Earliest meeting: Monday 1st November 1830
Final meeting: Wednesday 30th May 1888
Castlerea, the second largest town in County Roscommon, lies on the banks of the Rivers Suck and Francis. It staged race meetings for over 50 years, with an opening two day meeting taking place on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd November 1830. The highlight of the meeting was a 2 ½ mile chase consisting of five 4 and a half foot walls. Entries were usually collected at MacLoghlin’s Hotel in Ballinasloe, with Ordinaries served at Gibon’s Hotel which was also the venue for a Ball and supper after racing on the final race day. The course was located a mile from the town centre at Southpark and continued to be the venue until a final meeting was held on Wednesday 30th May 1888. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 4 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
Captain Blake, Thomas Horan (Clerk of Course) |
| Principal Races |
Castlerea Steeplechase, Castlerea Plate, Southpark Plate |
Wednesday 30th May 1888
Castlerea Plate over 2 miles
1. Arald owned by Mr T Fitzpatrick
2. Woodman owned by Major Kirkwood
3. Spring Daisy owned by Mr Thomas Nally
Betting: 1/3 Arald, 7/2 Bar |
| The final meeting took place on Wednesday 30th May 1888. |
| Course today |
A mile from the town centre at Southpark. |
| 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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