Earliest meeting: Wednesday 14th May 1701
Final meeting: Monday 29th March 1869
The County Clare village of Quin, close to the townland of Ardsollus, is in the southeast of the county and boasts the historic Quin Abbey. It is believed that racing took place on downland on the outskirts of the village as early as May 1701, where the trophy shown below was contested. In the latter part of the 19th century it held its own series of race meetings, the first of which took place on Monday 5th February 1866. The course was located just half a mile from the village at Creevaghmore and hosted steeplechases and hurdle races. The principal race was the Curraghmore Stakes over a mile and a half which was won by Mr Canny’s Tupsley, gaining the upper hand over Little Poll and Little Girl. Meetings continued for the next 2 years, with the final one taking place on Easter Monday 29th March 1869.
The tankard, once owned by the Westropp Family, Ballysteen House, Ballysteen, Co. Limerick, features an engraved image of a jockey on horseback with the rim further engraved:
'All ye Course in ye Ryne in Thomond ye 14th of May. This plate was won by ye 3rd horse Anno Domi 1701'
It is believed that the word Ryne refers to a downland, once owned by Ryan, adjacent to quin Village in County Clare which relates to Thomond.
Monday 5th February 1866
The Curraghmore Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Tupsley owned by Mr Canny
2. Little Poll owned by Mr Hurley
3. Little Girl owned by Mr MacNamara
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
