Earliest meeting: Tuesday 3rd August 1819
Final meeting: Wednesday 14th August 1822
The Dumfries and Galloway town of Stranraer lies on the shores of Loch Ryan and is the second largest town in the county. There was racing at nearby Leafield in 1853, but Stranraer held its own race meetings which began with a 3 day meeting from Tuesday 3rd to Thursday 5th August 1819. The principal race was the Gold Cup which went to Lord Eglinton’s Monreith, while the £50 Purse on day two went to Nell Meldon, owned by Sir W Maxwell. The meeting was so successful it was held again for each of the next 3 years. The second year event took place on Tuesday 1st and Thursday 3rd August 1820, opening with the Stranraer Gold Cup over 2 miles which went to Mr Oswald’s Archibald, defeating Monreith and Sir W Maxwell’s highly fancied five year old Charley Shavy. On the same card the County Members’ Plate over 3 miles, worth 50 Guineas, was won by Colonel Blair’s Anastasius, beating Nell Meldon and Brown Teapot. After the traditional day off for hunting the meeting concluded on Thursday with the Stranraer Plate when Colonel Blair’s Anastasius beat Charley Shavy. The final meeting took place on Wednesday 14th August 1822 when a disappointing card contained a walk over for the Gold Cup for Sir W Maxwell’s Jock the Laird’s Brother, and a small entry for the concluding £50 Purse which was won by Monreith owned by Sir W Maxwell. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Queensberry, Sir W Maxwell, Sir J Dalzell |
| Principal Races |
Stranraer Gold Cup |
Tuesday 3rd August 1819
Stranraer Gold Cup over 2 miles
1. Monrieth, bay gelding owned by Lord Eglinton
2. Nell Meldon, grey mare owned by Sir W Maxwell
3. Stamford, bay colt owned by Mr J H Blair |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 14th August 1822. |
| Course today |
In meadowland on the outer 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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