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Early horse racing in Birmingham

Vivienne14

Vivienne14

Kentish Brummie Moderator
Staff member
This is extracted from the Bromford Racecourse thread :

“The earliest recorded horse-race in Birmingham, according to Chris Pitt and Chas Hammond, took place in May 1747. No doubt there were earlier outings, but the local newspaper - Aris’s Gazette - only began printing in 1741. Sadly we know not where that first race was run. Entries, says the Gazette, were to be registered at the Swan Inn on Snow Hill, but is silent as to the venue of the race”.

So before the Bromford racecourse was built at Bromford Bridge where did racing take place ?

There’s a painting by R T Bott (b1847 - d1862) entitled: “Leading the Winner, Birmingham”. Bott died in 1862, so this must be a painting of early organised racing. I wondered if we could narrow down the possible location given there’s a large white house in the distance nestling on a hillside. The background might be a common or heath perhaps. Any ideas ?

Viv

17113E09-1452-4AFF-825B-AF8333C719CA.jpeg
A link to Bromford Racecourse is here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/bromford-racecourse.35702/
 
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I did not even know Birmingham had a race course. There is a nice little History of the Race course on this thread and some nice photos. The article says it is history for young people. I found it fascinating as an ex-licensed bookmaker.

Birmingham Racecourse, Castle Bromwich

The racecourse at Castle Bromwich opened in 1894. Its name was Birmingham Racecourse but it was often called Bromford or Bromford Bridge, because this was the name of the station on the Birmingham-to-Derby railway where race-goers alighted on race days. The racecourse company rented the land...
historyofcastlebromwich.jimdofree.com historyofcastlebromwich.jimdofree.com
 
According to the book 'When Birmingham went Racing' which was authored by Chris Pitt and Chas Hammond
and published by c.c. Publishing in 2005.

There were many areas around Birmingham where racing of horses was undertaken.

A map at the front of the book lists the following places as areas identified with events,
although i don't suppose they would be as we know the activity today.

More one person challenging another, my horse is faster than yours sort of thing.

Here is a list of the places: Sutton Coldfield, New Oscott, Aston Park, Castle Bromwich,

Coleshill, Packington Park, Bickenhill, Solihull, Knowle, Shirley, Hall Green, Kings Norton,

Sparkbrook, Hay Mills, Yardley, Olton, Yardley Wood, Northfield, Harborne, Small Heath,

Bordesley Green, Ward End, Edgbaston, Cape Hill, Smethwick, Oldbury, Handsworth...

It would have been easier to scan and post the map, but never mind.

It does conclude that the first recorded meeting was on 27/28/29 May 1740, although the

venue was not known.

AnnS..
 
Hi AnnS,

I knew about the Sutton Coldfield horse racing but hadn't heard of the sport taking place at New Oscott. I'm very interested in this area and would love to know where it was. Could you let me know please?

The Horse & Jockey pub in Sutton Coldfield is supposed to be named after a local course and it's always been supposed that it was either the Sutton Park one or the other at Four Oaks. This has always seemed doubtful to me as it's quite a long way from the pub to either. However, Jockey Road goes to New Oscott so this looks very much more likely.

Many thanks.
 
Interesting article Pedro. Horse racing seems to have had a very erratic history in Sutton Park. I notice in 1868 the entrance to the course was near the Parson and Clerk. Even as late as the 1970s there were suggestions for a course in the park.

Ann - It’s easy to see that Aston Park had a course given the Ground’s history in providing entertainment and hosting all types of events.

Lady P - agree, surely Jockey Road must have a connection.

Viv.
 
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The map at the front of the book shows many more sites/venues than those i have listed.

Outside the immediate Birmingham area there are literally dozens more...
 
Shirley race course was where Shirley Golf Club now is on Stratford Road near Monkspath.
When I was growing up the entrance sign, on a wrought iron archway, read "Shirley.......Course". The word "race" had been removed.
My late Mother told stories of being let out of school early on race days to avoid the traffic o_O - a fraction of what it is now.
 
AnnS, thank you for mentioning the book. I ordered it from Sutton Library and picked it up on Tuesday. It had, as you say, lots of information and is well worth reading.
 
Viv, as I said above to Ann, I have a copy of 'When Birmingham Went Racing' and it's really interesting. There were one or two courses in Sutton Park, one of which was near Longmore Pool at Royal Oak Coppice.

However, the 'New Oscott' one wasn't where I had hoped, so no connection to Jockey Road. I had imagined it being a flat space but it wasn't. and pictured it being nearer to Jockey Road. The races held at 'New Oscott' in the 1840's were steeplechases and were held at the front of the College. I completely forgot that the front is at the back, so to speak and looks out over Kingstanding. (This makes more sense of where the roads from the lodges lead to). The entrance I had frequently passed on Chester Road is the rear entrance possibly for tradesmen. The races themselves took place at Rabbit Warren Farm (no 'Rabbit' in our day) and were apparently hard going. Existing hedges were used and man-made ones included. It also mentions the stream which I presume is Hawthorn Brook. The chapter includes information on the racegoers in their phaetons, gigs, britzkas, landaus and carriages and pairs.

Apart from the Sutton information I found the chapter on the Wakes Races, which took place on the filled-in Deritend Pool, fascinating. Apparently the pool used to serve the mill. It also includes a really good description of the Wakes themselves.
 
We lived on the Firs estate. Just before they closed the racecourse, my dad took me to see it.

The Temperance Seven were playing​

 

Beardsworth’s Repository​

theironroom.wordpress.com

Beardsworth’s Repository

Beardsworth’s Repository was established in Cheapside, Birmingham in August 1817 by John Beardsworth (9th January 1783-29 October 1835), son of a sadler, harness maker and victualler, to sell horse…
theironroom.wordpress.com theironroom.wordpress.com
 
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