Earliest meeting: Monday 21st October 1754
Final meeting: Friday 22nd September 1769
The County Cavan hamlet of Rice Hill, also known as Clonagore, was situated close to Kilmore. It held its own race meetings in the middle of the 18th century, with results reported in the ‘Historical List of Horse races and matches’ of 1754. On the opening day the £30 prize was won by Mr O’Neil’s Fearnought, fending off a challenge from Major Richardson’s Why-Not. The 5 day meeting, split by a hunting day on the Thursday, ended on Staurday 26th October with a series of matches won by Lord Antrim. Meetings continued intermittently, but an extended five day meeting was staged from Monday 18th to Friday 22nd September 1769 when the principal 6 year old race was won by Mr Drought’s Sportsman, defeating Claudius and Recruit. |
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| Local Patrons |
Lord Antrim, Major Richardson, Sir Patrick Bellow |
| Principal Races |
Rice Hill £20 Real Hunters Stakes, Rice Hill £20 Irish Bred Race, Rice Hill £30 Prize |
21st October 1754 |
Rice Hill £30 Prize
1. Fearnought, bay horse owned by Mr O’Neil
2. Why-Not, bay gelding owned by Major Richardson
3. Snowdon, bay gelding owned by Mr Jones |
22nd October 1754 |
Rice Hill £20 Irish Bred Race
1. Miss Baker, bay mare owned by Lord Antrim
2. Unnamed chestnut horse owned by Mr Dixon |
23rd October 1754 |
Rice Hill £20 Real Hunters Stakes
1. Unnamed horse owned by Sir Patrick Bellow
2. Unnamed horse owned by Mr Scott |
25th October 1754 |
Rice Hill £50 Purse
1. Robin Rusty, bay horse owned by Mr French
2. Viper, chestnut horse owned by Mr O’Neil
3. Skewball, bay gelding owned by Lord Antrim |
26th October 1754 |
Rice Hill Sweepstakes Match
1. Miss Baker, bay mare owned by Lord Antrim
2. Fearnought, bay horse owned by Mr O’Neil
3. Hack, bay gelding owned by Mr Dial |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 22nd September 1769. |
| Course today |
In fields on the edge of the hamlet. |
| 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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