Earliest meeting: Monday 7th September 1874
Final meeting: Monday 9th September 1878
The Exeter suburb of Marsh Barton today is the site of Exeter’s largest trading estate, but back in the latter part of the 19th century it was a village which had its own race meetings. One of the first meetings to be reported in regional papers was on Monday 7th September 1874 when a 6 race card included the 2 ½ miles St Thomas Steeplechase which was won by Mr D Matthew’s Creeper, beating Brunette and Bainotte. The Ladies Plate followed and saw Fidget get the better of Star of the West. The course was developed around Marsh Barton House and offered races between 1 ¼ miles and 4 miles, with temporary hedges and a kind water jump. On Tuesday 25th July 1875 the St Thomas Stakes went to Zouave who beat Black Bess and Hampshire Doe, and the newly introduced Champagne Hurdle went to Merlin. Races continued for the next 3 years until a final meeting took place on Monday 9th September 1878, culminating in the Marsh Barton Stakes, 3 times around the course, which was won by Mr Rawle’s Doctor.
The article below is from the Western Times, giving details of a meeting to be held in 1874, and is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Online Archive.
The article below is from the Western Times, giving details of a meeting to be held on Tuesday 26th July 1875, and is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Online Archive.
The article below is from the Western Times, giving details of a meeting to be held in 1878, and is shown courtesy of the British Newspaper Online Archive.
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
