Earliest meeting: Thursday 3rd November 1842
Final meeting: Thursday 6th April 1848
The small Nottinghamshire village of Bunny lies in the Rushcliffe borough of the county and today has a population of 600. It has a rich history and can trace its existence back to Roman times. The village is dominated by Bunny Hall which was built around 1570 and was occupied by the Parkyns family. Sir Thomas Parkyn, who was born in 1662, was a wrestling enthusiast and organised annual wrestling matches in the grounds of his Hall. In the middle of the 19th century race meetings were held in the village. The first recorded race was due to take place over the Nottingham Steeplechase course in 1841 but was postponed. In the event it took place on the outskirts of Bunny and was a Match between Mr Hunter and Mr Elmore, each putting up a prize of 100 Sovereigns. The match took place on Thursday 3rd November 1842 and saw Mr Hunter’s Creeper defeat Mr Elmore’s Harrow Boy. The final meeting in the village was staged on Thursday 6th April 1848. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Patrons |
Mr Hunter, Mr Elmore |
| Principal races |
Bunny 100 Sovereigns Match |
Thursday 3rd November 1842
Bunny 100 Sovereigns Match
1. Creeper, owned by Mr Hunter and ridden by Captain Skipworth
2. Harrow Boy, owned by Mr Elmore and ridden by Mason |
| The village also held its own race meeting, although the only recorded meeting took place on 6th April 1848. |
| Course today |
In grassland on the edge of the village, although it had been due to take place on Nottingham Steeplechase course. |
| 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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