Earliest meeting: Tuesday 12th April 1887
Final meeting: Tuesday 12th April 1887
The Essex town of Manningtree, near Colchester, lies on the River Stour and got its name from ‘many trees’. It enjoys wide open countryside and in the 15th century it became a centre for the wool trade. In the latter part of the 1800s the town held its own race meeting on Tuesday 12th April 1887 at Abbott’s Manor, Lawford on land owned by Mr H N Dunnett. A packed card included the Farmers’ Cup which was won by Mr H Dunnett’s Chaffcutter, beating The Toad and Ballet Girl, while the East Essex Hunt Cup went to Double Breasted who defeated Harkaway and the Sir Claude de Crespigny’s Flushing. It was an amazingly successful meeting with some clever riding exploits, but surprisingly was not repeated on a future occasion. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
13th Hussars, Sir Claude de Crespigny, Captain Doyne, Lieut. Colonel Spilling |
| Principal Races |
Subalterns’ Challenge Cup, Farmers Cup, East Essex Hunt Cup |
Tuesday 12th April 1887
Subalterns’ Challenge Cup over 2 ½ miles
1. Portumna Girl, bay mare owned by Mr Grant
2. Pony, brown mare owned by Mr Phillips
3. Pupil, bay gelding owned by Mr McLaren |
The only recorded meeting took place on Tuesday 12th April 1887. |
| Course today |
At Abbott’s Manor owned by Mr H N Dunnett, just a short walk from Manningtree station |
| 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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