Earliest meeting: Thursday 17th November 1892
Final meeting: Friday 16th November 1894
The Suffolk village of Great Barton lies in the St Edmundsbury district of the county and boasts a rich history having been recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, although at the time it had a population of just 104. The village was the place chosen by the Suffolk County Hunt for their race meetings which were held towards the end of the 1800s. The inaugural meeting took place on Thursday 17th November 1892 and called on support from prominent dignitaries, including the Duke of Hamilton and Earl Cadogan. The next year a 6 race card was contested on Friday 17th November 1893 with entries being made at the Angel Hotel Bury St Edmunds the day before. It was a highly successful second meeting and was repeated on Friday 16th November 1894 when the opening Military Steeplechase over 2 miles was won by Lord Lieutenant, owned by Mr H McCalmont. The later Open Steeplechase saw Mr A Poole’s Fairy get the better of Sir E Tracey’s Cap and Gown. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Duke of Hamilton, Right Hon. Earl Cadogan, Lord Bendlesham, Lord Hastings |
| Principal Races |
Military Steeplechase, Foxcatchers’ Steeplechase, Suffolk County Selling Race |
Friday 16th November 1894
Foxcatchers’ Steeplechase over 2 ½ miles
1. Kildare, aged horse owned by Mr Raymond Greene
2. Count, aged horse owned by Mr P Bennet
3. Unionist, 5 year old owned by Mr Tuthill
Evens Kildare, 4/1 Topthorne, 6/1 Count, 7/1 Diogenes, 10/1 Unionist |
The final meeting took place on Friday 16th November 1894. |
| Course today |
Over fields in Great Barton situated just a mile from Thurston Station. |
| 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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