Earliest meeting: October 1730
Final meeting: Wednesday 6th October 1841
The Staffordshire market town of Stone is located 7 miles north of the county town of Stafford, and 7 miles south of the city of Stoke on Trent. The ‘County History of Staffordshire’ recorded that race meetings were held at Stone from October 1730, but it was much later before James Whyte’s ‘History of the British Turf’ reported on a two day meeting in the town in October 1838. A year later, in October 1839, the principal race was the Public Subscription Purse for £100, and by 1840 the races were significant enough to be included in Baily's Racing Register. That two day meeting was staged on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th September 1840 when both the Original Stakes and Stone Sweepstakes were captured by Mr Drake’s Saul, while the Stone Open Stakes over 2 miles went to Mr Robinson’s Wasp. However, the keenly fought Handicap Purse saw Isabelle get the better of Lillie close to home. After racing an Ordinary was served at the Crown Hotel on the first day and the Bell and Bear on the second day. The final two day meeting took place on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th October 1841. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord St Vincent, William Bingham Baring MP, Mr Lamplugh |
| Principal Races |
Stone Handicap Purse, Original Stakes, Stone Subscription Purse, Publicans’ Purse |
Tuesday 6th to Wednesday 7th September 1840 |
The Original Stakes over 3 miles
1. Saul owned by Mr Drake walked over
The Stone Open Stakes over 2 miles
1. Wasp owned by Mr Robinson
Stone Handicap Purse
1. Isabella owned by Mr Lowe
2. Lillie owned by Mr Eccles
3. Postboy owned by Mr Lamplugh
Stone Sweepstakes over 3 miles
1. Saul owned by Mr Drake
2. Postboy owned by Mr Lamplugh |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 6th October 1841. |
| Course today |
In fields on the outskirts 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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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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