Earliest meeting: Tuesday 23rd April 1878
Final meeting: Tuesday 23rd April 1878
The beautiful Devon moorland area of Dartmoor has wide open park areas and is home to the Dartmoor National Park. It is an area with many granite Tors and does not seem the ideal place for races to be held. However, Dartmoor did hold its own race meeting in the late 19th century, albeit at Plymouth rather than on the parkland. The meeting took place on Tuesday 23rd April 1878 at Chelson Meadows, just 1 ½ miles from Plymouth. The opening Hunters Flat Race over 2 miles was won by Mr Shrimpton’s Amoroso. It was unfortunate that the weather was inclement and the event was not repeated in subsequent years. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Admiral Parker, Mr John Bulteel (Steward) |
| Principal Races |
Hunters Flat Race, Senior Borough Member’s Cup |
Tuesday 23rd April 1878
Senior Borough Member’s Silver Claret Cup
1. Ruby, aged horse owned by Mr V P Calmady
2. Lady Blanche, aged horse owned by Mr Fryer
3. Powisland, 2 year old owned by Mr Jackson
Betting: 6/4 Lady Blanche, 7/4 Ruby, 2/1 The Gunner, 5/1 Powisland |
The only recorded meeting took place on Tuesday 23rd April 1878. |
| Course today |
On Chelson Meadows 1 ½ miles from Plymouth. |
| 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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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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