Earliest meeting: Tuesday 14th April 1857
Final meeting: Wednesday 13th April 1864
The South-West county of Dorset borders Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire. The area is well known for its close association with hunting amidst glorious countryside made famous by Hardy, and the Dorsetshire Hunt committee organised race meetings at Waddon Vale in the middle of the 19th century. Initially the meetings were held in Dorchester from 1856, but were then organised by the Hunt Committee from 1857. The final meeting was staged on Wednesday 13th April 1864 when the opening Waddon Vale Stakes saw Tatum defeat Yeoman. The meeting was brought to a close for the final time when Hinton won the Corton Plate Handicap. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Poltimore, Hon. W H B Portman |
| Principal Races |
Waddon Vale Stakes, Corton Plate Handicap |
Wednesday 13th April 1864
Corton Plate Handicap
1. Hinton, aged horse owned by Mr Thresher
2. Cumberland, aged horse owned by Mr Land
3. Doctor, aged horse owned by Mr Henley |
The final meeting took place on Wednesday 13th April 1864. |
| Course today |
Initially for 2 years in Dorchester and then at Waddon Vale. |
| 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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