GORTON RACECOURSE

Aintree racecourse;Ascot;Ayr;Bangor;Bath;Beverley;Brighton;Carlisle;Cartmel;Catterick;Cheltenham Festival;Chepstow;Chester;Doncaster St Leger;Epsom Derby;Exeter racecourse;Fakenham;Folkestone;Fontwell Park;Glorious Goodwood;Hamilton Park;Haydock Park;Hereford Racecourse;Hexham;Huntingdon;Kelso;Kempton Park;Leicester;Lingfield;Ludlow;Market Rasen;Musselburgh;Newbury Racecourse;Newcastle;Newmarket;Newton Abbot;Nottingham;Perth;Plumpton;Pontefract Racecourse;Redcar;Ripon;Salisbury;Sandown Park;Sedgefield;Southwell;Stratford;Taunton;Thirsk;Towcester;Uttoxeter;Warwick;Wetherby;Wincanton;Windsor;Wolverhampton;Worcester;Yarmouth;York Ebor

Earliest meeting: Friday 4th October 1844
Final meeting: Saturday 26th September 1846
Gorton is an area of Greater Manchester which contains Gorton Hall. The Gorton Hall Estate, including Gorton Hall and Gorton Hall Lodge, was owned by Richard Gorton in the early 1800s, but by 1870 ownership had passed to John Bibby. The Sporting Magazine recorded a 2 day race meeting taking place at Gorton Hall on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October 1844 when the opening Gorton Sweepstake was won by Staley owned by Mr Heap. Racing had been planned for the previous year, but the course was not ready in time due to a log spell of dry weather. Races continued for each of the next two years, the highlight each year being the Gorton Gold Cup, and culminated in a 3 day meeting concluding on Saturday 26th September 1846.

This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.
Local Patrons Sir J Gerard, Mr Lamplugh, Mr Flintoff
Principal Races Gorton Gold Cup, Manchester Cup, Gorton Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Longsight Stakes, Claret Stakes

Friday 4th & Saturday 5th October 1844

Gorton Sweepstakes over a mile
1. Staley owned by Mr Heap
2. The Elbe owned by Mr Flintoff
3. Lady Flora owned by Mr Lamb

The Manchester Cup over 2 ¼ miles
1. Roderick owned by Mr Ongley
2. Pickwick owned by Mr Halford

The Claret Stakes over 2 miles
1. Unnamed gelding by Shrigley owned by Mr Thompson
2. Teresa owned by Mr J Singleton
3. Coheiress owned by Mr Wildman

Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th September 1846

The Gorton Stakes over 1 ¾ miles
1. Stranger owned by Mr Whaley
2. Maid of Auckland owned by Mr Wood
3. Factory Girl owned by Mr Redhead

The Longsight Stakes over 2 miles
1. Lady Flora owned by Mr Lamb
2. Boltonian owned by Mr Lamplugh
3. Father Mathew owned by Mr Skelton

The Champagne Stakes over 6 furlongs
1. Lady Shrewsbury owned by Mr Owen
2. Grand Seignior owned by Mr Russell

The Gorton Gold Cup over a mile
1. Pantasa owned by Sir J Gerard
2. Ratcliffe owned by Mr T Walter
3. Obscurity owned by Mr Dawson

The final meeting took place on Saturday 26th September 1846.
Course today On the Gorton Hall estate.
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