at The Bull, wound towards Hatch Green and Lavendon before turning back to Olney. The opening Sweepstake saw Mr Baker’s Roulette beat Grafton and May Day. The final meeting took place on Monday 7th April 1845. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Oakley Hunt, Mr B S Brookes, Mr John Whitworth |
| Principal Races |
Olney & Oakley Hunt Steeplechase, Olney Sweepstake |
Tuesday 20th March 1838 |
Olney £30 Purse over 4 miles
1. Enchantress owned by Mr Robinson
The winner had to negotiate 24 fences and was ridden by Manning. |
Monday 31st March 1845
Olney Sweepstake Handicap
1. Grafton, brown gelding owned by Mr B S Brookes
2. Roscommon, bay gelding owned by Mr John Whitworth
3. The Pedlar, brown gelding owned by Mr Talbot |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 7th April 1845 |
| Course today |
A 4 mile course starting at the Bull and moving towards Hatch Green and Lavendon. |
| 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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