Earliest meeting: Thursday 14th August 1823
Final meeting: Thursday 14th August 1823
The West Berkshire racing village of West Ilsley enjoys the beautiful countryside of Ilsley Downs and benefits from a large number of racing stables in the vicinity of the village. As early as 1804 racing was being staged in Ilsley, but on Thursday 14th August 1823 a meeting billed as West Ilsley Races was staged on the west side of the Downs. The two race programme featured the Ilsley Stakes over 2 miles which was won by Dominicus owned by Captain Carhampton, while the concluding Half-Bred Stakes went to Fandango. Although racing continued into the later part of the century in Ilsley, this was the only meeting billed specifically as West Ilsley. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Carhampton |
| Principal Races |
Ilsley Stakes |
Thursday 14th August 1823
Ilsley Stakes over 2 miles
1. Dominicus, aged horse owned by Captain Carhampton
2. Trumpeter, aged horse owned by Mr Wallis
3. Harlequin, aged horse owned by Mr Hayard
Betting: 6/4 Harlequin, 7/4 Dominicus, 4/1 Trumpeter |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 14th August 1823. |
| Course today |
On the western side of Ilsley Downs. |
| 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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