Earliest meeting: Tuesday 4th March 1835
Final meeting: Tuesday 3rd March 1840
The Norfolk village of Scole, on the border with Suffolk, is located just 19 miles south of Norwich. It lies on the River Waveney and was also on the important Roman road of Venta Icenorum. It first organised a race meeting on Tuesday 4th March 1835 on a 4 mile course starting at Sturston Common, crossing the Waveney and moving in the direction of Thelveton, following a circuitous route back to the Common. A crowd in excess of 6000 witnessed Matilda take the main Steeplechase, while the concluding Sweepstakes was won by Grab from Tranby. After a successful day at the races a Dinner was served at the Scole Inn. The final record of racing in the village was on Tuesday 3rd March 1840. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Major Copeland, Queen’s Bay Officers |
| Principal Races |
Scole Steeplechase, Scole Sweepstake |
Tuesday 4th March 1835
Scole Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Matilda, aged mare owned by Mr G St V Wilson
2. St Helena, aged mare owned by Mr Hector Munro
3. Wrangler, aged horse owned by Mr G Blake
4. Little Tom, aged horse owned by Mr Smith |
The only recorded meeting took place on Tuesday 3rd March 1840. |
| Course today |
A 4 mile course on Sturston Common. |
| 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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