Earliest meeting: Tuesday 19th March 1850
Final meeting: Tuesday 28th March 1854
The Norfolk village of Halvergate lies between the Rivers Bure and Yare in an environmentally sensitive area. It is well known for the Halvergate Marshes which lie to the east of the village. The Weavers Way runs through the village and in the middle of the 19th century races were held across a number of fields on the edge of the village. The earliest meeting took place on Tuesday 19th March 1850 and was so well attended that races continued for the next 4 years. In 1852 the meeting was staged on Monday 29th March 1852, while the final meeting took place on Tuesday 28th March 1854. At that meeting the opening race saw Mr Able’s Sir Frederick defeat Foreigner and Unknown, although the feature race, the Scurry Stakes, attracted just 4 runners and was won by Screwdriver. After racing, 50 gentlemen took Dinner at the Hare and Hounds Inn.. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr Hudson, Mr Gidney, Mr Abel |
| Principal Races |
Scurry Stakes, Halvergate Sweepstakes |
Tuesday 28th March 1854
Scurry Stakes
1. Screwdriver, aged horse owned by Mr Gidney
2. Foreigner, aged horse owned by Mr Cooper
3. Governess, aged mare owned by Mr Hudson |
The only recorded meeting took place on Tuesday 28th March 1854. |
| Course today |
Across fields on the edge of the village. |
| 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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