Earliest meeting: Tuesday 2nd November 1824
Final meeting: Monday 22nd May 1864
The County Cork town of Muskerry is in the central region of the county, located in the valley of the River Lee, and once held its own steeplechase races under rules. The course was situated ‘in the vicinity of the Ovens’ about half a mile from Dripsey and attracted crowds in their thousands. Later it held point to point races on a regular basis, but its first meeting under rules took place on Tuesday 2nd November 1824. At the meeting on Monday 3rd November 1828 tragedy struck when the 4 runners in the principal race were approaching the winning line. Samuel Penrose junior’s horse slipped and he was thrown and died from the injuries he sustained. The race was won by Signal owned by John Hawkes. Races continued to be held annually and a ‘stand-house’ was constructed for the March 1862 meeting. The final record of a meeting was on Monday 22nd May 1864.

Saturday 1st November 1828
The Muskerry Sweepstake over 4 miles
1. Signal, bay horse owned and ridden by Mr John Hawkes
2. Badger, bay horse owned and ridden by Mr Sam Hawkes
3. Madame Vestris, bay mare owned and ridden by Mr Wrixon

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

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