WOOTTON BASSETT RACECOURSE

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Earliest meeting: Wednesday 2nd December 1863
Final meeting: Wednesday 19th April 1865
Wootton Bassett is a small market town in Wiltshire located 6 miles west of Swindon. It is believed to date from AD681 when known as Wodeton. In the 19th century it held a series of steeplechase meetings, the first of which took place on Wednesday 2nd December 1863 on a 1 ½ mile course stretching from Lawns Farm, owned by Mrs Hunt, to Folly Farm owned by Mrs Hoythrop. The beauty of the course was that it was within walking distance of the town and provided a clear site of every fence for spectators. Two years later a meeting was staged on Wednesday 19th April 1865 on a course half a mile from town containing formidable fences, including 14 quick-set hedges and 2 brooks each 16 feet wide.
This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.
Local Patrons Mrs Hunt, Mrs Hoythrop
Principal Races Wootton Bassett Steeplechase

Wednesday 19th April 1865
Wootton Bassett Steeplechase

Only one runner completed the wide brook and at least three other runners and their jockeys ended up in the brook
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 19th April 1865.
Course today A 1 ½ mile course from Lawns Farm to Folly Farm.
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