FIRST MEETING

17^th April 1925

SITUATED

Just over 3 miles from the town of Bournemouth at Ensbury Park. It took the shape of a figure eight.

DISTANCES

1 ½ miles and upwards.

PRINCIPAL RACE

Shaftsbury Chase

WORLD WAR I

Had not even opened by then.

WORLD WAR II

Already had closed by then.

FACT

Hamlet won the 1926 Pembroke Handicap Hurdle.

QUESTION

What was the significance of Hamlets 1926 win?

CURRENT SITUATION

Initially used as an aerodrome, there is no evidence of the racecourse now, it being covered by housing estates.

LAST MEETING

11^th April 1928

These are the returns from the first Bournemouth meeting at Ensbury Park. It should be noted:

1: No official race distances were given in the NHC Calendar.

2: The weights shown are ‘actuals’.

3. The figure to the left of the horses name is the previous race under NHC Rules that the horse ran in.

BOURNEMOUTH April Meeting 1925 [two days].

{Calendar ref 1060 - 1064}

FRIDAY, APRIL 17TH .

Poole Selling Hurdle Race of £100, winner to be sold for £100, if for £50 allowed 7lb; winner £92

3/1 each of Shotmaker and Smoke Screen, 5/1 Appellant, 6/1 Royal Bucks, 7/1 Werwolf and Troika, 100/8 others. Won by 2l, 6l; Troika fell.—An objection to the winner, lodged by Mr Rayson, on the ground of crossing, was overruled. The Stewards considered the objection frivolous, ordered that the deposit money be forfeited, and fined Mr Rayson £10.—Winner sold to Mr Burry for 80gns. Winner owned by Mr B. Gore. 9 ran. Colours [blue and red hoops, quartered cap].

Portman Hunters' Steeple Chase of £125. (including a Cup value £25), ridden by Amateur Riders; winner £131

* A Cup value £10 was presented to the rider of the winner.

7/4 Jolly Glad, 15/8 Eamon Mor, 3/1 Duke's Enchantment, 5/1 Noble Birth. Eamon Mor came in alone, the others having fallen. Winner owned by Capt R. J. McCreery 4 ran The winning owner in the Portman Hunter Chase was Capt R. L. McCreery [Bob McCreery that was]. Colours [emerald, black collar, cuffs and cap].

Winton Selling Handicap Hurdle Race of £100, winner to be sold for £50; winner £92

6/4 Our Billy, 7/2 B. Jay, 5/1 Kate Hardcastle and St Gingoulph, 8/1 Flying Simon, 10/1 others. Won by 1l ; B. Jay came in third, beaten 4 l, and Gondolier fourth. B. Jay was disqualified for missing a flight of hurdles.— Winner bought in for 105gs. Winner owned by Mr F. L. C. Plummer. 7 ran. Colours  [black, yellow cross belts].

Shaftesbury Handicap Steeple Chase of £250; winner £214

9/4 The Sheriff, 3/1 Darracq, 7/2 St Bernard, 8/1 Libretto and Navana, 100/8 Karel. Won by 4l, 2 l. Winner owned by Mrs N. Brownlee. 6 ran Colours [red, yellow hooped sleeves, yellow cap].

Dorset Handicap Steeple Chase of £100: winner £92

3/1 Adalew, 4/1 Tully, 9/2 Start Again, 7/1 Tullygorey, 8/1 Apple Pie, 10/1 others. Won by 1 1/2 l, 3l; St Minting fell. Winner owned by Mr H. Liddell. 10 ran. Colours [green, rose sleeves].

St Giles Long Distance Handicap Hurdle Race of £100; winner £92

6/2 Old Nic, 5/1 Gilded Spurs and Prince Regent, 6/1 Animated, 7/1 Lady Charity, 8/1 Red Lance, 100/8 others. Won by 4l, 1l; Prince Regent fell. Winner owned by Mr M. D. Rayson. 10 ran Colours [red and white halved, sleeves reversed, black cap].

Acting Stewards: Lord Stalbridge, Lord Pembroke, and Mr F. E. L. Swan.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH.

Boscombe Four yrs old Selling Handicap Hurdle Race of £100 winner to be sold for £50; Winner £92

11/10 agst May B., 9/4 Radiator, 6/1 Slovaic, 10/1 Skystar, 100/8 Psycho, 20/1 Derby Brights. Won by 3 l, head.—Winner bought in for 300gs. Winner owned by Mrs J. Putnam. 6 ran. Colours [navy, magenta collar, cuffs and cap].

Avon Selling Handicap Steeple Chase of £100; winner to be sold for £50; winner £92

3/1 each of Turbit and Our Queen, 5/1 Loblolly, 6/1 Turning Point, 7/1 Gristle and Turbine Secundus, 10/1 others. Won by 3 l, same; Turbit pulled up.— Winner sold to Mrs M. Roberts for 150gs. Winner owned by Capt. A. M. Bankier. 8 ran. Colours [brown, white spots, yellow cap].

Pembroke Handicap Hurdle Race of £200; winner £164

9/4 Dr Barney, 9/2 Festoon, 5/1 Tuscan, 6/1 North Waltham, 7/1 Onega and Herod Philip, 100/6 Four-poster. Won by a length, 6 lengths second and third. Winner owned by Mr J.H.W. Cundell. 7 ran. Colours [biscuit, black collar and cuffs].

The winning owner in the Pembroke Handicap Hurdle was Mr F. H. W. Cundell [Frank Cundell that was].

Amateurs' Steeple Chase of £100; winner £92

5/2on Ben Cruchan, 7/1 Pride of Manister, 8/1 others. Won by 8l, bad third; Pride of Manister fell. Winner owned by Mr W. H. Whitbread. 4 ran. Colours [chocolate, yellow collar, cuffs and cap].

Novices' Steeple Chase of £100; winner £92

5/2 Cashlie, 3/1 Northern Minstrel, 100/30 Whose Izzy, 10/1 others. Won by ½l, three parts; Northern Minstrel, Nightlight, and Priming Pan fell. Winner owned by Sir Ernest Wills. 6 ran. Colours [orange, blue cap].

Moderate Handicap Hurdle Race of £100; winner £92

2/1 Kinsman, 3/1 Thracian, 7/2 Pendor, 6/1 Sailor Son and Clarobie, 100/6 Sandy. Won by 6l, 1l.

Winner owned by Mr A. E. MacColl. 6 ran. Mr A. E. MacColl [-]. --- no registered colours

Acting Stewards: Lord Stalbridge, Lord Pembroke, and Mr F. E. L. Swan.

If you have :-

a favourite memory of this racecourse;

photos or a postcard of the course;

a members badge from the course, either to sell or as a scan;