WALSALL

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Grateful thanks to John Griffths for allowing extracts from his book to be used in this article."A Complete Record of Walsall Races & The Hednesford Training Grounds" is printed by 4 Edge Limited. Copies are available from :   jw418@btinternet.com

Records show that racing took place at Walsall , on land known as Long Meadow, as early as 1754. The land was owned by Lord Bradford who was obliged to allow the freeholders of the parish to feed and graze cattle from Lammas Day to Candlemas.

I am grateful to John Griffiths for allowing me to include his map of the racecourse on this site.

Walsall racecourse.JPG (105540 bytes)
John Griffiths has written a remarkably detailed book of all of the race meetings that took place in Walsall and, despite the comprehensive records included in the book, has still managed to grip the reader with his supporting text.

(I am grateful to John Griffiths for granting permission for the front cover to be displayed on this website)

Walsall races.JPG (48045 bytes)
Extract from the book of the results of Walsall Races first contained in the Racing Calendar:-

Wednesday 26th September 1785

1.  SALLY                          Mr Robert Benton     2     1      1

2.  MALTBURY MAID     Mr Sifton                   1      2     2

3.  LITTLE JACOB            Mr Dunkin                 Drawn

3.  WHIMSY                      Mr Moore                  Drawn

I am grateful to John Griffiths for allowing me to include these 2 scans of an extremely rare Walsall Racecard from his very select collection.

walsall1852front.jpg (91736 bytes)
The book contains an excellent section on the jockeys of the day, and the talented Author has included pictures of a number of the jockeys.

The book also provides comprehensive details of the trainers and training grounds located at Hednesford and the surrounding regions.
While the last recorded meeting of Walsall Races was in 1876, the ground being sold to enable the railway to be developed, the author has managed to record full details of a one-off meeting which took place on 3rd August 1942.

walsall1852back.jpg (90428 bytes)

If you can provide further information about this racecourse then email   johnslusar@fsmail.net

Wednesday 29th September to Thursday 30th September 1824

The Corporation Plate over 2 miles
1. Niobe owned by Mr Flintpff
2. Little Driver owned by Mr Bowman
3. Tripoli owned by Mr Tomes

Walsall Town Plate over 2 miles
1. Libertine owned by Mr Geary
2. Ynysymaengwyn owned by Mr Massey
3. Jesst owned by Mr Stevens

 

  

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