Earliest meeting: Saturday 20th March 1858
Final meeting: Monday 10th April 1899
The East Sussex village of Ringmer lies in the Lewes district of the county, located 3 miles from Lewes. There has been a settlement in Ringmer since Roman times, but much later the village joined with Shortgate, Ashton Green and Little Norlington to form a parish which hosted races organised by the famous Southdown Hunt in the latter part of the 19th century. The inaugural meeting, held at Ringmer on Saturday 20th March 1858 on a course of fair hunting ground at Broye-Place Farm in the village, was so successful that meetings continued for the next 35 years. The principal races were the Southdown Hunt Cup and Sussex Plate. The day after the Southdown meeting on Wednesday 8th April 1874 a special meeting took place to celebrate the achievements of the Queen’s Bay Regiment. The opening Captains’ Cup was won by Captain Stuart-Menteth’s The Dun, while the Stapylton Cup went to Smiling Morn. However, the feature race, the Regimental Challenge Cup was won by Change for Mr Lister-Kay. The Hunt moved on to host their race meetings at Lewes, but not until a final meeting at Ringmer on Monday 10th April 1899. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Earl of March, Viscount Gage, Lord Nevil |
| Principal Races |
Southdown Hunt Cup, Sussex Plate, Ringmer Chase |
Thursday 9th April 1874
Regimental Challenge Cup over 3 miles
1. Change, bay gelding owned by Mr F C Lister-Kay
2. Ruby, chestnut gelding owned by Mr W Ottley
3. Barabbas, bay gelding owned by Mr Waldie-Griffith
Betting: Evens Si-tu-Savais, 6/4 Change, 4/1 Ruby |
The final meeting took place on Monday 10th April 1899. |
| Course today |
At Broye-Place Farm in Ringmer. |
| 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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