Earliest meeting: Tuesday 17th March 1846
Final meeting: Friday 10th December 1847
The Gloucestershire market town of Wotton-under-Edge lies in the Stroud district of the county, and can trace its history back to Anglo-Saxon times when known as Wudetun. The town lies on the limestone escarpment of the Cotswold Edge from which part of its name is derived. It has numerous historic buildings in or near the town, including Kingswood Abbey, Owlpen Manor and Newark Park. In the middle of the 19th century the town held its own two meetings, beginning on Tuesday 17th March 1846. The 4 mile course was in the beautiful countryside of the Vale of Berkeley and started at Mr Michael’s Wood Lodge. It contained 30 hedges and ditches, as well as 4 challenging brooks, with the finish at Mr Daniel Derratt’s Home Ground. The feature Steeplechase, won by Miss Fidgett, was watched by over 2000 spectators, and the obvious success of the meeting meant all were keen to repeat the experience the next year. The final meeting was staged on Friday 10th December 1847. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Danield Derratt, Mr Michael |
| Principal Races |
Wootton Steeplechase over 4 miles |
Tuesday 17th March 1846
Wootton Steeplechase over 4 miles
1. Miss Fidgett, chestnut mare owned by Mr J Holborow
2. Lady Blanch, chestnut mare owned by Mr J Howell
3. Paulina, bay mare owned by Mr G Minett |
The only recorded meeting took place on Friday 10th December 1847. |
| Course today |
A 4 mile course starting at Wood Lodge and finishing at Home Ground. |
| 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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