Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Horse Racing in Wirral

There have in fact been 11 race courses in Wirral over the years:

1. Wallasey (Leasowe)

The racing stables were located in Jockey Lane (renamed Sandiways Road) in Wallasey Village. Racing at Leasowe is recorded as far back as 1653, the Wallasey Stakes starting in 1727 and continued for six years until 1732. The following year a race called the Wallasey Stakes was held at Newmarket. Racing continued at Leasowe until 1785.

2. Parkgate

Racing at Parkgate began during the 1820s. The Parkgate Steeplechase was taken over by the Wirral Hunt Club in 1881, and although they continued to use the old Parkgate course, it was officially known as the Great Neston Races. The track was an oval which occupied the total length of Parkfield as far as the Leighton Boundary, with Wood Lane running along the top edge of the course.

3. Great Neston

Although the Parkgate races became known as the Great Neston races in 1881, the Great Neston races date back to 1728 and were run on a track at Windle Hill until the last race in 1846.

4. Hoylake

Racing at Hoylake started in the 1840s and the track was known as the Hoose Racecourse. The course was pear shaped and was 1.5 miles in length, it stood on land between the Royal Hotel and Green Lodge Hotel. Racing at Hoylake ended in the 1870s.

5. Upton

Horse racing was a feature of the two fairs held in Upton each year, races were held on a field known as 'Great Croft' and there are records of them back to 1762. Racing was revived in Upton in 1922, with a new couse laid out in Upton Park. Upton Park was next to Upton Manor on land belonging to Home Farm. Racing continued until 1924 when Wallasey Corporation successfully claimed that some of the land was within Wallasey and was required for a new Cemetery.

6. Bidston

The West Cheshire races began at Bidston on 29th October 1921. The course ran alongside the railway track at Bidston Station. The last recorded meeting at Bidston was on 14th August 1926.

7. Storeton

Horseracing in Storeton began in the 18th century and was confined to steeplechases. The race took place over a three mile course starting from Storeton windmill towards Barnston. The fences have been described as "rather stiff with big ditches".

8. Hooton Park

Hooton Hall was for many years home to a great racing stud, started by Sir Thomas Stanley and continued by R.C.Naylor until he sold the hall in the 1860s. In 1906 the first race meeting was held in Hooton Park, within the grounds of Hooton Hall. Racing continued here until 1916, except for one race held in 1930. This was a recreation of 7th Hussars midnight Steeplechase. Eight riders in white nightshirts rode in the race which started on the stroke of midnight.

9. Oxton

Little is known of the race course in Oxton Village, it existed in the 18th century and was very small, the couse is believed to have been located on Oxton Common.

10. Rock Ferry

On 14th May 1859 Liverpool Amateur Races were held on a course that is believed to be close to the Derby Arms as the prize giving ceremony was held in the Derby Arms.

11. Seacombe

Seacombe boasted a race course during the late part of the 18th Century. The first meeting was in August 1792 and was orgainsied by the Lord of the Manor of Poulton. The races continued for several years, but it was no match for the neighbouring Wallasey meetings.

The nameplates on the buildings on the SE corner of Moreton Cross roundabout include "Kirkland" and "Caubeen". Frank Mason (nickname "Tich" or "Titch") rode these horses in the 1905 and 1909 Grand National races - he won in 1905 link .
The other nameplates include "Spring Gate", "Rosewreath", "The Golden Valley".

I think there was a racecourse somewhere off Manor Drive or thereabouts - was it called Upton Park (there is an Upton Park Drive) ?

There is indeed an Upton Park Drive - off Manor Drive.

I grew up in a house down Upton Park Drive, and My sister Still lives there.

There is also an "Upton Park", this is on the Moreton Side of the Moreton Spur.

The Race Course in Upton was on land between Moreton Road and the present Manor Drive. The land was originally part of Home Farm (later Manor Farm) and was called Upton Park. Upton Park extended across the boundary of the township into Wallasey and racing came to an end in 1924 when Wallasey Corporation decided they wanted their part of Upton Park for a new cemetery. The cemetery was never built.

The entrance to the race course was just about where Moreton Road crosses the motorway spur.

Just to confuse people, Upton Park Drive is not where Upton Park was.

Thanks Old Hand - I knew it was there somewhere !

Here is a map of Windle Hill Racecourse in about 1841

Interesting to see there's 'Sod Hall' next to Windle Hill...

Crimewatch UK February 1989