Chester Race Course I

Spurred on by fact that May Races will soon be upon us, and the fact that I have received an email from the Race Course saying that tickets for all three days of the main May meeting are nearly sold out (hurry up if you want some!), I thought some information about the Race Course might be timely. So here goes:

Horse racing began in Chester in 1539, when the Mayor, Henry Gee, cancelled the traditional Shrove Tuesday football match because so many players got hurt. To ameliorate the disappointment felt by the townspeople, he replaced it with a prize of silver 'to whom shall run best and furthest upon horsebak' (sic).

In 1607 a 'new gallerie' was built at the Roodee paid for by the city, and in 1609 an additional race was run, with 'Sainte Georges bells and vase of running horses', given by Robert Amerye, ironmonger and sometime sheriff, at his cost. In 1640 the sheriffs (the city had two at a time) gave a plate of £13 6s 8d, for a race to replace the traditional sheriff's breakfast.

One of our apartments is still available for May Races!

See our Chester self-catering serviced apartment at Black Diamond Park

Voir notre appartement meublé avec cuisine situé à Black Diamond Park