Earliest meeting: Monday 9th April 1832
Final meeting: Monday 9th April 1832
The Somerset area of Castle of Comfort once held its own race meeting, although the only recorded steeplechase took place on Monday 9th April 1832. The meeting, organised by the Duke of Beaufort, was specifically for horses which had hunted with his pack, and the course stretched over 3 ½ miles across good hunting ground in sight of the Mendip Hills. A strong field faced the starter and all jumped the first four walls and hedges safely. Gallopade and Aaron made the early running while Stapleton suffered a fall after a mile. Half a mile from home Moonraker made a decisive move and came home in front of Aaron and the strong finishing Young Langton. There are no records of the venue being used on subsequent occasions. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Duke of Beaufort, Mr Haythorpe, Mr Parnell |
| Principal Races |
Castle of Comfort Steeplechase |
Monday 9th April 1832
Castle of Comfort Steeplechase over 3 ½ miles
1. Moonraker, bay gelding owned by Mr Haythorpe
2. Aaron, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Franklyn
3. Young Langton, bay gelding owned by Mr Roch
4. Gallopade, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Vaughan
5. Stapleton, brown gelding owned by Mr Parnell |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 9th April 1832. |
| Course today |
A 3 ½ mile course across good hunting ground in sight of the Mendip Hills. |
| 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. |
| ORDER FORM |
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| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
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