RAINFORD RACECOURSE

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Earliest meeting: Tuesday 4th August 1846
Final meeting: Wednesday 4th August 1852
Rainford, a village in the St Helens district of Merseyside, lies some 5 miles north of St Helens. On Tuesday 4th August 1846 the village launched a 2 day race meeting on a course half a mile out of the village in fields owned by Mr Sharples. Meetings continued annually for the next 6 years with the highlight each meeting being the Rainford Steeplechase. On Wednesday 6th August 1851 the feature Rainford Steeplechase was won by Mr Owen’s County Squire. The final two day meeting was staged on the Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th August 1852.
This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.
Local Patrons Captain Craig, Mr Jerome
Principal Races Rainford Steeplechase, Tradesmen’s Cup, Rainford Stakes

Wednesday 6th August 1851
Rainford Steeplechase
1. Country Squire owned by Mr Owen
2. Harley owned by Captain Craig
3. Saltpetre owned by Mr Jerome
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 4th August 1852.
Course today In fields owned by Mr Sharples half a mile from 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

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