Earliest meeting: Wednesday 30th July 1777
Final meeting: Saturday 12th May 1838
The Nottinghamshire town of Worksop, on the River Ryton, is located on the edge of Sherwood Forest about 30 kilometres from Sheffield. It boasts a number of buildings of some importance in its vicinity, including Welbeck Abbey, Thoresby Hall and Worksop Manor. The town held its own races in the latter part of the 18th century. The first 2 day meeting took place on Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st July 1777 when the Weight for Age Handicap was won by Lord Rockingham’s bay 5 year old mare, beating the local MPs Emperor on day one, while on the second day the Subscription race went to Mary Tarter owned by Mr Giles. Only one further 2 day meeting took place on Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st June 1779. On the first day the 4 mile Maiden race was won by Jack-and-Game, owned by Mr Eyre, who defeated the 6/4 on favourite Wafer. The second day offered a 4 mile Sweepstakes in which a very heavily backed odds-on favourite Pomona was turned over by Mr Botham’s Silver Legs. Races were held intermittently until the early 1800s when racing lapsed for almost 30 years. However, one final meeting under rules took place on Saturday 12th May 1838 administered by the Worksop Yeomanry Cavalry. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Rockingham, Hon. Mr Vane, Mr Giles |
| Principal Races |
Worksop Subscription Race, Worksop Weight for Age |
Wednesday 30th July 1777
Worksop Weight for Age Handicap
1. Unnamed bay 5 year old mare owned by Lord Rockingham
2. Emperor, bay gelding owned by Hon. Mr Vane
3. Black Legs, dappled mare owned by Mr Marshall |
| The final meeting took place on Saturday 12th May 1838. |
| Course today |
On Worksop Common. |
| 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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