Earliest meeting: Thursday 3rd June 1897
Final meeting: Monday 4th September 1916
The County Mayo town of Ballyhaunis lies on the railway line linking Dublin with Westport. In the late 20th century it was staging race meetings, the first of which was recorded in the Racing Calendar on Thursday 3rd June 1897. A meeting at the turn of the century was held on Thursday 7th June 1900 when the Province Plate, over 1 ½ miles, was won by La Plata from Bal Austa. The stewards sponsored a Hunters Plate Handicap which saw Mr B R McCarrick’s Water Lily defeat Crutches. There were concerns over the state of the course and in March 1905 newly appointed Irish Turf Club inspectors checked the track and the licence was withdrawn due to the poor condition of the course. However, the necessary work was carried out and the track reopened. The final meeting took place on Monday 4th September 1916. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr McHugh, Mr B R McCarrick |
| Principal Races |
Province Plate, Ballyhaunis Stewards Hunters Plate Handicap |
Thursday 7th June 1900 |
The Province Plate over 1 ½ miles
1. La Plata owned by Mr J McHugh
2. Bal Austa owned by Mr P W Connelly
The Stewards Hunters Plate Handicap over 2 ¼ miles
1. Water Lily owned by Mr B R McCarrick
2. Crutches owned by Mr P McConville |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 4th September 1916. |
| Course today |
On the edge of the town. |
| 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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