Golcar

Golcar Races and Flower Show

The races took place in the 1870s and 1880s on a large piece of spare land just to the north east of the village called Golcar Flat and were held on the August holiday weekend. The same weekend there was also a brass band contest, a fair, and a fruit, flower and vegetable show. Both races on the flat and steeplechases were held. According to a report in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner of Monday August 15th 1885 races included The Member’s Plate, The Tradesman’s Plate, The Innkeeper’s Plate, The President’s Cup and The Grand Steeplechase. Prize money usually ranged from £30 for first past the post to £1 for second place. At one time 40 guineas was offered to the winner of the steeplechase.

As large crowds were attracted to these events some crime did occur. For instance gambling -

James Morris pleaded guilty to gambling with skittles and was fined a £1.00 and costs.

Thomas Shaughnessy of Manchester was charged with gambling with dice.

Edwin Taylor, shoemaker of Manchester was charged likewise. He pleaded guilty and was fined £1.00. He pleaded for the sake of his wife and family, that the bench would fine him and let him go home, and promised not to repeat the offence again in Yorkshire.

Then there were the assaults. Eliza Lynch of Manchester Street was charged at Huddersfield Borough Police Court with assaulting Mary Ann Glynn on the way home from Golcar Races. There was a cross - summons by Lynch on Glynn, citing name calling and clothes tearing in a jealous argument. The Bench fined them both 10 shillings and costs or 14 days imprisonment each.

One of the top horses competing at Golcar Races was called 'Lady Golightly'. The horse ran many times and had wins including The Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in 1876 and The Newmarket Oakes in 1877. 'Lady Golightly' was owned by Lord

Falmouth and was sired by the great champion sire 'King Tom', owned by Baron Mayer de Rothschild.

'Lady Golightly' was reportedly stabled at the nearby "Rising Sun" public house during the meet. This public house not only stabled many of the race horses, it also served as a meeting and watering place for the race goers.

It seems that the races came to an end suddenly after the 1885 session when the grandstand collapsed. In 1886 the feast was simply entitled 'The Flower Show'.