Earliest meeting: Tuesday 29th March 1864
Final meeting: March 1869
Pembroke, the historic county town of Pembrokeshire, had been holding races since the mid 1800s, with the first recorded meeting taking place on the Orielton Estate, home of the Baronetcy of Orielton, in April 1856. The meeting lasted for 3 further years at this venue until it transferred to Freshwater East in 1860. This seaside town was a lovely setting for races on the beach, although it is thought that the meeting only remained until 1862. Further records show that a meeting took place at Pembroke Dock on 22nd October 1863, and later the meeting visited St Daniel’s Banking course, close to the town of Pembroke, until 1869. The opening meeting at this new venue took place on Tuesday 29th March 1864, while the next year the meeting was held on Tuesday 14th March 1865 when the chief Steward was Mr G L Phillips. It proved to be a good day for him, successfully carrying out his duties as Steward, and enjoying success with his horses. Although the opening County Members Plate over 4 miles was won by Mr Gwyther’s Bachelor, at the expense of Agnes and Rose, the Open Steeplechase proved to be a one sided affair, with Mr G Lort Phillips occupying the first two places with St Florence and Newton. Pembroke Hunt continued to stage meetings for a further 15 years at Alleston until a final card was held on Wednesday 8th April 1914. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Baronet of Orielton, Jack Anthony, Mr G Lort Phillips, Mr R Anderson (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Pembroke Castle Hurdle, Pembroke Stewards’ Plate, Garrison Plate |
Tuesday 14th March 1865
Pembroke Open Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. St Florence, bay gelding owned by Mr G Lort Phillips
2. Newton, brown gelding owned by Mr G Lort Phillips
3. Aunt Sally, bay mare owned by Mr J R Riddell |
| The final meeting took place in March 1869. |
| Course today |
At St Daniels Bank on the outskirts of Pembroke.
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| 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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