Earliest meeting: March 1861
Final meeting: Monday 28th March 1864
The Worcestershire village of Crowle lies just 4 miles east of the city of Worcester and was the chosen venue of races organised by the Worcestershire Hunt in the mid-1800s. Foxhunting began in the county in 1706, with Major Bland the First Master before he resigned in 1813. Lord Foley took over for just two years before he also resigned. However, the Hunt has had many prominent Masters, including Lord Coventry, the Earl of Dudley and the famous Marquis of Queensbury. In the middle of the 19th century the Worcestershire Hunt branched out into horse racing, with their first meeting taking place in March 1861. The course was over first class hunting country with every leap visible from a natural grandstand. They were deemed successful and further meetings followed for the next 3 years until a final card on Monday 28th March 1864. At the last meeting the Crowle Stakes was won by Over The Sea owned by Mr Harvey, while the Froxmer Court Stakes went to Mr Gabriel’s Alexandra. At this point in time in 1865 Sir Harry Vernon became Master and no further races were held at Crowle. The Worcestershire Hunt continued to hold steeplechase meetings, notably on Friday 17th March 1871, although they later became point to point meetings. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Earl of Coventry, Viscount Jarafe, Colonel Clowes |
| Principal Races |
Worcestershire Hunt Cup, Crowle Stakes, Froxmer Court Stakes |
Monday 28th March 1864
Worcestershire Hunt Cup over 3 ½ miles
1. Foxhunter, aged horse owned by Mr F Butt
2. Wild Duck, aged horse owned by Colonel Clowes
3. Heather Belle, aged mare owned by Mr C W Lea
4. Hannibal, aged horse owned by Viscount Jarafe
Betting: Evens Wild Duck, 4/1 Foxhunter, 5/1 Heather Belle, 5/1 Hannibal |
The final meeting took place on Monday 28th March 1864. |
| Course today |
A course over first class hunting ground with all fences visible from a natural grandstand. |
| 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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