Earliest meeting: Tuesday 14th September 1847
Final meeting: Thursday 14th September 1865
The Devon town of Starcross is situated on the River Exe near to Teignbridge. It benefits from a railway station on the main London to Penzance line, and in the middle of the 19th century it held its own race meeting for a number of years. The first meeting took place on Tuesday 14th September 1847 on a course to the rear of the town on 2 fields owned by Mr Southwood. The opening Purse was won after 3 heats by Jenny Lind, owned by Mr William Wood. Later in the day the feature Starcross Hurdle went to Merry Andrew owned by Mr Glendenning. Racing lapsed for a time in the town, but meetings were revived on Tuesday 7th October 1862 on a new course, complete with grandstand, between the town and the Railway Station on fields owned by Mr Haydon. The feature race was the Starcross Stakes which saw Marquis reward his owner Mr P Collings. Racing continued for the next 3 years before a final meeting on Thursday 14th September 1865, when the Dawlish Stakes was captured by Burgess owned by Mr Brown. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Earl of Morley, Lord Borringdon, Lord Courtenay |
| Principal Races |
Starcross Stakes, Starcross Hurdle, Dawlish Stakes |
Tuesday 7th October 1862
Starcross Stakes over 1 ½ miles and 6 flights
1. Marquis, bay gelding owned by Mr P Collings
2. Flying Empress, bay mare owned by Mr Oliver
3. Blackbird, bay gelding owned by Mr Cornish |
The only recorded meeting took place on Thursday 14th September 1865. |
| Course today |
Between the town and Railway Station on fields owned by Mr Haydon. |
| 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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