Ward End Racecourse

WARD END RACECOURSE

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Ward End is an area of Birmingham north of Bordesley Green and north east of the city centre. A war time meeting, planned by the Yardley Racing Club, was scheduled to take place on Saturday 10th and Monday 12th June 1916. The ten race card consisted of 6 pony races and 4 horse races due to be run on a 1 ½ mile course located half a mile from the Bromford Bridge track, but within walking distance of Saltley railway station. Although many questioned whether racing should have diverted munitions workers from their vital war work, others saw it as a welcome relief for the workers. Furthermore, the organisers did everything they could to ensure it did not disrupt work by starting the meeting in mid-afternoon to guarantee a decent attendance. However, the Minister for Munitions advertised his displeasure at a race meeting impeding the production of munitions and the ultimate outcome was that the meeting was not allowed to proceed. Mr T Southall did organise pony races on Saturday 4th August 1917.
This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.
The final meeting took place on Saturday 4th August 1917.
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

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.

ORDER FORM
Download an order form
	Quantity	Cost
Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage
Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage
Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage
Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage
Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage
Postage & Packaging
Total
Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com