The First Racecourse in Sutton Park (Sutton Park)

Member Name: historymaker

Product:	Sutton Park
Date:	09/08/07 (92 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Local History

Disadvantages: none

Before the birmingham to sutton railway was built in 1862
visitors to sutton and the park came by omnibus-- a journey whith took the horse buses about 80 minutes.
In the 1840s an added attraction was the construction of a race course
in sutton park covering the plateau above blackroot gravel pit and extending from north of holly knoll to just beyond the present railway line--which at that time did not exist.In 1847 it was the venue for the birmingham races and where Tiny Wells a popular jockey of the time
won his first race.For over 20 years racing was held there and was very popular and a grandstand was built to accomadate the punters.
But sutton corporation had misgivings about the impact on the park

and with the structures erected-- and in 1849 ordered them to be taken down.Racing ceased there when in 1868 a new racecourse was constructed between westwood coppice and longmore pool.
Over 139 years later evidence of the old first racecourse can still be seen
take the right fork over the bridge by park house--past holly knoll
and further up on our left the curve of the track can be seen sweeping through the cutting the section behind is now overgrown with trees and bushes.If you want History about the Park Go To
http://dvdaspectsofsuttonpark.me.uk

Summary: Part of the Script for The FIRST DVD EVER OF SUTTON PARK