Earliest meeting: Tuesday 15th March 1859
Final meeting: Thursday 28th April 1864
Springhill is a 17th century house in the townland of Ballindrain near Moneymore in County Londonderry. The Springhill estate was purchased by an Ayrshire family called the Conyngham’s in 1614 and remained in the family for centuries. When William Lenox-Conyngham died in 1858 the estate passed to Lt. Colonel Sir William Fitzwilliam Lenox-Conyngham, and during his tenure races were staged on the estate. The inaugural meeting took place on Tuesday 15th March 1859 on the Moortown course and the Farmers’ Race was won by Mr O’Neill’s Tom-the-Ranger, who beat Sarah Bell, while the Handicap Steeplechase went to Mr Warren’s Devil-may-Care. Meetings continued for the next 5 years until a final card took place on Thursday 28th April 1864 when the prestigious Springhill Steeplechase over 3 miles was won by Mr Harper’s Olympia who beat Gazelle and Enchantress. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr James Markey, Mr Edward Markey, Mr Thomas Harper (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Springhill Steeplechase, Springhill Farmers’ Race, Handicap Chase |
Tuesday 15th March 1859
Springhill Steeplechase over 3 miles
1. The Derby, brown gelding owned by Mr P Ball
2. Lattitat, bay gelding owned by Mr C Alley
3. Devil-may-care, aged horse owned by Mr Warren |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 28th April 1864. |
| Course today |
The Moortown course on the Springhill Estate. |
| 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 |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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