Earliest meeting: Friday 8th April 1853
Final meeting: April 1856
The South of Scotland race meeting was held in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Leafield, north east of Stranraer, on Friday 8th April 1853 and remained there until 1856. That 1853 meeting was staged on Lochfields Farm at Leafields when the Handicap Steeplechase went to Johnnie Barrie owned by Mr J Laing, while the Innkeepers Plate went to Mr Russell’s Borland. After the April 1856 meeting races organised by the Dumfriesshire Hunt Committee continued at a number of venues until its final meeting at Justinlees in 1914. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Joe Graham, Captain Newman, Captain David Johnstone |
| Principal Races |
The Silver Snuff-Box, The Silver Jug, Dumfriesshire Hunt Cup, Border Hunt Chase |
Friday 8th April 1853
South of Scotland Hunters Stakes
1. Tortoise, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Bryden
2. Captain, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Bell
3. General, bay horse owned by Mr Bendall |
| The final meeting took place in April 1856. |
| Course today |
Across good hunting ground on the outskirts of Leafield. |
| 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. |
| ORDER FORM |
| Download an order form |
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Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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| Postage & Packaging |
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| Total |
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| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
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