Earliest meeting: Friday 21st July 1843
Final meeting: Monday 21st September 1874
The strategically important, ancient town of Gravesend is in north west Kent and once boasted its own racecourse, with the first meeting held on Friday 21st July 1843 in meadowland owned by Mr Elliott. However, the card was dominated by pony racing, but returned to the same venue in 1844 when the Gravesend Cup was won by Victoria owned by Mr Jenkins. In 1846 it was decided to move racing to a much improved course on Mr Adam’s Cricket Ground on the Wrotham Road and the two day meeting opened with The Milton Cup which was won by Deception. Racing continued for the next 28 years, although after 1866 the meetings became known as the ‘Gravesend & Meopham meeting’, with a final meeting held on Monday 21st September 1874. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Berner |
| Principal Races |
Gravesend Cup, Milton Cup, Gravesend Hurdle |
Friday 30th August 1844
Gravesend Cup over 2 miles
1. Victoria, bay filly owned by Mr Jenkins
2. Cinderella, bay colt owned by Mr Jerry
3. Ellen, bay mare owned by Mr Jenkins |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 21st September 1874. |
| Course today |
At the former Cricket Ground on Wrotham Road. |
| 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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