Earliest meeting: Wednesday 10th April 1861
Final meeting: Thursday 3rd April 1862
The Lancashire village of Croston lies close to the River Yarrow mid-way between Chorley and Southport. The manor house in the village was Croston Hall which was built by the De Trafford family and contained its own family chapel built by Edward Pugin. At a meeting in early 1861 the gentlemen of the Croston Hunt decided to organise a race meeting and Mr de Trafford offered to make a challenging course across suitable land on his estate. The first meeting took place on Wednesday 10th April 1861 on a course which began in fields on the opposite side of the Croston to Mawdsley road from the Hall. The meeting was not well broadcast and was kept as a local event, although the crowds were entertained by two races and the Euxton Band which played throughout the event. The W.C.Standish sponsored Duxbury Cup was won by Nancy, owned by Mr de Trafford, who defeated The Needle, while the feature Croston Cup went to Miss Sykes. The final meeting was staged on Thursday 3rd April 1862. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr de Trafford, the Croston Hunt, Mr W C Standish |
| Principal Races |
Croston Cup, Duxbury Cup |
Wednesday 10th April 1861
Croston Cup
1. Miss Sykes, aged mare owned and ridden by Mr T T Parker
2. Nancy, aged mare owned by Mr de Trafford and ridden by Captain Annesley
3. The Friar, aged horse owned by Mr Standish and ridden by Captain Starkie |
The final recorded meeting took place on Thursday 3rd April 1862. |
| Course today |
On the estate of Croston Hall, starting in a field on the opposite side of the road to the Hall. |
| 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 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 |
| Download an order form |
| |
Quantity |
Cost |
| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
|
|
| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
|
|
| Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage |
|
|
| Postage & Packaging |
|
|
| Total |
|
|
| Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com |
|