Earliest meeting: Tuesday 26th April 1887
Final meeting: Thursday 26th April 1888
The Berkshire Park of Easthampstead is in the Bracknell area of the county. The Park contains a mansion which was built in Victorian times, but much earlier in history, in the Middle Ages, it was part of Windsor Forest. Towards the end of the 1800s Officers of the Staff College organised race meetings under rules on an annual basis which were held in Easthampstead Park. Although they were held annually, the first of note took place on Tuesday 26th April 1887 courtesy of the Marchioness of Downshire who owned the mansion and its surrounding parkland. The meeting was graced by a large, fashionable audience, with important guests entertained in an exclusive enclosure, railed off by long rows of carriages, which provided an excellent view of the entire course. Races started at Lady Alice’s farm and proceeded to Home Farm, a distance on 2 2/3rd miles. The opening Downshire Plate was won by Captain Burn-Murdoch’s Lal Khan who beat The Nipper, while the Veteran’s Cup went to The Baron owned by Major Wyndham. The feature race, the Farmer’s Cup, was won in impressive style by Mr W Cordery’s Twickenham. The next year the meeting was staged on the same course on Thursday 26th April 1888. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Marchioness of Downshire, Mr Elder (Steward) |
| Principal Races |
Easthampstead Park Farmer’s Cup, Downshire Plate, Staff College Veteran’s Cup |
Tuesday 26th April 1887
Easthampstead Park Farmer’s Cup over 2 2/3rd miles
1. Twickenham, aged horse owned by Mr W Cordery
2. Somerset, aged horse owned by Mr J Gould
3. Black Bess, aged mare owned by Mr J Headington |
The final recorded meeting took place on Thursday 26th April 1888. |
| Course today |
A 2 2/3rd mile course on Easthampstead Park. |
| 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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