Earliest meeting: Friday 16th May 1845
Final meeting: Friday 16th June 1848
The tiny village of Plaitford, in the Test Valley in Hampshire, lies some 5 miles from Romsey, and despite it being just a small village it held its own races in the middle of the 19th century. The first meeting took place on Friday 16th May 1845 in fields on the edge of the village. The opening Plaitford Stakes was won by Adrain, owned by Mr Bray, defeating a field of 5 others. Later in the day the Hunter’s Stakes was won by Lord of Misrule who defeated Midnight Star. The meeting on Friday 28th May 1847 was the best supported of all of their meetings and saw Mr Mitchell’s Sultan win the Plaitford Stakes. However, the highlight of the card was a Silver Cup donated by Mr Swyer, owner of the Crown Hotel, Southampton. The race was won after two heats by Playful. The meeting was held for one more year on Friday 16th June 1848 before Plaitford races passed into history. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr G Pocock & Mr G George (Stewards), Mr Swyer |
| Principal Races |
Swyer Silver Cup, Plaitford Stakes, Hunter’s Stakes |
Friday 28th May 1847
Swyer Silver Cup
1. Playful, brown mare owned by Mr Clayton
2. Rambler, bay horse owned by Mr Jenkins
3. Jenny Lind, 3 year old owned by Mr Jones |
The final meeting took place on Friday 16th June 1848. |
| Course today |
In fields towards the edge of the village. |
| 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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