Earliest meeting: Monday 16th September 1839
Final meeting: Monday 4th April 1887
The Worcestershire town of Redditch first held a race meeting on Monday 16th September 1839 at a course near Ipsley. The feature Hewell Stakes was won by Mr Walmseley’s Catamaran, but after racing there was criticism of the course. By the time of the next meeting at Whitsuntide 1840 the course had been levelled, new turf laid and several future capital projects were contemplated. Racing continued annually for 18 years until there was a lapse in proceedings. However, racing was revived on Whit Monday 1863, continuing on the same course until Tuesday 26th October 1886. A final meeting, organised by the Redditch Hunt Committee, was held on Monday 4th April 1887. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Warwick, Bolton King & Benjamin Collett (Stewards), Mr Walmsley, Mr E Davenport, Mr Luke, Mr Waring |
| Principal Races |
Redditch Town Plate, Redditch Hurdle, Hewell Stakes, Hack Stakes, Ipsley Hurdle |
Monday 16th September 1839 |
The Hewell Stakes of 5 Sovereigns with 50 Sovereigns added
1. Catamaran owned by Mr Walmsley
2. Exorable owned by Mr Bradley
3. Queen Victoria owned by Mr Perks
4. Melodrame owned by Lord Warwick |
Monday 21st September 1846 |
The Hack Stakes over a mile
1. Ross owned by Mr Waring
2. Kitty Wee owned by Mr Davis
3. Hector owned by Mr F Pepper
The Redditch Town Plate over a mile
1. Unnamed filly by Heron owned by Mr Whitehouse
2. Vulcan owned by Mr Castree
3. Jerry owned by Mr E Simmonds
The Redditch Hurdle over 2 miles and 4 hurdles
1. Mischief owned by Mr Collin
2. Hector owned by Mr Pepper
3. Union Jack owned by Mr Luke
The Redditch Tradesmen’s Stakes over 2 miles
1. Florine owned by Mr Davenport
2. I’m Afloat owned by Mr Hughes
3. Union Jack owned by Mr Luke |
Monday 28th to Tuesday 29th May 1855 |
The Hack Stakes over a mile
1. Clara Clark owned by Mr Jonathan
2. Lady of the Lodge owned by Mr D Cooke
3. Songster owned by Mr J Turner
The Redditch Hurdle Race over 2 miles
1. Novelist owned by Mr Jonathan
2. Come Away owned by Mr Johnson
3. Salopian owned by Mr Bignell
The Ipsley Handicap Stakes over a mile
1. Lady of the Lodge owned by Mr Cooke
2. Victory owned by Mr Jacob
3. Katinka owned by Mr Alder |
Racing ceased at the racecourse on Tuesday 26th October 1886, but a final meeting, organised by the Redditch Hunt Committee, was held on Monday 4th April 1887. |
| Course today |
The course at Ipsley was much improved after an initial meeting when the course cut up badly. |
| 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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