Earliest meeting: Tuesday 29th September 1840
Final meeting: Friday 21st October 1881
The Welsh town of Presteigne on the River Lugg is in Powys, but historically it was in the old county of Radnorshire. Close to the town is Knighton, which held its own race meetings for a prolonged period of time. However, Presteigne launched its meetings on Tuesday 29th September 1840 with the opening Subscription race won by Mr Hall’s Collington Lass. The course was on Broad Heath and was 180 yards short of a mile. A particularly successful, well attended meeting took place on Tuesday 17th September 1844 on the same Broad Heath course. Entries were accepted at the Duke’s Arms Inn, and an Ordinary was served at the same venue after racing. The meeting opened with Laurestina winning the Broad-Heath Stakes for Mr Boycott, but the same combination could only manage third place in the feature race. The meeting on Tuesday 3rd June 1849 was unusual in having an early morning session when the Presteigne Stakes was won by Hector, and the Broadheath Stakes by Mountain Maid, and an evening session which was brought to a close by the Scurry Stakes won by Mr Partridge’s Clockwork. Meetings continued intermittently for the next 32 years until a final card on Friday 21st October 1881. The meeting was disappointing in many ways, not least because of a sparse crowd and only 8 horses in total participating. The Radnorshire Hurdle went to Lord Rocksavage’s Beauchamp after which the curtain came down on the meeting for the final time. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Rocksavage, Mr G Kitsell (Clerk) |
| Principal Races |
Broad Heath Stakes, Radnorshire Hurdle, Presteigne Sweepstake |
Tuesday 17th September 1844
Presteigne Sweepstake over 1 ¾ miles
1. Brewood, bay gelding owned by Mr Hall
2. Sailor, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Cresswell
3. Laurestina, bay mare owned by Mr Boycott |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 21st October 1881. |
| Course today |
A course on Broad Heath 180 yards short of a mile. |
| 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 |
|