Earliest meeting: Tuesday 12th October 1841
Final meeting: Tuesday 22nd August 1854
The town of Stretford is now within the metropolitan borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, but was historically in Lancashire. The town lies between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal and for much of the 19th century was known locally as Porkhampton as it was an agricultural area specialising in pig keeping. The town held its own race meetings in the mid-1800s, the first of which took place on Tuesday 12th October 1841. The Stretford Park Stakes was won by Mr Massey’s Creeping Jane, while the principal race, sponsored by Sir Thomas Trafford, went to Mr Hepple’s Sambo Sutton. There was then a break before the next meeting in 1852 which was deemed successful and repeated on Friday 9th September 1853, when the Stretford Handicap saw Sugar Candy beat Emperor. In 1854 there was an early steeplechase meeting staged on Monday 27th February featuring the Manchester Steeplechase which resulted in a terrific tussle between Theodine, Duchess and Luke the Labourer, with the former prevailing. The final recorded 2 day meeting took place on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd August 1854 when the concluding Stretford Handicap was captured by Angelo from Bull’s-Eye. Races did continue after this date but were minor affairs. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Sir Thomas Trafford, Mr Richardson, Mr Hepple |
| Principal Races |
Sir Thomas Trafford Cup, Manchester Steeplechase, Stretford Handicap |
Tuesday 12th October 1841
Sir Thomas Trafford Cup 3 times round
1. Sambo Sutton, aged horse owned by Mr Hepple
2. Shamrock, aged horse owned by Mr Thompson
3. Laurie Todd, aged horse owned by Mr Richardson |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 22nd August 1854. |
| Course today |
The steeplechase course was 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 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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