Earliest meeting: Tuesday 10th May 1864
Final meeting: Wednesday 10th April 1872
The tiny village of Bickleigh lies on the edge of Dartmoor in the South Hams district of Devon, some 7 miles north of Plymouth. On the outskirts of the village is Bickleigh Down where races were organised by the Roborough Hunt Committee in 1864, meetings continuing for the next eight years. The inaugural meeting took place on Tuesday 10th May 1864 on part of Bickleigh Down just 4 miles from Plymouth. The card opened with the Garrison Steeplechase over 3 miles in which Mr Hutchinson’s Sunrise beat Lady Alice and Doodleums. The feature race, the Roborough Open Steeplechase, was won by Mr Riddle’s Carew who got the better of Fanny and Flying Dutchman, while the day was brought to a close when Mr Newcombe’s Jack in the Box captured the Roborough Hurdle. Meetings continued successfully until a final event was staged on Wednesday 10th April 1872. The day opened with the Maristow Plate which went to Major Scott’s Little Lady, while the Roborough Hunt Cup was secured in clever style by Captain Underwood’s Succession. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Major Strode, Major Scott, Major Daniels |
| Principal Races |
Roborough Hunt Cup, Garrison Steeplechase |
Wednesday 10th July 1872
Roborough Hunt Cup over 1 ½ miles and 6 flights
1. Succession, brown mare owned by Captain Underwood
2. Lady Jane Gray, grey mare owned by Mr Wanchope
3. Mystery, chestnut mare owned by Major Scott |
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 10th April 1872. |
| Course today |
On Bickleigh Down just 4 miles from Plymouth. |
| 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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