Earliest meeting: Monday 1st May 1899
Final meeting: Monday 11th March 1940
The Shirley area of Birmingham is in the south east district of the city and in the 18th century was barely more than a hamlet surrounded by beautiful countryside. In the late 19th century it came under the umbrella of Solihull, but in 1894 moved under the jurisdiction of Shirley Parish Council. One of their first actions was to approve the development of a mile and a half racecourse on Shirley Park on Monkspath Street, which was close to the important Stratford Road. The first meeting to be held at the new course was on Monday 1st May 1899, opening with the Henley Selling Hurdle which was won by Kippur. The meeting was a success and the next year the track was allocated four Monday meetings, the first of which was in March. Meetings continued to be well supported, although the quality of racing was not high, but it made up for that with quantity by ensuring that races were competitive. Although the course ceased to race after 1915 for the duration of the War, meetings were staged again in September 1919 and continued beyond the start of the Second World War. The final meeting under rules was held on Monday 11th March 1940, the appetite for trainers running their horses at the course had not diminished because 111 horses contested the six race programme. After the war ended thoroughbred racing did not return, but there was a change in management when the Kirkby Mallory Racecourse Company Ltd took charge of the course and concentrated on making it the premier pony racing track. The final pony race meeting was staged on Wednesday 4th November 1953.

Monday 29th March 1915
Foxhunters Handicap Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. Piper’s Bill, aged horse owned by Mr H A Weraber
2. King’s Colour, aged horse owned by Mr W H P Rees
3. Hesperus Magnus, aged horse owned by Mr David Faber
Betting: 6/4 Hesperus Magnus, 6/4 King’s Colour, 5/1 Piper’s Bill

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

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