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From: 160 Autumn 2024
Author: Peter Smith
In the last Journal we highlighted the fascinating story of Oxford Races, held on Port Meadow from 1641 to 1880. Aside from a couple of old prints showing two of the estimated four course layouts, newspaper and racing journal reports, the c1820 painting by Charles Turner and remnants of parts of the race courses on the Meadow itself, there seems little else left of this significant chapter in the Meadow’s history.
However, recently a genuine race card has come to light from a race on August 19th 1874, the second of two days of racing. It’s in, as you’d expect, a worn folded state but the text is all still clearly legible. It’s amazing such a typically disposable ephemeral item has survived for 150 years.
There is clear reference to Port Meadow (“NOTICE – NO BETTING LISTS, Clogs, Umbrellas, Stools, or any erection for the purpose of betting will be allowed on Port Meadow at this meeting. The Police have orders to strictly enforce this”) and it set out 6 races for the afternoon event. The smallest had 13 runners, the largest 37, most had over 20. Prize money varied, but the most significant had a top up of 50 sovereigns – a lot of money then. It’s poignant to see and handle a “real” artefact from that time.
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