Earliest meeting: Thursday 29th May 1845
Final meeting: Saturday 10th May 1862
The old Berkshire village of Taplow once had its own racecourse on Dorney Common, 2 miles from Windsor, which staged a meeting in 1845 billed as the Taplow Yeomanry Races. Today the village is in South Buckinghamshire, but this first meeting was held in a large meadow close to Great Marlow racecourse on Thursday 29th May 1845. The opening Hurdle race over 4 flights of hurdles went to Mr Williamson’s Fanny defeating Steamer, Smoker and Ugly Buck. The concluding Flat race was won by Miss Fidgett. It was 17 years later before the next meeting was staged on Saturday 10th May 1862 on Dorney Common on land owned by the Lord of the Manor Mr H Palmer. The opening 10 Sovereign Cup race was won by Forrester, owned by Mr G R Cross, who defeated White Face. In a full programme of races the Taplow 5 Sovereigns Cup went to Ploughman and the concluding Open Race to Sweetbread. Despite the obvious success of the meeting, it was not repeated in future years. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Earl of Orkney, Taplow Yeomanry, Mr F Bradford (Steward), Mr Troy (Starter) |
| Principal Races |
Taplow Cup, Taplow Open Race |
Saturday 10th May 1862
Taplow 7 Sovereigns Cup over 1 ½ miles and 6 flights
1. Sweetbread, aged horse owned by Mr R Weller
2. Gameboy, aged horse owned by Mr G R Cross
3. Paleface, aged horse owned by Mr T Ford |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 10th May 1862. |
| Course today |
On Dorney Common just 2 miles from Windsor. |
| 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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