Earliest meeting: Tuesday 27th September 1831
Final meeting: Friday 4th November 1870
The Worcestershire town of Upton lies on the River Severn some 10 miles from Worcester, and first held racing on Tuesday 27th September 1831. The course, a flat one and a half mile round circuit, was situated at The Ham. The opening Ham Stakes was won by Mr Thorne’s The Ghost beating a field of five, while the Cavalry Stakes went to Jerry for owner Mr H B Marsh. At the meeting on Wednesday 9th October 1833 the Upton Free Handicap was won by Mr Codrington’s Conservative, followed by a Steward’s Ordinary at the White Lion in the evening. Five years later a meeting was held on Friday 31st August 1838 when Emily got the better of Maid-of-Hampton to land the Hack Stakes over 1 ½ miles. Meetings continued on a regular basis for the next 32 years before a final card took place on Friday 4th November 1870. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Phillips, Mr Jones, Mr Bennett |
| Principal Races |
Ham Stakes, Upton Stakes, Hack Stakes, Upton Free Handicap |
Wednesday 9th October 1833 |
The Ham Stakes over a mile and a half
1. Unnamed colt by Champignon owned by Captain Phillips
2. Barney Bodkin owned by Mr Scott
3. Unnamed filly by Bobadil owned by Mr Thorne
The Hack Stakes over 1 ¼ miles
1. Bess Bay owned by Mr Williams
2. Attraction owned by Mr Brown
The Upton Free Handicap over 1 ½ miles
1. Conservative owned by Mr Codrington
2. Acco owned by Mr George
3. Unnamed colt by Champignon owned by Captain Phillips |
| Friday 31st August 1838. |
The Ham Stakes over a mile and a half
1. Emily owned by Mr Jones
2. Maid-of-Hampton owned by Mr Harvey
3. Unnamed filly by Brownlock owned by Mr Bennett |
| The final meeting took place on Friday 4th November 1870. |
| Course today |
On a 1 ½ mile course on The Ham. |
| 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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