Earliest meeting: Monday 21st May 1793
Final meeting: October 1842
The Dumfries and Galloway town of Castle Douglas is situated in an area steeped in history. Close to the town are the sites of two Roman forts, and at the nearby Carlingwalk Loch there is evidence of prehistoric crannogs. Also on the outskirts is Threave Castle, which was the historic seat of the Earls of Douglas. The town held its own race meetings in the late 18th and mid-19th century, the first of which took place on Wednesday 21st May 1793. It consisted of a three race card featuring the Saddle & Bridle race won by Mr Macfarlane’s Lively. The second race, a gentlemen’s gift race, was also won by Lively at the expense of Queen of Sheba. A Subscription Race completed the horse racing programme, with Mr Alexander’s Hyaena beating Mungo and Maggy. The immense crowd of spectators were then entertained by a Foot Race and a ‘Race in Bags’. After racing 70 Ladies and Gentlemen dined at the Bell Inn hosted by Mr Douglas. The only other record of a meeting was in October 1842. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Douglas (Bell Inn, Castle-Douglas) |
| Principal Races |
Castle-Douglas Saddle, Subscription Purse, Gentleman’s Gift |
Monday 21st May 1793
Castle-Douglas Saddle
1. Lively owned by Mr Macfarlane
2. Diamond owned by Mr Auld |
| The final meeting took place in October 1842. |
| Course today |
In fields on the outskirts 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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