Earliest meeting: April 1836
Final meeting: Tuesday 30th April 1838
The Wiltshire village of Staverton lies 2 miles north of Trowbridge and 3 miles east of Bradford-on-Avon. It was an important crossing point of the Bristol Avon on the road linking Trowbridge with Holt. Races first took place in the village in April 1836 when billed as ‘Staverton Pheasant Races’. The second meeting was staged on Tuesday 15th August 1837 on a course over 3 fields at the back of Grovefield, about 2 ½ miles from Trowbridge on the Hatherley Road. The meeting was the brainchild of Mr E Sandford, landlord of the Pheasant Inn, who constructed the grandstand and hosted a dinner at the Pheasant Inn after racing. The meeting opened with the Staverton Stakes which was won by Snipe for Mr John Lovesey, beating The Colonel and True Blue. The later Silver Cup saw Mr Mill’s Spicey defeat Snipe and Radical. The final two day meeting took place on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th April 1838 when the Staverton Stakes was won by Dr Stop for Mr Bristow. He had an exceptionally good meeting, landing the Handsome Silver Cup race and the concluding Handicap Sweepstakes with Balloon. On the second and final day the Pheasant Hurdle was won by Mr G A Williamson’s Creeper who beat Captain Hisdee’s Ives. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 2 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Mr E Sandford, Captain Hisdee, Mr G Turk (Steward) |
| Principal Races |
Staverton Stakes, Pheasant Hurdle, Staverton Silver Cup |
Tuesday 30th April 1838
Staverton Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Dr Stop, brown horse owned by Mr Bristow
2. Slander, aged horse owned by Mr Price
3. Crusader, brown gelding owned by Mr Ballinger |
The meeting did not gain sufficient local support and the final meeting was held on Tuesday 30th April 1838. |
| Course today |
Over 3 fields at the back of Grovefield, about 2 ½ miles from town. |
| 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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| Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage |
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| Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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| Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage |
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