Earliest meeting: Tuesday 14th February 1843
Final meeting: Tuesday 14th February 1843
The Isle of Wight county town of Newport has a rich history, certainly tracing itself back to Roman Times when it was known as Medina, and to this day the Newport Roman Villa is open to the public. One of its most prominent buildings is Carisbrooke Castle which was under attack from the French in 1377. However, the English managed to defend the castle which, at that time, was being defended by a force commanded by Sir Hugh Tyrill. Even in the mid-1800s a Garrison was stationed in Newport, and they organised their own steeplechase meeting which was held on Tuesday 14th February 1843 on the Ashey course. The feature race, the Newport Handicap Sweepstakes over 3 miles, was open to horses owned by Officers quartered at the Albany Barracks and was a keenly fought affair with 5 runners contesting the event which was won by Lieutenant Phillips’s Jenny Jones. The later Newport Sweepstakes was won by Lieut. Roebuck’s Pussey. Meetings continued to be held at a number of venues on the island, including later meetings at Rew Down. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Lieutenant Hacket, Lieutenant Phillips, Lieutenant Roebuck |
| Principal Races |
Newport Handicap Sweepstakes |
| 14th February 1843 |
Newport Handicap Sweepstakes over 3 miles
(10 sovereigns entry with 20 sovereigns added)
Handicap open to horses owned by Officers quartered at Albany Barracks
1. Jenny Jones, a bay mare owned by Lieutenant Phillips 9 st 10 lbs
2. Very Happy, a bay mare owned by Lieutenant Hacket 12 st 4 lbs
There were 3 other runners.
Newport Sweepstakes over 3 miles
1. Pussey owned and ridden by Lieutenant Roebuck
There were 3 other runners. |
| The final meeting took place on Tuesday 14th February 1843. |
| Course today |
On the Ashey course in Newport. |
| 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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