Earliest meeting: Monday 10th June 1867
Final meeting: Monday 17th May 1869
The Carmarthenshire coastal village of Llansteffan, also known as Llanstephan, is on the western side of the River Tywi, about 8 miles south of Carmarthen. It held regular races for a short period starting on Whit Monday 10th June 1867, continuing for two years on a course which was next to the Ferryside station on the Great Western Railway. Its location was particularly useful in making the races accessible by train, and the management group was rewarded with a large crowd on Whit Monday 17th May 1869 to witness Ascension win the Hill House Plate for Mr T Rees. The feature race, the Orchard House Plate over a mile, was won by Lady Elizabeth. Regular meetings did continue after this date, but they included Galloway and trotting races. The meetings in 1874 and 1875 were billed as ‘Races, Regatta and Rustic Sports’, and by the very end of the 19th century, when the event was held at Down Farm, the cards were almost invariably filled with pony or Galloway races. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 3 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Edwards, Mr R Parnall, Mr H Parnall (Stewards) |
| Principal Races |
Orchard House Plate, Hill House Plate |
Monday 17th May 1869
Orchard House Plate over 1 mile
1. Lady Elizabeth, bay mare owned by Mr G Jones
2. Beeswind, bay gelding owned by Mr J Thomas
3. Investment, aged horse owned by Mr D H Thomas |
| The final meeting took place on Monday 17th May 1869. |
| Course today |
Initially near the Ferryside Station and then at Down 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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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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