Earliest meeting: Monday 25th March 1861
Final meeting: Monday 25th March 1861
The Northumbrian village of Ponteland, located near to the city of Newcastle and close to Lowick, ran its own races from 1864 until 1870. Ponteland did host races for a number of years prior to this period to coincide with the annual feast days, but they generally involved ponies and galloways. However, on Monday 25th March 1861 races were organised for thoroughbreds on a course that was ‘on the green sward on the edge of the village’. The crowd was large and jolly and none of the ‘high bred mettle was in attendance’ to watch the opening Hunters’ Hurdle Stakes go to Gentle Auntie, owned by Mr G Wilkinson. The principal race, the Farmers’ Plate, was won by Camphor. Racing continued annually in the village, but returned to its former state of pony races sprinkled with galloways. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Balmbra (Starter), Mr Wilkinson (Judge) |
| Principal Races |
Farmers’ Handicap Plate, Hunters’ Hurdle |
Monday 25th March 1861
Farmers’ Handicap Plate
1. Camphor, 3 year old owned by Mr Coxen
2. Capon, 6 year old owned by Mr Bullock
3. Maid of Nun Street, aged horse owned by Mr Culter |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 25th March 1861. |
| Course today |
On a ‘green sward’ on the edge of the village. |
| 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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