Earliest meeting: Tuesday 4th August 1752
Final meeting: Thursday 16th July 1767
The large Greater Manchester town of Stockport lies just 11 kilometres from Manchester City centre, but in the 18th century part of the town was in Cheshire and the northern area of the town was in Lancashire. The town first held races in 1752 when a three day meeting took place from Tuesday 4th to Thursday 6th August. On the first day Blazellus won the £50 Purse, while on the closing day another £50 Purse saw Grey Legs get the better of Bully and Mouse. Races were held annually, with entries made at Jepson’s Barn; Assemblies and Ordinarys were always served after racing. At the 3 day meeting from Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 25th August 1763 the feature race on day one was won by Sir Charles Sedley’s Notun, while on the Wednesday the principal race went to the wonderfully named Jack I’ll Tickle Thee. The concluding Stockport Purse on Thursday was won by Mr Aldridge’s American. The final 3 day meeting was scheduled to be staged from Tuesday 14th to Thursday 16th July 1867. However, the Tuesday meeting was cancelled for lack of horses and on Thursday Honest Billy won an inferior Weight for Age race from Bury Bridge. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir George Byning, Sir Charles Sedley |
| Principal Races |
Stockport £50 Purse, Weight for Age Handicap |
Tuesday 4th - Thursday 6th August 1752 |
Tuesday 4th August 1752 Stockport Fifty Pounds Purse
1. Blazellus owned by Mr Clifton
2. Abelard owned by Mr Lever
3. Gelding owned by Mr Griffith
4. Tryal owned by Sir George Byning
Thursday 6th August 1752 Stockport Fifty Pounds Purse
1. Grey Legs owned by Mr Nelson
2. Bully owned by Mr Livesley
3. Mouse owned by Mr Griffith |
| Tuesday 23rd - Thursday 25th August 1763 |
Tuesday 23rd August 1763 Stockport 4 mile Purse
1. Notun owned by Sir Charles Sedley
2. Valiant owned by Mr Elliot
Wednesday 24th August 1763 Stockport Give and Take
1. Jack I’ll Tickle Thee owned by Mr Lowther
2. Brown horse owned by Mr Kidd
3. Scarface owned by Mr Allenby
Thursday 25th August 1763 Stockport Purse
1. American owned by Mr Aldridge
2. Lightfoot owned by Mr Brown
3. Chestnut horse owned by Mr Leigh |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 16th July 1767. |
| Course today |
On Common ground on the edge of the town. |
| 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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