Earliest meeting: Wednesday 25th July 1849
Final meeting: Tuesday 21st May 1872
The Devon town of Barnstaple once boasted racecourses at two separate venues, staging racing for 23 years in total. Initially meetings were held at Pitt Marsh, starting on Wednesday 25th July 1849, and then moved to Youlstone Park. At the inaugural meeting, attended by Sir Arthur Chichester, the card opened with the Tradesmen’s Plate which was won by Mr Davis’s Deceiver beating Cygnet and Piccaroon. The principal race, the Youlstone Stakes, went to Sir Arthur Chichester’s Haphazard after first passed the post Jenny Lind was disqualified for taking the wrong course, and the day concluded with the Yeomanry Cup which went to Mr Goss’s Fanny. After the races had ended the prizes and a splendid dinner were well received at the Golden Lion Hotel. Racing continued at Pitt Marsh until 1867, after which meetings transferred to Youlstone Park, with its first card being held in 1868. The final meeting at the track took place on Tuesday 21st May 1872 when the Hall Stakes went to Mr W Rawcliffe’s Thornettle, while the Members’ Handicap over 1 ½ miles saw Mr G Jarvis’s Shifnal get the better of Instructress and Endowment. Meetings were revived in the early 20th century but invariably included pony races.
Wednesday 25th July 1849
Youlstone Stakes
1. Haphazard, bay horse owned by Sir Arthur Chichester
2. Cygnet, chestnut mare owned by Mr Graddon
Disq. Jenny Lind, chestnut mare owned by Mr Wood
I am grateful to Darren Bannaghan for the rare scan shown below. It was presented to the owner of St Gorman which was ridden by W. Brooks in 1886. The mystery is that the last race meeting at Barnstaple was recorded as 1872. Has anyone any records of the racecourse holding meetings as late as 1886? If so 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
