Earliest meeting: Monday 25th October 1762
Final meeting: Friday 29th October 1762
The County Laois town of Portarlington, on the River Barrow, is also called Cooletoodera and is located just inside the County Laois border. One of the first Stewards of Irish racing was the Earl of Portarlington, and the earliest occasion when racing was recorded in the town was a full five day meeting from Monday 25th to Friday 29th October 1762. On the opening day the 4 year old Stakes over 2 miles was won by Mr Heely’s Fanny, and he seemed to have an obsession with sexual inuendos because he also won the Purse with Sweetest When Naked. Later in the racing festival the 5 year old Stakes, over an extra mile, went to Mr Tenyn’s Speedwell who got the better of Mr St Leger’s Gallant. Despite the obvious success of the festival there are no records of further racing in the town. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Mount Eagle, Mr St Leger |
| Principal Races |
Portarlington 4YO & 5YO Stakes |
Monday 25th to Friday 29th October 1762 |
Portarlington 4 Year Old Stakes over 2 miles
1. Fanny owned by Mr Heeley
2. Unnamed filly owned by Mr Reyan
3. Dove owned by Lord Mount Eagle
Portarlington 5 Year Old Stakes over 3 miles
1. Speedwell owned by Mr Tenyns
2. Gallant owned by Mr St Leger |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 29th October 1762. |
| Course today |
On the estate on the edge of town. |
| 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 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|