Pony Turf Club
Encyclopedia
The Pony Turf Club was a body which regulated the racing of horses of under 15 hands in the United Kingdom
from its foundation in 1923 until the early 1960s.
The club was founded by Major R G Alexander, and was officially recognised by the Jockey Club
in 1924 following the support of Lord Derby. The Stewards by 1929 included The Earl of Carnarvon
, Sir William Bass and Viscount Lascelles.
In 1929, a dedicated racetrack was opened in Northolt
, Middlesex
and during the 1930s pony races are recorded as being held throughout the South West of England, as well as at Portsmouth Park (Paulsgrove), Worthing
, Chelmsford
, Southend, Sketty Park near Swansea
and Lilleshall Hall
, Shropshire
.http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pony_racing/ptc.htm
During the 1940s, further investment was made in a track at Mallory Park
, near Kirkby Mallory
, Leicestershire
, although this was never completed and the site was put to other uses http://www.btinternet.com/~john.pge/mallpk.html. Pony racing continued at Shirley
in the West Midlands
until 1953 and later at Hawthorn Hill
, Maidenhead
, Berkshire
.
As interest in the sport dwindled, the Pony Turf Club eventually went into liquidation
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from its foundation in 1923 until the early 1960s.
The club was founded by Major R G Alexander, and was officially recognised by the Jockey Club
Jockey Club
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing. Although no longer responsible for the governance and regulation of the sport, it owns 14 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham and Newmarket, amongst other concerns such as the National Stud and...
in 1924 following the support of Lord Derby. The Stewards by 1929 included The Earl of Carnarvon
Earl of Carnarvon
Earl of Carnarvon is a title that has been created three times in British history. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1628 in favour of Robert Dormer, 2nd Baron Dormer. For more information on this creation, which became extinct in 1709, see the Baron Dormer.The title was created...
, Sir William Bass and Viscount Lascelles.
In 1929, a dedicated racetrack was opened in Northolt
Northolt
Northolt is a town in the London Borough of Ealing, England. The town has London Underground and Network Rail stations and is on the A40 road...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
and during the 1930s pony races are recorded as being held throughout the South West of England, as well as at Portsmouth Park (Paulsgrove), Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
, Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, Southend, Sketty Park near Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and Lilleshall Hall
Lilleshall Hall
Lilleshall Hall is a large former country house and estate located near Lilleshall in Shropshire, England. It was founded as an Augustinian Abbey in the 12th century, with its estate running to some...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
.http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pony_racing/ptc.htm
During the 1940s, further investment was made in a track at Mallory Park
Mallory Park
Mallory Park is a motor racing circuit situated in the village of Kirkby Mallory, just off the A47, between Leicester and Hinckley. With the full car circuit measuring only 1.35 miles it is amongst the shortest permanent race circuits in the UK...
, near Kirkby Mallory
Kirkby Mallory
Kirkby Mallory is a hamlet in Leicestershire, England. It is known mainly for its Race Circuit, Mallory Park, a one mile track where car and motorbike races take place.Its church is All Saints and is located near the entrance Numerous lakes and farms are situated in and around the village and the...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, although this was never completed and the site was put to other uses http://www.btinternet.com/~john.pge/mallpk.html. Pony racing continued at Shirley
Shirley
Shirley may refer to:*Shirley , either a given name or a surname-Places:United Kingdom*Shirley, Derbyshire, England*Shirley, Southampton, a district of Southampton, England...
in the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
until 1953 and later at Hawthorn Hill
Hawthorn Hill
Hawthorn Hill in Oakwood, Ohio, USA, was the post-1914 home of Orville, Milton, and Katharine Wright. Wilbur and Orville Wright intended for it to be their joint home, but Wilbur died in 1912, before the home's 1914 completion. The brothers hired the prominent Dayton architectural firm of...
, Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
As interest in the sport dwindled, the Pony Turf Club eventually went into liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
.