Earliest meeting: Friday 4th April 1845
Final meeting: Friday 17th March 1848
The Birmingham suburb of New Oscott is in the northern part of the city between Aston and Sutton. It first staged racing on Friday 4th April 1845 when a 3 race card featured the Birmingham Silver Cup Stakes which was won by Pretty Doe, defeating Topthorn and Emperor. The two mile course, consisting of 17 leaps and one challenging brook, was on Mr Birch’s Rabbit Warren Farm about 2 miles from Perry Barr. After a successful day at the races Dinner was served at the Kings Head. Meetings took place annually for the next 3 years, on 10th March 1846, 9th March 1847 and a final meeting on Friday 17th March 1848. Mr Birch had at first refused to allow his farm to be used in 1848 but relented at the last minute and this uncertainty, together with appauling weather conditions and a sparse crowd marked the end of racing at this venue. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lord Strathmore, Captain Josey Little |
| Principal Races |
Birmingham Silver Cup Stakes, Birmingham Stakes |
Tuesday 9th March 1847
Birmingham Stakes over 4 miles
1. Richard I ridden by John Walker
2. Belahazzar owned by Lord Strathmore
3. The Chandler ridden by Captain Little
4. Red Hawthorn owned by Mr J Brown
Betting: 4/1 Balhazzar, 5/1 Red Hawthorn, 7/1 Ricahrd I |
The final meeting was held on Friday 17th March 1848. |
| Course today |
A two mile course on Rabbit Warren Farm 2 miles from Perry Barr. |
| 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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