Where were the Starcross Racecourses?

Dear Sirs,

I am writing a book on old racecourses and am trying to locate where the courses were; the first was on the land of John Southwood and the other on the land of the Haydons.

I attach below what I have written for your interest.

I would be grateful for any help.

Yours faithfully,

William Morgan

This was one of many little jamborees that sprung up on the coast of Devon, but, though most of these meetings put no more than 10 gs into a race, the Starcross Stakes, over six hurdles in the trip of twice round and a distance, probably about two miles, had 20 sovs added. It started in mid-September 1847 in fields belonging to butcher and farmer John Southwood, but was dropped after 1859, the only possible explanation the local press could come up with being the disapproval of the great and good (q.v. Dawlish).

The fixture probably restarted in late September 1863 on ground in the occupation of Messrs J. and T. Haydon, and was a great hit, with large fields and a crowd of 4,000 to 5,000, including those on a crammed “substantial” stand, erected by Edwin Stafford of Exeter. The committee consisted of Messrs Pycroft, John Drew, jun., of Kenton, John Frost of Powderham, W. and J. Elliott of Exminster, Woodbridge, Bedford and Hartland of Exeter, Smale, Davy, Beazley and Sanders of the Courtenay Arms, from the home town. There were a few spills on the heavy course and a few punch ups off it, but all went well, the only real complaint being that horses were allowed to enter at the post, which rendered the programmes rather meaningless.

In 1865 a large crowd once again attended, many of the 6,000 brought on excursion trains, the course being five minutes’ walk from the station. Mr Wellard of the Mount Pleasant Inn doubtless made a tidy sum from providing the refreshments and the racing was entertaining, “far better than those of former years”, according to the Field, with reasonable fields.

 

Point2point at Black Forest Lodge