{"id":12357,"date":"2024-01-26T15:20:31","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T15:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wreninghamheritage.uk\/?page_id=12357"},"modified":"2024-01-28T20:51:19","modified_gmt":"2024-01-28T20:51:19","slug":"wreningham-raceway","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wreninghamheritage.uk\/index.php\/wreningham-raceway\/","title":{"rendered":"Wreningham Raceway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Harness Trotting horse with sulky at the Wreningham Raceway course in the early 1980s<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n
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The location of the Wreningham Raceway track has been added to the map in bright green – and the school crossroads can be seen top centre. The track’s start<\/mark><\/em><\/strong> \/<\/strong><\/mark><\/em> finish line was on the western straight with races being run anti-clockwise around the course.<\/mark><\/em><\/strong>
Background map copyright of OpenStreetMap<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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“Harness Trotting” is a form of horse racing where the horses race at a specific gait, pulling a low two-wheeled cart called a sulky \u2013 which is where the jockey sits.  The jockey\u2019s eye-line is about level with the top of the horse\u2019s back!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This took place in Wreningham between the early 1980s and the mid 1990s on a grass course laid out at The Poplars (Poplar Farm) just off Ashwellthorpe Road.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oval grass track straddled the Wreningham \/ Ashwellthorpe parish boundary and twice round the circuit was measured at 1 mile and 13 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sport is much more common in the USA. In the UK, further information on Trotting (and Pacing) Races can be found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Wreningham trotting races took place during the summer months and attracted visitors from all over south-east England.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A carnival atmosphere merged with alcohol and professional gambling \u2013 not to mention the operation of a robust public address system. The latter made its presence known across wide areas of the village!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inaugural race meeting was on Thursday 28th<\/sup> May 1981 – with a further six meetings in that year. There were typically 6 races per meeting and at the conclusion of the first season there was a celebratory barn dance at The Poplars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Horse and jockey warming up before a race<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n
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The following year saw twelve meetings whilst, in 1983, it expanded to fifteen. The expansion of the season allowed the organisers to build their confidence and experience. In addition, due to the requrement for both betting and alcohol licenses, the district council needed to assure themselves that the granting of these licences remained appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as the gambling was concerned, bets started at \u00a31.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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