Ely Racecourse
{{Short description|Former racecourse in Cardiff, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
Ely Racecourse was a horse racing venue in the Ely district of Cardiff, Wales. The racecourse opened in 1855, with the first race being held on 30 May. By 1864 racing at Ely was a regular event, the races that year were acclaimed as 'the most brilliant and successful ever held'.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/suburbs/caerau.shtml|title=The history of the suburb of Caerau - Cardiffians.co.uk|last=Witty|first=Matthew|website=www.cardiffians.co.uk|access-date=2016-10-07}}
History
In 1895 the first Welsh Grand National was held at the Ely Racecourse. It was watched by over 40,000 people, many of whom did not pay for entry after charging the entry gates and overpowering the stewards.
In the early 1900s attendance figures began to steadily decline and the racecourse never fully recovered from a fire that destroyed the grandstand in 1937.
The last race to be held there, in 1939, was won by Grasshopper, ridden by Keith Piggott, father of the famous jockey Lester Piggott.{{cite web |title=Ely Racecourse |url=http://www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk/node/382885 |website=Peoples Collection Wales |access-date=1 July 2021 |language=en}}
Trelai Park is now on the site of the racecourse.{{cite web |title=Trelai Park (Ely Racecourse) |url=http://www.cardiffparks.org.uk/otheropenspaces/trelaipark/info/index.shtml |website=Cardiff Parks |access-date=18 June 2020}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Brian |title=History of Cardiff Racecourse |date=1980 |publisher=Cwm Nedd Press |location=Neath |isbn=9780906244081}}
See also
See my book The Welsh Grand National - From Deerstalker to Emperor's Choice.
Published by the History Press.
References
{{reflist}}
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{{Sport in Cardiff}}
Category:Defunct horse racing venues in Wales
Category:Sports venues in Cardiff