Earliest meeting: Monday 22nd May 1600
Final meeting: Saturday 5th July 1845
One of the earliest records of a race meeting taking place in the county of Shropshire was on Prees Heath on Monday 22nd May 1600. The meeting, close to the town of Whitchurch, was held in Whit week and may have been one of many held on the Heath at the start of the century. By 1727 Whitchurch was holding regular meetings in May or June on Prees Heath. The final meeting took place on 5th July 1845. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Molyneux, Sir N Gresley, Colonel Thornton, Captain Cotton |
| Principal Races |
Whitchurch 10 Guineas Plate, Whitchurch 2 mile Stakes |
Monday 20th March 1727 |
Whitchurch Plate of 10 Guineas
1. Collier owned by Lord Molyneux
2. Witty Gelding owned by Mr Fletcher
3. Merry Andrew owned by Captain Cotton |
2nd and 3rd June 1762 |
Whitchurch Purse over 2 miles
1. Pyrois owned by Colonel Thornton
2. Trial owned by Sir N Gresley
3. Speedwell owned by Mr Burston |
22nd and 23rd May 1782 |
Whitchurch 2 mile Stakes
1. Release owned by Mr Felton
2. Cicero owned by Mr Smith
3. Smart owned by Mr Golding
Whitchurch 4 mile Plate
1. Druggist owned by Mr Lloyd
2. Coniac owned by Mr H Vernon
3. Moorpoot owned by Mr Dalton |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 5th July 1845. |
| Course today |
Prees Heath in Shropshire |
| 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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