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Drone,
There is a book, one of a series called ‘Racecourses Here Today and Gome Tomorrow’. Vol 4 of that series covers Ireland. Author is called John Slusar.
Based on the 1914 fixture list in my 1913 annual, he’d have had plenty to write about, with wonderful names like Kells, Kilmallock, Trim, Fermoy, Athlone, Nenagh, Newtownards – and that’s just from January to April.
During Cheltenham week, I read Graham Sharpe and Desmond Colley’s biography of Dorothy Paget. When considering the career of the great Golden Miller, it is a little bit sad to realise how many tracks he raced at that are now defunct:
Chelmsford (not today’s track!)
Manchester
Gatwick
Hurst Park
Derby
Cardiff
BirminghamHe also made his debut at Southwell of all places, which would have been a different track from today’s NH circuit. And he appeared at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day in 1934 in the pre-King George era.
Regarding Liverpool/Aintree, the course has been known by both names at least since the first running of the race that would soon become referred to as the Grand National in 1836 (perhaps a national/local scenario like Edinburgh/Musselburgh – from the early days of railways through to the present day stations serving the course usually included Aintree in their title). It may have been officially changed by the authorities from Liverpool to Aintree in the early 1990s but that is of minor import – after all these are the same authorities who insist the race began in 1839!
“Chelmsford (not today’s track!)”.
Thats the one at Galleywood, you can still walk around most of it. The church is in the middle and the Horse and Groom pub is still right by the course.
Thinking again about some of the defunct Irish tracks: Mullingar was the track where Arkle made his debut. He finished in third place in a bumper. Himself also made one appearance at Baldoyle, when he was unplaced in a 2 mile handicap hurdle.
Thanks APR and all
The name John Slusar rang a bell and on searching TRF I found this thread where his books were discussed:
from page 2 onwardsAll four volumes are still available – assuming it’s not a dead link – here:
http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Racecourses%20Here%20Today%20and%20Gone%20Tomorrow.html235 former Irish courses, blimey
I wasn’t even aware that Tralee had closed!
Aintree is the name of the Liverpool suburb in which the racecourse is situated isn’t it?
Perhaps my local track York should be renamed Dringhouses (nice) or South Bank (boring)
Part of Hurst Park racecourse re-emerged in 2018. I wonder how many Cheltenham Festival racegoers realise it was the original home of the Triumph Hurdle?
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