Earliest meeting: Saturday 2nd April 1859
Final meeting: Saturday 2nd April 1859
The Worcestershire market town of Evesham lies in the parish of Wychavon. It has good transport links with Worcester, Stratford on Avon and Cheltenham, all of which have their own racecourse. Evesham lies in the beautiful countryside of the Vale of Evesham on the flood plain of the River Avon and its most famous building is Evesham Abbey which was founded in the 8th century. In the middle of the 19th century the Vale of Evesham Hunt Group organised a single race meeting on Saturday 2nd April 1859 when the opening Somerville Aston Steeplechase was won by Mr Cook’s Kitchen Maid. The Evesham Chase which followed was a disappointing race with only two runners and saw Knight of the Whistle beat sole rival Humming Bird. The concluding Hurdle race went to Mr Mytton’s Lame and a Roarer at the expense of the unfortunate Humming Bird who, once again, had to settle for second place. There are no further records of meetings under rules taking place at this course. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr W H Griffiths, Mr A D Gough, Mr T S Shekell (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Somerville Aston Steeplechase, Evesham Chase |
Saturday 2nd April 1859
Somerville Aston Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Kitchen Maid, bay mare owned by Mr Cook
2. West Indiaman, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Robins
3. Gallant Little Grey, grey gelding owned by Mr Bussell |
The only recorded meeting took place on Saturday 2nd April 1859. |
| Course today |
Across 4 miles of good hunting ground near Evesham. |
| 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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