Earliest meeting: Monday 20th May 1861
Final meeting: Tuesday 18th May 1869
The Cornwall town of St Columb is often referred to as St Columb Major to distinguish it from the small coastal village of the same name known as St Columb Minor. The town is situated 11 kilometres from Wadebridge and 10 kilometres east of Newquay. Despite its small size, relative isolation and being ‘off the rail by 13 miles’, it held its inaugural race meeting on Monday 20th May 1861 on a 3 mile steeplechase course over fair hunting ground interspersed with fences, when Mr Collin’s Brown Duchess won by over 100 yards from Flare-up. This was a revival of races in the village after a lapse of several years and saw hundreds pour into the village from neighbouring villages. The course, situated 2 miles from St Columb on ground owned by Mr Vivian of Truhan, consisted of an elevated plateau, with one side forming a gentle descent. The view from the top of the plateau embraced an area of vast extent, with lofty hills visible a considerable number of miles in the distance. The main race of the day, a 3 mile pony steeplechase for ponies not exceeding 14 hands high, rewarded the winning owner with a silver cup valued at 7 guineas. The next year it held a second meeting on Monday 19th May 1862 and attracted a crowd in excess of 12,000. The opening Farmers’ Cup was won by Mr J Rowe’s Bessie who beat Nimrod and Flyaway. The feature Stewards’ Plate went to Peacock. By 1867 there were a number of four-horse omnibuses leaving Falmouth Market Square at 6.15 am bound for the races, the cost for which was 5 shillings return. Meetings continued to be popular for 2 more years until the final card was staged on Tuesday 18th May 1869.
Mr Vavasour Sandford
I am grateful to David Copland for the trophy shown opposite.
Monday 20th May 1861
St Columb Pony Steeplechase over 3 miles
- Tear-Away owned by Mr W & T Truscott and ridden by John Hoskins
- Toby owned and ridden by Mr Edward Collins
- Anything owned and ridden by Mr Thomas Avery
- Fanny owned and ridden by Mr Joseph Glanville
- Bessie owned and ridden by Mr R Cardell
- Star owned and ridden by Mr James Rowe
- Fly-Away owned and ridden by Mr Williams
- Tuscany owned and ridden by Mr John Trevena
- Devil owned and ridden by Mr Foster
Monday 19th May 1862
St Columbs Stewards’ Plate
1. Peacock, bay gelding owned by Mr Vavasour Sandford
2. Lincoln, grey horse owned by Mr Grigg
3. Black Bess, bay mare owned by Mr Bassett
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
