Earliest meeting: Wednesday 29th October 1851
Final meeting: Wednesday 19th January 1853
Portadown sits on the River Bann in the northern part of County Antrim about 25 miles south west of Belfast. The town held its first 2 day steeplechase meeting on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th October 1851 on ‘a cock-pit of a course’ less than a mile round and situated 1 ½ miles from the town centre. The main races were the Portadown Hurdle and Free Handicap, and after racing an Ordinary was served at the Queen’s Arms Hotel. The final record of a steeplechase meeting was on Wednesday 19th January 1853 when the opening Handicap Steeplechase over 2 miles was won by Now or Never owned by Mr Smith who got the better of Crimson Thorn. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
George Ensor & Cornelius Carleton (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Portadown Hurdle, Free Handicap, Open Handicap Steeplechase |
Wednesday 19th January 1853
Free Handicap over 2 miles
1. Waterhen, black mare owned by Mr Flood
2. Johnny Oaks, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Small
3. Honey Pot, bay mare owned by Mr Bond |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 19th January 1853. |
| Course today |
A very tight, circular course of a mile round 1 ½ miles from Portadown. |
| 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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