Earliest meeting: Friday 11th June 1728
Final meeting: Thursday 10th August 1732
The tiny Cheshire village of Threapwood first held races in 1728. The word ‘threap’ meant disputed boundary area, and the village is famous for having an area of common woodland falling between Cheshire and Flintshire. Given that it was outside the parish boundaries, it paid no parish rate, no land tax and was even outside the control of any Justice of the Peace. Hence, it was a haven for criminals and women of loose repute. Baily’s Racing Register first provided detailed results from races held at Threape Wood (sic) on Friday 11th June 1728, when Lord Molyneux’s Foxhunter won the main event. The final meeting took place on Thursday 10th August 1732. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Molyneux, Sir J Astley |
| Principal Races |
Threape Wood 30 Guineas Plate |
Friday 11th June 1728 |
Threape Wood 30 Guineas Plate
1. Foxhunter owned by Lord Molyneux
2. Carlisle Gelding owned by Mr Bainbrigge |
Friday 2nd June 1730 |
Threapewood 30 Guineas Plate
1. Infant owned by Mr Middleton
2. Surly owned by Mr Puleston
3. Whynot owned by Sir J Astley
4. Vulcan owned by Mr Egerton |
Wednesday 9th August 1732
Threapewood Hunters 18 Guineas Purse
1. MISS SPADILLE, chestnut mare owned by Mr Puleston
2. UNNAMED bay horse owned by Mr Pigot
Thursday 10th August 1733
Threapewood 10 Guineas Galloway
1. SPEEDWELL, chestnut gelding owned by Sir Thomas Fleetwood 2 1 1
2. RUMPLESS, brown gelding owned by Mr Bracken 1 3 3
3. GIPSEY, chestnut mare owned by Mr Pratchet 3 2 2
4. UNNAMED chestnut mare owned by Mr Rangecroft dist
4 ran |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 10th August 1732 |
| Course today |
On common land on the outskirts of the village, outside the jurisdiction of any parish council. |
| 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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