A NEW book celebrating the 300th anniversary of horse racing at Worcester Racecourse is bidding to become a firm favourite with punters and bookworms alike.
The first race meeting hosted at the site in the heart of Worcester City Centre, known as Pitchcroft, took place in June 1718
Author and racing historian Chris Pitt has put pen to paper for ‘Pitchcroft: 300 years of racing in Worcester’ to celebrate the landmark and copies are available to buy from the racecourse.
From fist fights to first fights, floods to firm favourites, Chris takes the reader galloping through the colourful history of Worcester Racecourse, chronicling the events, the people and the equine stars that made their contribution during 300 years of racing at Pitchcroft.
“Having previously written books about closed racecourses, it’s been a refreshing change to tell the story of one that’s very much alive,” he said.
“It has also been a genuine pleasure to chronicle the events, the people and the horses that together weave the tapestry of 300 years of racing in Worcester. Pitchcroft has a colourful and varied history and I’ve enjoyed bringing it to life.”
In addition to the book launch, the course is getting set to revive the historic Worcester Grand Annual Steeple Chase which was first run in March 1836.
The event will be on the card during the meeting on July 4 – the 300 year anniversary raceday.
This race produced a number of famous horses, including the 1853 Worcester Grand Annual, won by Bourton, who went on to win the Grand National at Aintree in 1854.
After an 85 years absence since the last running of the Worcester Grand Annual in 1933, this historic steeple chase will be the feature race on this anniversary raceday.
E-mail [email protected] or call 01905 253 64 for more information about purchasing the book.
