Earliest meeting: Tuesday 9th April 1873
Final meeting: Wednesday 16th April 1879
At one time Kent boasted a number of racecourses, but with the recent closing of Folkestone the county now has none. The village of Waldershare, near to Dover, once held its own races back in the latter part of the 19th century, organised in conjunction with the East Kent Hunt. The inaugural meeting was held on Tuesday 9th April 1873 when the feature East Kent Hunt Cup was won by Meteor. The course, in Waldershare Park, was hosted by Lord Guilford, who provided a marquee and luncheon for several hundred guests. The next year the meeting took place on Monday 23rd March 1874 when the East Kent Hunt Cup was dominated by Lord Guildford’s horses, winning with Acropolis and occupying the runners-up spot with Merry Ball. Meetings continued for a further 5 years until a final card on Wednesday 16th April 1879. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Guilford, Lady North, Lord St Vincent |
| Principal Races |
East Kent Hunt Cup, Military Steeplechase |
Monday 23rd March 1874
East Kent Hunt Cup over 2 ½ miles
1. Acropolis, bay gelding owned by Lord Guilford
2. Merry Ball, bay mare owned by Lord Guilford
3. Tartar, brown gelding owned by Mr Dickenson |
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 16th April 1879. |
| Course today |
Waldershare Park |
| 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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