Manchester Racecourse
Encyclopedia
Manchester Racecourse was a former racecourse in the City of Salford
, Greater Manchester
, England
. Manchester Racecourse moved several times but remained within Salford in the 19th and 20th centuries. It closed in 1963 and the site has been redeveloped for other uses; namely student accommodation and playing fields.
, Salford, from the 17th century. In 1847 the racecourse was moved across the River Irwell
to a site located on a meander
of the River Irwell known as Castle Irwell. Racing was held there until 1867. The racecourse then moved to New Barns, Weaste
, which was active from 1876 to 1901. In 1902 the New Barnes course was sold for development and racing moved back to Castle Irwell which hosted both flat racing
and National Hunt racing.
season, with the highlight being the Manchester November Handicap
. When the course closed in 1963 the fixture was transferred to Doncaster Racecourse
. The last race staged was won by the jockey Lester Piggott
.
Manchester was also the venue for the Lancashire Oaks
from that race's inception in 1939 until 1963. It also staged a Classic race - the wartime substitute St. Leger
in 1941.
Manchester staged British racing's first evening fixture on 13 July 1951; and a stand built in 1961 was the site of the first private boxes at a British sports venue.
was interested in purchasing the site and opposed its sale to a property development company; this was supported by the City of Salford
who wished to use part of the site for playing fields.
In 1973 the University of Salford bought the majority of the site and its buildings for £46,000. The land was used to construct a student village. The Members Stand was retained to became an entertainment venue known as the Pavilion or the Pav. It was run by the University of Salford Students' Union
, before the venue was closed following the 2009 academic year. To date, Salford has no student entertainment venue.
A concrete bridge was built across the River Irwell
53.5082°N 2.2746°W allowing access to the northern end of the site from Kersal
flats. This area of Castle Irwell, which was separated off from the university site, was developed as public playing fields.
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Manchester Racecourse moved several times but remained within Salford in the 19th and 20th centuries. It closed in 1963 and the site has been redeveloped for other uses; namely student accommodation and playing fields.
Location
Racing had been staged on Kersal MoorKersal Moor
Kersal Moor is a recreation area in Kersal, within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, consisting of eight hectares of moorland, bounded by Moor Lane, Heathlands Road, St...
, Salford, from the 17th century. In 1847 the racecourse was moved across the River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
to a site located on a meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
of the River Irwell known as Castle Irwell. Racing was held there until 1867. The racecourse then moved to New Barns, Weaste
Weaste
Weaste is an inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It is an industrial area, with many industrial estates. The A57 road passes through Weaste, which lies close to the M602 motorway...
, which was active from 1876 to 1901. In 1902 the New Barnes course was sold for development and racing moved back to Castle Irwell which hosted both flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
and National Hunt racing.
Flat Racing
Manchester traditionally staged the final fixture of the British flat racingFlat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
season, with the highlight being the Manchester November Handicap
November Handicap
The November Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early November....
. When the course closed in 1963 the fixture was transferred to Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
. The last race staged was won by the jockey Lester Piggott
Lester Piggott
Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....
.
Manchester was also the venue for the Lancashire Oaks
Lancashire Oaks
The Lancashire Oaks is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 200 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event was...
from that race's inception in 1939 until 1963. It also staged a Classic race - the wartime substitute St. Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
in 1941.
Manchester staged British racing's first evening fixture on 13 July 1951; and a stand built in 1961 was the site of the first private boxes at a British sports venue.
Reuse
The racecourse closed after the final meeting on 7 November 1963 and the majority of the Castle Irwell site was put up for sale. The University of SalfordUniversity of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
was interested in purchasing the site and opposed its sale to a property development company; this was supported by the City of Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
who wished to use part of the site for playing fields.
In 1973 the University of Salford bought the majority of the site and its buildings for £46,000. The land was used to construct a student village. The Members Stand was retained to became an entertainment venue known as the Pavilion or the Pav. It was run by the University of Salford Students' Union
University of Salford Students' Union
The University of Salford Students' Union is the representative body of students at the University of Salford, Greater Manchester, England....
, before the venue was closed following the 2009 academic year. To date, Salford has no student entertainment venue.
A concrete bridge was built across the River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
53.5082°N 2.2746°W allowing access to the northern end of the site from Kersal
Kersal
Kersal is an inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. The centre of Kersal is northwest of Manchester city centre, and north-northwest of Salford's conventional centre at Greengate....
flats. This area of Castle Irwell, which was separated off from the university site, was developed as public playing fields.