User:Peaky76/Plymouth Racecourse

Plymouth Racecourse (opened 1828) was a horse racing track situated in Plymouth, Devon, England. It was home to Plymouth and Devonport Races (also known as Plymouth, Devonport and Cornwall Races

History
The race meeting originated at a rustic fete in 1827 on a marsh near Crabtree,

Flat racing stopped in the 1890s, but there was a steeplechase meeting up until World War II. In the 1920s they had three meetings a year.

British Champion and Classic-winning jockey, Tom Cannon, Sr., had his first race ride in the Saltrom Handicap at Plymouth in 1860, aged 14, on Mavourneen, a four-year-old mare. He also had his first winner at the track, a horse called My Uncle, owned by Lord Portsmouth, in a six furlong heats race.

A meeting was held at the Royal Hotel, chaired by the Earl of Morley and Plym, De & Cornwall Races were established. They should take place on Chelson Meadow about 1 1/4 miles from Plymouth. A temporary course was prepared for 1828, eventually made permanent at a cost of between £400-£500. In 1829 a grandstand was built, combining the ladies' stand, betting stand and a refreshment hall. When the Duke of Sussex took the role, he donated a plate of 50 sovs. Both were annually competed for until at least.... A larger amount of public money was competed for than at any other meeting in the kingdom.

In 1828 a gold cup, valued at 100 guineas was granted by His Majesty as Lord High Steward of Plymouth.

Mile and a half round, nearly oval and quite flat.

The big race was the Saltram Stakes, with average value of between 300 and 500 guineas in the 1830s. Two stewards were chosen annually, one from Cornwall, one from Devon.

The main meeting took place for three days in August. A Spring meeting was established in 1831, principally for hunters. The main race was the Lyneham Stakes.

They originated in the village sports formerly held at Crabtree, and were esta- blished on their present scale in 1828, principally we believe by the liberality and exertions of the Earl of Morley. The present course is perfectly flat, and a mile and a half in circumference. The Grand Stand is also extremely commodious. Very high prizes are contested, and it is said, more public money is run for than at any other meeting in the kingdom. Two stewards, one from Devonshire, the other from Cornwall, offi- ciate annually, and great encouragement and sup- port are derived from the Race Association, formed in 1830, under Royal and other most distiuguished patronage, â€” There are also Plymouth and Devon- port Spring Races, established in 1833.

The Race Association was formed in 1830 with 175 members, the King as Patron, Duke of Sussex as Vice-Patron and other members including the Duke of Bedford, Earl of Morley, Lord Viscount Valletort and Lord Elliot.

The race meeting started as 'Plymouth' went to 'Plymouth and Devonport' became the 'Plymouth, Devonport & Cornwall' and then back to 'Plymouth' again.

The racecourse was also used for boxing matches in the 1840s.