Earliest meeting: Thursday 4th April 1851
Final meeting: Thursday 24th May 1866
The West of Scotland race meetings were a nomadic group of meetings held for 15 years under rules, and a number of years after that date when pony and trotting races were also included on the card. The inaugural meeting was held at Kilmarnock on Tuesday 4th April 1851 when over 12,000 racegoers were present. The principal Grand Caledonian Steeplechase, over 3 ½ miles of fair hunting ground, was won by Mr J Laing’s Johnnie Barrie. Meetings were staged annually, most often at Kilmarnock, but on Thursday 10th April 1856 the meeting took place at Riccarton when Fanny Wynne won the Grand Caledonian. The meeting on Thursday 22nd April 1858 was held at Houston, having been postponed at Kilmarnock, and the card consisted of two races and a match. For two years, in May 1865 and on Thursday 24th May 1866, the meeting moved to a racecourse adjacent to the town of Paisley on fields owned by Mr Jasp and Mr Costello. The Trial Stakes and Flat race had identical results when Pam, for Mr J Napier, beat Privateer and Tilt. Races under the banner of ‘West of Scotland’ did continue after this date but the programmes were mixed. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Tait, Major Hamilton, Captain Hamilton |
| Principal Races |
Grand Caledonian Handicap Steeplechase, Kilmarnock Plate |
Thursday 24th May 1866
West of Scotland Hurdle Race over 1 ¾ miles
1. Seducer Singleton, bay gelding owned by Mr J Hopkirk
2. Cassandra, bay mare owned by Mr T Bonnar
3. Annie, bay mare owned by Mr Graham
Betting: 2/1 ON Seducer Singleton, 3/1 Annie, 5/1 Volunteer, 5/1 Cassandra |
| The final meeting took place on Thursday 24th May 1866. |
| Course today |
At a range of courses including Kilmarnock, Houston and Riccarton. |
| 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. |
| ORDER FORM |
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| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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