Earliest meeting: Monday 1st April 1839
Final meeting: Monday 1st April 1839
The Shropshire Hunt has a long history and amongst its Masters were John Corbet, who took over the Warwickshire hounds in 1791, and the legendary Jack Mytton. By 1838 the Hunt was divided into a north and south section, and just one year later the Shropshire Hunt organised its one and only race meeting held under Rules. That meeting took place on Monday 1st April 1839 at Albrighton, and it is surprising, given the support the Hunt received from prominent racing folk who were part of the Group, that no further meetings were billed as ‘Shropshire Hunt Steeplechases’, although point to point meetings were organised in the future. The headquarters for the 1839 meeting was The Fox at Albrighton and the course started in a meadow a quarter of a mile from The Fox. The course proceeded along Holly Bank, through ploughed fields and over nine easy hedges before winding its way towards Hall Hussey, after which the fences became higher and more demanding. The meeting was ably stewarded by Captain Clement Hill and the principal Sweepstake was won by Mr Vernon’s Tushingham. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Clement Hill, Sir Edward Smythe |
| Principal Races |
Shropshire Hunt Steeplechase |
Monday 1st April 1839
Shropshire Hunt Steeplechase
1. Tushingham, aged horse owned by Mr Vernon
2. Primrose, aged mare owned by Mr G Street
3. Unnamed 7 year old bay mare owned by Sir Edward Smythe
4. Beggar, 6 year old owned by Mr Lowe |
The only recorded meeting took place on Monday 1st April 1839. |
| Course today |
Starting near The Fox and proceeding via Holly Bank to Hall Hussey. |
| 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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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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