Vincent Hinde Collection

Bournemouth Racecourse

Earliest meeting: Friday 17th April 1925
Final meeting: Wednesday 11th April 1928
The large, popular Dorset coastal resort of Bournemouth was just an area for fishermen and the occasional smuggler until the early 19th century. However, it was transformed in 1810 into a health resort and spa town. It was to be over a century later before racing came to the town on a racecourse situated in the parish of Kinson, just over 3 miles from the town centre, at Ensbury Park which had previously been an airfield. An initial Committee meeting held as early as 29th June 1921 proposed developing a racecourse on the site but this application, along with a further one the next year, was rejected by Poole Rural District Council, which at that time was the local authority in charge of the Kinson parish. However, they eventually gave their approval on Wednesday 2nd August 1922 and the Ensbury Park Racecourse Company set to work on turning their dream into a reality. Their plans were ambitious in the extreme, proposing a Covered Club Stand, a Members Stand, a covered Tattersall’s Stand and car parking for at least 2000 cars. It took the shape of a figure eight course extending to two miles and held its first two day meeting on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April 1925. The Poole Selling Hurdle was won by 3/1 joint favourite Shotmaker; the Portman Hunters’ Steeplechase by 15/8 Eamon Mor, and the Winton Selling Handicap by 5/1 Kate Hardcastle. Three later meetings followed in the first year in September, November and December. It came as a surprise that prize money was reduced in 1926, and further reduced in 1927. When prize money dropped still further in 1928 the quality of racing decreased, as did the crowd size, leading to a final meeting on Wednesday 11th April 1928. In the end the project was too ambitious and the land was eventually sold for development. The parish of Kinson did not become part of Bournemouth until April 1931.