Earliest meeting: Wednsday 26th March 1845
Final meeting: Wednesday 26th March 1845
The tiny village of Hoo Brook lies close to Kidderminster and was once served by the Great Western Railway. It’s most famous building is the Crown Inn, which was certainly in existence in the mid-1800s, and it was at this time that the village held its own race meeting on Wednesday 26th March 1845. The event was enjoyed by a large crowd who thronged to the start at the turnpike road with vehicles of all descriptions, from private carriages down to humble donkey carts. The 4 mile course across good hunting ground started at the turnpike road and progressed to Hoo Farm. Although the Sweepstake went off without a hitch, and was won by Mr Rose’s Shakespeare from Nottingham, the feature Steeplechase was nothing short of a disaster. There were 12 entries, although three of these were owned by Mr Crowther from Aston Somerville. The other nine entrants objected to Mr Crowther’s horses, claiming they did not qualify to run because he was not resident in the neighbourhood. In the event 8 horses withdrew and the race concerned Mr Blakeway’s Cinderella and the three Crowther horses, Ca Sa, Camilla and Coeur de Lion. The race was won by Mr Crowther and he was duly presented with his prize by Mr Roberts. An Ordinary took place at the Lion Hotel at the end of racing, presided over by Mr W B Best. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr W B Best, Mr Roberts (Steward), Mr W Crowther |
| Principal Races |
Hoo Brook Farm Steeplechase, Hoo Sweepstake, Town Handicap Sweepstake |
Wednesday 26th March 1845
Town Handicap Sweepstakes
1. Velocity, bay mare owned by Mr Vevers
2. British Yeoman, bay gelding owned by Mr Anderwood
3. Jewel, chestnut gelding owned by Mr Jex |
The only recorded meeting took place on Wednesday 26th March 1845. |
| Course today |
A 4 mile course over good hunting country starting at the turnpike road and finishing at Hoo Farm. |
| 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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