Earliest meeting: Saturday 9th October 1875
Final meeting: Saturday 29th April 1876
The city of Manchester had its own very important racecourse from 1730 until 1963. However, lesser known races took place in the Old Trafford district of the city in the latter part of the 19th century. They were held half yearly on the extensive grounds of the Polo Club in Old Trafford, starting on Saturday 9th October 1875. The Old Trafford Cup, a 2 mile flat race, was won by Mr Hope-Johnstone’s Groby at 2/5 favourite. The next year a meeting took place on Saturday 29th April 1876 on the same course, when the Old Trafford Gold Cup was won by Ada Latimer for Mr F H Cotton, defeating previous winner Groby and Idle Boy. The feature Polo Gold Cup went to Titania, while the Consolation Plate was won by Colonel Shuttleworth’s Matador. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Earl of Ellesmere, Viscount Petersham, General Sir H de Bathe |
| Principal Races |
Polo Gold Cup, Old Trafford Gold Cup |
Saturday 29th April 1876
Polo Gold Cup over ¾ mile and 5 flights of hurdles
1. Titania, 5 year old owned by Mr A Knowles
2. Hurdle, 5 year old owned by Mr A Brocklehurst
3. Butley, aged horse owned by Mr H D Brocklehurst
4. Tommy Tickle, aged horse owned by Lord Petersham
Betting: Evens Titania, 4/1 Butley, 4/1 Hurdle |
The only recorded meeting took place on Saturday 29th April 1876. |
| Course today |
On the polo ground at Old Trafford. |
| 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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