British Coins and Tokens

SHROPSHIRE, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Race Course Co Ltd, 1885, oval bone, No. 2, pass everywhere, 63 x 50mm, 9.99g (W –; D & W –; cf. DNW 138, 3242). Very fine and exceptionally rare £500-£700

from the vendor’s mother, and by descent

Racing first took place in Shrewsbury in 1718, but after various difficulties a new oval racecourse was created in 1832. Shrewsbury races gained the reputation of being fixed and the course was often infested with pickpockets. It therefore came as no surprise when the final meeting took place on 19 October 1887. The site remained unused until it was bought by the Council in 1925 for £8,500, and it is now a housing development.