Earliest meeting: Tuesday 29th September 1846
Final meeting: Monday 1st May 1939
The Worcestershire market town of Pershore, on the banks of the River Avon, lies in the Vale of Evesham some 6 miles west of Evesham and the same distance east of Upton-upon-Severn. The earliest record of racing in the town was at Bridge Meadow, adjoining the town, on Tuesday 29th September 1846 and afforded a sufficient degree of sport for the experience to be repeated the next year. The running ground was in fine fettle, except the far distance which was rough, and there was scope for improvement next year. The Grand Stand, built before rules were fashionable, was erected by Pershore Innkeepers for public convenience. Results from that inaugural meeting are shown below.
Tuesday 29th September 1846
Pershore Stakes 20 sovereigns over 1 1/2 miles
- Charity chestnut mare owned by Mr Read and ridden by Turner
- Teresa brown mare owned by Mr Hankin
- Valeria bay mare owned by Mr Oakley and ridden by Chessway
Avon Stakes 15 sovereigns over 1 1/2 miles
- Valeria bay mare owned by Mr Oakey and ridden by Chessway
- Amazement bay mare owned by Mr Webb
- Teresa brown mare owned by Mr Hankin
Pershore Hurdle 10 sovereigns over 1 1/2 miles
- Protectionist chestnut gelding owned and ridden by Mr Taylor
- Dandy chestnut gelding owned by Mr Mytton
- Miss Foster chestnut mare owned by Mr H C Laugher
Records show that the next race meeting took place on the edge of Pershore on Tuesday 26th October 1847, principally involving the Pershore Stakes which was run in 4 heats, as was the norm in those days. The mile and a half race was won by Amazement, owned by Mr Wood, beating Augustus and Monsieur Perrot, and was due to be sold for 100 sovereigns after winning. The course was less than a mile from the town centre, surrounded by beautiful Worcestershire countryside. At the meeting there was a fatality when Joseph Peart, a 25-year-old from Great Comberton, was crossing the course during the second heat when he was knocked down by a horse ridden by Cox. He was removed to the Coach and Horses Inn where he died 30 minutes later. Although the racing was enjoyable, the tragedy caused a negative reaction and no further flat race meetings were staged in the town, with racing not returning until the very last year of the century.
On Thursday 27th April 1899 the inaugural National Hunt meeting was staged on Weir Meadow, close to Defford, and it proved to be a good day for Mr Herbert Sidney who won all four steeplechases. Meetings continued to be held each April, with an additional meeting in October after 1900. In an area of the country which celebrates its plums with festivals, it seems fitting that the Land O'Plums Chase became one of its principal races. Racing ceased during the War, returning in 1920, although the quality of races and attendance both declined. The Weir Meadow course staged its final two-day meeting on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th May 1934 and there was no May meeting the next year.
Saturday 5th May 1923
Land O’Plums Steeplechase over 2 miles
1. Buggy, 5 year old owned by Mr Bromley
2. Blue Anchor, 5 year old owned by Mr Hyde
3. Sherston, 8 year old owned by Mr Sanday
Betting: 4/7 Sherston, 7/1 Irish Idol, 7/1 Buggy, 8/1 Blue Anchor
A new course, close to the railway station, opened with a two-day meeting on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th October 1935 when hopes and expectations high. The course was superior to the old one, which had flooded all too frequently, and the stands and other facilities were significantly better. The final meeting took place on Monday 1st May 1939 after which the army took over the course. Once the war was over racing never returned to Pershore, the land owned by Lord Coventry was sold and later used for commercial purposes.
I am grateful to Roy Hirons for the rare Land 'o Plums chase winner's badge shown below
In the 1924-25 season steeplechase races took place on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th September 1924 with race details shown below:-
Monday 23rd September 1924
Lady of Plums Handicap Steeplechase
1. Progress ridden by F Rees
2. Corfe Castle
3. Ardeen
Betting: 6/4 Progress, 7/2 Ardeen, 6/1 Corfe Castle
Tuesday 24th September 1924
Pershore Plum Hurdle over 2 miles
1. Isle of Wight owned by Major Eves and ridden by J Wootton
2. Cocksure owned by Mr C Aldridge and ridden by J R Anthony
3. Cissy Band owned by Mr H Liddell and ridden by F Gurney
Betting: 1/6 Isle of Wight, 8/1 Cocksure
Friday 16th October 1936
A record crowd attended the opening day of the National Hunt meeting and stood in a minute's silence in memory of W Stott, the Cheltenham jockey.
Earls Croome Handicap Chase
3 miles 130 yards
- Easter Beauty 7/2 ridden by M Willes
- 2. Oudenarde 9/2 ridden by H Nicholson
- Same Again 5/2 ridden by E Vinall
Wyre Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles 120 yds
- Ponessan 6/4 fav ridden by J C Ward
- Nazira 4/1 ridden by T Isaac
- Armetta 8/1 ridden by E C Brown
The inaugural 2 day meeting at the new course took place on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th October 1935.
Friday 18th October 1935
Defford Selling Chase
1. Render (11/8 fav) ridden by E C Brown
Upton Selling Handicap Hurdle
1. Sonna (3/1 fav) ridden by F Gurney
Earls Croome Handicap Chase
1. Winter Land (10/1) ridden by F Maxwell
Wyre Handicap Hurdle
1. Torrish ridden by W Parvin (walked over)
Droitwich Novices Chase
1. Ophelia Bush (8/1) ridden by Mr G S Wood
Avon 3 year old Hurdle
1. Star Son (5/1) ridden by D Morgan
Saturday 19th October 1935
Kempsey Selling Handicap Chase
1. Jack Ketch (3/1) ridden by T McNeill
Bengeworth Selling Hurdle
1. Deserter (7/1) ridden by T Isaacs
Pirton Steeplechase
1. Thanos (1/3 fav) ridden by Keith Piggott
Pershore Plum Handicap Hurdle
1. Landrecies (9/2) ridden by R Clark
Pinvin Handicap Steeplechase
1. Palais De Danse (11/4 fav) ridden by H Nicholson
Strensham Novices Hurdle
1. Carter Bar (6/4 fav) ridden by D O Jones
I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the 1935 map shown below, which idicates the location of the 'new' course
The very rare May 1936 racecard is shown courtesy of Roy Hirons (results of the meeting are shown below)
Monday 4th May 1936
Birlingham Selling Handicap Chase
1. Baysman (7/1) owned by Mr E M Millwater and ridden by F Gurney
2. Querist (3/1 fav) ridden by Mr Anthony Mildmay
3. Martin Barber (100/6) ridden by Mr H P Bell
Pershore Hunters’ Chase £100 over 3 miles 130 yards
1. Feuar (7/4 fav) owned by Mrs L C Lyster and ridden by Mr E Paget
2. Prime (8/1) ridden by Mr A Marsh
3. Craigantlet (20/1) ridden by Mr T Gresham
Land ‘O Plums Handicap Steeplechase
1. Xenon (3/1) ridden by E C Brown
2. Vive L’Amour (9/4 fav) ridden by E Williams
3. Archman (4/1) ridden by H Nicholson
Croome Handicap Hurdle
1. Chips (7/4 jt fav) ridden by Staff Ingham
2. Armetta (7/4 jt fav) ridden by E C Brown
3. Pomelo (3/1) ridden by W King
The photo below, shown courtesy of Roy Hirons, is of the old winning post from Pershore Racecourse
Little evidence of the course remains today and the ground is covered by a trading estate.
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
