BLANDFORD

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Grateful thanks to Robin Charnock for providing the detailed information shown below

Blandford Racecourse, Devon was situated at Blandford Camp, 2 1/2 miles East of Blandford Forum. Race meetings took place as early as 1774 and lasted until 29th August 1844. Blandford racecourse had a telegraph communications station which enabled telegraphs to be sent between London and Plymouth in 3 minutes. The station closed on 30th May 1814 but, by popular demand, re-opened again in April 1815. Race Down continued to be used as a training centre by the Yeomanry after this date. Lord Palmerston, the long-serving Foreign Secretary who later in 1855 became Prime Minister at the age of 70, was a member of the racecourse and owned the runner-up in the Members' Plate of 1836.

Key Questions still to be answered:-

  • Where exactly was the course situated?

  • What shape and distance was it?

  • What remains of the course today?

  • Can anyone provide a map, badge or racecard from the course?

AUGUST 1836

The DORSET GOLD CUP took place on Tuesday 30 th August and was run over a two and a half mile course with 10 runners each subscribing 10 guineas. The result was:-

1.     SPUME                5 years old   8st 10lb   Owned by Sir E Baker

2.     MAYFLOWER    5 years old   8st 7lb     Owned by Mr C Finch

3.     OUTCAST          4 years old   8st 6lb     Owned by Mr C Finch
Also at the Tuesday meeting the records show that 2 further races took place, including the Yeomanry Stakes with the following result:-

YEOMANRY STAKES

1.     MORETON               6 years old  11st 5lb  Owned by Mr R Oakley

beating 3 others.
The meeting extended to a second day on Wednesday 31st August and included a Members' Plate and the Hunters' Stakes when Mr Oakley's Moreton again triumphed beating 2 others. The Members' Plate finished:-

1.     SPUME             5 years old  8st 12lb  Owned by Sir E Baker

2.     TOOTHILL       3 years old  7st 0lb Owned by Lord Palmerston

3.     MAYFLOWER  5 years old  8st 9lb  Owned by Mr C Finch
The Wednesday meeting also had a Hurdles Sweepstakes with the following result:-

HUNTER'S STAKES ( 3 sovereigns to enter and 20 added by the course)

1.     DUODECIMO                5 years old   11st 6lb    Owned by Mr Galpin

beating 2 others   

In 1837 a meeting took place at Blandford the week after the Salisbury raceweek. The DORSETSHIRE GOLD CUP, worth 100 sovereigns, was the feature race

If you can provide further information about this racecourse then email   johnslusar@fsmail.net

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