G
Gearoid
Guest
Anyone remember or have any information about Mullingar racecourse?
granger
Senior Jockey
From Westmeath Examiner
MULLINGAR RACES
Racing in the Mullingar area probably took place in C17 but there is no record of them. Edmund Dease in his “History of the Westmeath Hunt” mentions a meeting, taking place in 1742. In a book on “Hallmarks on Gold & Silver Plate “ by William Chaffers there is an entry “ Plate won by Cheshire Tom Mullingar Races in 1737- Sir C.Domville”. Faulkners Dublin Journal in June 1737 also refers to a play being put off in Dublin “as the actors are at Mullingar Races”. The Racing Calendar in 1777 records one of the early official meeting and shows four flat races competed for at Mullingar and won by Mr T. Nugent’s Dangler, Darcy French’s Patience, Mr O’Donnell’s Noble and D.B.Daly’s Flora. During the C19 racing took place in Hopestown, Gainstown, Slanemore, Cullion until the famous Lynn course came into use in 1838. Races were run in heats, which meant that horses had to compete 2 or 3 times the same day. The main trophy was The Westmeath Cup valued at 60 guineas. Racing at Newtown coincided with the opening of the railway line from Dublin to Mullingar in 1848 before the opening of the Newbrook course in 1852 by Patrick Costello. He built a stand, ladies enclosure, and a road from the railway station to the course. It was subsequently bought by Percy Nugent, Soho House, Multyfarnhan before being taken over by the Mullingar Racecourse Co Ltd under Lord Greville with the backing of Robert Downes, J.P.Dowdall, Patrick Cleary, etc. Newbrook became one of the best racecourses in Ireland throughout the C20 and in 1939 it received a grant of £10,000, as one of the top second tier tracks under the management of Fred Myerscough. When it closed down in 1967 it was receiving considerable sponsorship with the Phoenix Beer Chase one of the most valuable ever held there. The closure of Mullingar racecourse was one of the great losses to social life in the midlands but it was also one of the main reasons why Kilbeggan races survived and ultimately thrived.
MULLINGAR RACES
Racing in the Mullingar area probably took place in C17 but there is no record of them. Edmund Dease in his “History of the Westmeath Hunt” mentions a meeting, taking place in 1742. In a book on “Hallmarks on Gold & Silver Plate “ by William Chaffers there is an entry “ Plate won by Cheshire Tom Mullingar Races in 1737- Sir C.Domville”. Faulkners Dublin Journal in June 1737 also refers to a play being put off in Dublin “as the actors are at Mullingar Races”. The Racing Calendar in 1777 records one of the early official meeting and shows four flat races competed for at Mullingar and won by Mr T. Nugent’s Dangler, Darcy French’s Patience, Mr O’Donnell’s Noble and D.B.Daly’s Flora. During the C19 racing took place in Hopestown, Gainstown, Slanemore, Cullion until the famous Lynn course came into use in 1838. Races were run in heats, which meant that horses had to compete 2 or 3 times the same day. The main trophy was The Westmeath Cup valued at 60 guineas. Racing at Newtown coincided with the opening of the railway line from Dublin to Mullingar in 1848 before the opening of the Newbrook course in 1852 by Patrick Costello. He built a stand, ladies enclosure, and a road from the railway station to the course. It was subsequently bought by Percy Nugent, Soho House, Multyfarnhan before being taken over by the Mullingar Racecourse Co Ltd under Lord Greville with the backing of Robert Downes, J.P.Dowdall, Patrick Cleary, etc. Newbrook became one of the best racecourses in Ireland throughout the C20 and in 1939 it received a grant of £10,000, as one of the top second tier tracks under the management of Fred Myerscough. When it closed down in 1967 it was receiving considerable sponsorship with the Phoenix Beer Chase one of the most valuable ever held there. The closure of Mullingar racecourse was one of the great losses to social life in the midlands but it was also one of the main reasons why Kilbeggan races survived and ultimately thrived.
Sheikh
At the Start
The same Mysercough's I wonder ....
G
Gearoid
Guest
Thanks. On another note does anyone have a link to Brian H's Arkle piece?
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