Earliest meeting: Monday 29th June 1761
Final meeting: Friday 3rd July 1761
The County Clare parish of Rath (Rathclare) lies in the barony of Inchiquin between Inagh and Corofin. The River Fergus marks the boundary of the parish which includes such hamlets as Riverston and Knockmacart. In the middle of the 18th century Rathclare held its own race meetings which were deemed sufficiently important to be included in the ‘Historical List of Horse Races and Matches of 1761’. The 4 day meeting was spread over 5 days beginning on Monday 29th June and finishing on Friday 3rd July 1761. On the opening day the 20 Guineas race saw Mr Grady’s Ladus defeat Starboard and Bajazet, while the next day Brutus was successful for owner Cornet O’Brien. After a day of hunting on Wednesday, racing resumed on Thursday with victory in the Hunters’ Plate for Mr Hassett, while on the concluding day Mr Evans’s selection won the Weight for Age Handicap. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Cornet O’Brien, Mr Hassett, Mr Evans |
| Principal Races |
Rathclare 20 Guineas Weight for Age Stakes, Rathclare Hunters’ Plate, Rathclare 20 Guineas, Rathclare 30 Guineas |
29th June 1761 |
Rathclare 20 Guineas race over 3 miles
1. Ladus, bay colt owned by Mr Grady
2. Starboard, bay colt owned by Mr Fleming
3. Bajazet, bay colt owned by Mr O’Loughlen |
30th June 1761 |
Rathclare 30 Guineas race
1. Brutus, brown horse owned by Cornet O’Brien
2. Bald Castle, chestnut horse owned by Mr Hughson
3. Cinder Wench, brown mare owned by Mr Hyde |
2nd July 1761 |
Rathclare Hunters’ Plate
1. Unnamed bay gelding owned and ridden by Mr Hasset
2. Unnamed grey gelding owned by Mr Grady and ridden by Mr Ryan
2. Unnamed bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Oliver |
3rd July 1761 |
Rathclare 20 Guineas Weight for Age Stakes
1. Unnamed bay mare owned by Mr Evans
2. Unnamed black horse owned by Captain Thomas
3. Unnamed chestnut mare owned by Mr Bullen |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 3rd July 1761. |
| Course today |
Across fields on the outskirts of the parish. |
| 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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