Earliest meeting: Wednesday 30th March 1887
Final meeting: Thursday 11th April 1901
Although racing was first staged in the Pembrokeshire county town of Haverfordwest on Tuesday 30th August 1768 on Portfield Common, the first occasion a meeting was billed as ‘Pembrokeshire Hunt Steeplechases’ was on Wednesday 30th March 1887 when a card was staged at Bellevue near Pembroke. The meeting began with the Maiden Banking Plate over 3 miles which was won by Mr Robert’s Letty Gray, beating Lady Mary and Castoff. The Castlemartin Plate followed and was secured by Pope for Mr Harries, while the later Town Plate saw Miss O’Gorman capture the prize for Mr Thomas. The next year a two day meeting, beginning on Thursday 5th April 1888, was held at a course on Barnsley Farm, Hayscastle on the outskirts of Haverfordwest. By 1892 the meetings had been relabelled as point to point meetings on a course between Lamphey Village and the New Inn. In line with the regulations laid down by the National Hunt Committee as early as 1870, the meeting held in 1897 was one where charges were made to a paying public, and racing continued to be staged under these terms until a final card, held at Portfield Common, on Thursday 11th April 1901. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr C W R Stokes (Judge), Mr C H Barker (Clerk of the Course) |
| Principal Races |
Pembroke Castle Hurdle, Pembroke Stewards’ Plate, Pembroke Town Plate, Castlemartin Plate |
Wednesday 30th March 1887
Castlemartin Plate over 3 miles and many banks
1. Pope, aged horse owned by Mr Harries
2. Credit, aged horse owned by Mr Lewis
3. Ulster Chief, aged horse owned by Mr Owen |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 11th April 1901. |
| Course today |
At a range of courses from Barnsley Farm to Lamphey Village and Portfield Common. |
| 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. |
| ORDER FORM |
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| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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